A soldier is battling an animal. Gandhara frieze Musée Guimet. Photo by PHGCOM 2007

George Stanley Faber argues for Buddha being the same deity as Woden, Oden or Odin and that the religion of early Europe was a modification of Buddhism.

“To this conclusion it may naturally be objected, that the character of the ferocious and military Woden bears no great resemblance to that of the mild and philosophic Buddha whose religion prohibits the shedding even of animal blood. Such an objection, however plausible, admits of a sufficiently easy answer. In the first place, I know not why we are bound to suppose that the very ancient theology of the Buddhists was always distinguished by its present characteristics: On the contrary, it seems probable, that those characteristics were imposed upon it at a comparatively late period (Vide Supra, Book IV, ch. 5. § VIII.1). And, in the second place, even if we admit that the Buddhic theology was always a theology abhorrent of blood; yet, that the military tribes of Cuthic extraction in the course of a long period of erratic warfare should have transformed the mild Indian deity into the God of battles, is nothing more than might have been obviously anticipated from their peculiar circumstances. … there is sufficient evidence to prove that they are one God both in name and in person” (end of quote).

Read from page 354 to learn more….

Vol. 2, The origin of pagan idolatry ascertained from historical testimony and circumstantial evidence by George Stanley Faber, 1816. Eventually download PDF . Very relevant is chapter V in this book: page 327 - 476.

An image of the Nordic and Russian Pagan Deity that likely is Woden or Odin. Christians have redefined religion and history since the medieval and particularly after the Lutheran reformation. The ancient "pagan" Sami mythology is in the course of history made rather incomprehensible and Woden and Odin is totally absent in the descriptions. The christian priests redefined this one to be the image of the thunder god Thor or Thoragalles, in spite of the fact that the Thor deity is defined by a quite different image. Read more in Saamiblog

Frame drum (left) Greek God Dionysos on a Throne. Painting in Casa del Naviglio, Pompeii, Italy. Archaic Roman & Greek.

Text from the book "The Mythology of all Races" by Gray.

Deutsche mythologie by Grimm & Meyer, 1854; p. 124: Wodan aus seiner himmlischen wohnung, scaut durch ein fenster sur erde nieder, vollkommen der altnordischen vorstellung gemals. Odinn hat einen Thron. (German)

Zeus the Greek God of the Gods carries a thunderbolt (Vajra) in the same way as Indian Vajrapani and protector of Buddha. Roughly translated as: Wodan was a god in heaven, that observed what was going between humans. Odin had a throne. Roughly translated as: Wodan was a god in heaven, that observed what was going between humans. Odin had a throne. European Pagan God, described as Saxon Thor. This is likely an image of Woden or Odin. Manual of Mythology by Murray, 1898. Buddhas on Altar from Ancient Gandhara and Sarnath Seated Buddha from Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India. Exhibited at British museum 2nd century Gandhara. Tokyo National Museum. Photo by PHGCOM 2005 Buddha on an altar. Nswag, Pakistan, Gandhara, Swat Valley, Kushan Period, III century. Photo by Sailko, 2009 DSC_8323 Originally uploaded by Lightreaver

The crowned figure over is exhibited at Asian art at Musée Guimet, Paris.

Pay attention to the devotees near the feet of the sitting Buddha figures. In the Nordic and in Europe similar figures are seen in the medieval sculptures with the Roman Christian names St. Olaf (Olof) and St. Michael (Mikael) or St. Magnus. Scandianvia were first Christianized by the Romans, before the Lutheran reformation in the early 1500s. These figures likely had traditions back to the pre-Christian i.e. pagan period. Some of these are in the Nordic depicted as small people and some like for instance dragons.

Scandinavia

The picture over is St. Michael from the St. Olaf’s Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway.

St. Olof in Overselo Church that was established about 1200s in Sweden