Proto-Germanic paganism was the beliefs of the speakers of Proto-Germanic and includes topics such as the Germanic mythology, legendry, and folk beliefs of early Germanic culture. By way of the comparative method, Germanic philologists, a variety of historical linguist, have proposed reconstructions of entities, locations, and concepts with various levels of security in early Germanic folklore (reconstructions are indicated by the presence of an asterisk). The present article includes both reconstructed forms and proposed motifs from the early Germanic period.
Linguistic reconstructions can be obtained via comparison between the various Germanic languages, comparison with related words in other Indo-European languages, especially Celtic and Baltic, comparison with borrowings into neighbouring language families such as Uralic, or via a combination of those methods. This allows linguists to project some terms back to the Proto-Germanic period despite their attestation in only one Germanic language; for instance, *saidaz ('magic') is only attested in Old Norse seiðr, but has parallels in Proto-Celtic *soytos and Lithuanian saitas.
Proto-Germanic reconstruction | Romano-Germanic | West Germanic | North Germanic | East Germanic | Etymology | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
? Ala-fader [1] | – | – | ONAlfǫðr [1] | – | From Pre-Ger. *Ala-faþēr. Identical to PCelt. *Olo-(p)atīr (cf. Middle Irish Ollathair). [2] | An epithet meaning 'all-father', used as a byname of Óðinn in Old Norse. It can be compared with the Middle Irish Eochu Ollathair, commonly used for the Dagda. [1] | |
*Austrōn [3] | (See entry notes) | OE Ēostre , OHG *Ôstara, OS *Āsteron [3] [4] | – | – | From the PIE stem *h2(e)wes- ('to shine, glow red'). Cognate with the Lithuanian deity Aušrinė, and further related to the PIE dawn-goddess * h₂éwsōs . [3] | A West Germanic spring goddess associated with a festival held in her name during the 'Easter-month', *Austro-mēnōþ, equivalent to modern 'April'. [3] The matronae Austriahenae, if Germanic, derive from the same stem. [4] The Old English and Old High German forms are the origin of the modern holiday names Easter and Ostern, respectively. [5] See Ēostre for further discussion. | |
*Auza-wanđilaz [6] | – | OEĒarendel, OHGAurendil, Lomb.Auriwandalo [7] | ON Aurvandil [7] | Goth. auzandil [7] | Probably a compound of PGmc *auzom ('shiny, shiny liquid') and a derivate of *wanđuz ('rod, cane'). [6] [8] The PGmc form would therefore perhaps mean 'Light-Beam' [6] [8] | Generally seen as a personification of the 'rising light' of the morning, possibly embodying the Morning Star (Venus). [8] See Aurvandill for further discussion. | |
*Balđraz [9] | – | OEBældæg, OHGBalder [9] | ON Baldr [9] | – | From PGmc*balþaz ('brave'), which is identical to Lith.báltas ('white', also the name of a light-god), based on the semantic development from 'white' to 'shining' or 'strong' (man) > 'hero, lord, prince'. [10] [11] | ONBaldr ('brave, defiant; lord, prince') and OHGBalder are close to OEbealdor ('prince, hero'). [10] [11] The OE theonym Bældæg likely means 'Shining Day', as suggested by his association with 'day' and by the name of the Lith. light-god Báltas. [12] See Baldr for further discussion. | |
Divine horse twins or dioscuri (motif) [13] | Alcis [14] | OE Hengist and Horsa, Low GermanHengist and Hors (Holstein, 1875) [15] | – | – | – | Scholars have proposed a variety of figures in the ancient Germanic record as extensions of this motif. Tacitus (Germania), mentions twin deities, the Alcis (PGmc *alhiz ~ *algiz), who he compares to the Greek Dioscuri. The deities are generally seen as a reflex of the Proto-Indo-European Divine twins. Their name either means 'elk' or 'protector'. [16] [17] Some scholars have speculated that it may be related to the z-rune ᛉ (algiz), although evidence is scarse. [17] | |
*Frawja- ~ *Fraw(j)ōn [18] [19] [20] | – | OEfrēa; OFris.frā; OSfrōho, frāho; MDu.vroon; OHGfrō [19] | ON Freyr (theonym) [19] | Goth.frauja [19] | Unclear etymology. [20] | An epithet meaning 'Lord'/'Lady'. [20] Occurs as a theonym in Old Norse and, in a Christian context, in Old English. According to Kroonen, "both in form and meaning, fraiwa- ('seed') is reminiscent of Freyr 'fertility deity' < *frauja-. We may therefore consider the possibility that *fraiwa- was metathesized from *frawja-, a collective of some kind." [21] See *Fraujaz for further discussion. | |
*Frawjōn [19] | – | OSfrūa, OHGfrouwa [19] | ON Freyja (theonym) [19] | – | |||
*Frijjō [22] | – | OEFrīg, OFrisFrīa, OSFrī, OHGFrīja [22] | ON Frigg [22] | – | From PGmc * frijaz ('free'), itself from PIE *priH-o- ('one's own, beloved'). [22] [23] In a clan-based societal system, the meaning 'free' arose from the meaning 'related' (cf. PGmc*frijōnan 'to love', *friþuz 'friendship, peace'). [23] | Goddess, in most sources partner of *Wōđanaz. Source of *Frijjadag ('Frijjō-day; Friday'). [24] See Frigg for further discussion. | |
*Fullōn [25] | – | OHGVolla [25] | ON Fulla [25] | – | From PGmc *fullaz ('full'), meaning 'fullness, plenitude' [25] | A goddess associated with *Frijjō. See Fulla for further discussion. | |
*Gautaz [26] | – | OEGēat, Lang. Gausus [27] | ONGautr, Gauti [27] | Goth.Gaut (Gapt) [27] | Derived from PGmc *geutanan ('to pour'), or an ablaut variant of *gutaz ~ *gutōn ('Goth, Gut') [28] | A name for Odin. [27] The early Germanic form may mean 'pourer (of semen)', i.e. 'man'. [29] Rudolf Simek writes that as a mythical ancestor of the Goths (Gapt) and considered an ancestor in so many places he may have been the same as Odin in the Germanic peoples' common homeland in Scandinavia. [30] Also the name of the Geats . [26] See Gaut for further discussion. | |
? *Haihaz [31] | – | – | ONHárr [31] | Goth.haihs [31] | Cognate with PCelt. *kaiko- ('one-eyed, blind in one eye') and, with a slightly different meaning, with PIt. *kaikos ('blind'). [2] | Perhaps an epithet meaning 'One-Eyed', attested as a common noun in Gothic. ONHárr, a byname of Óðinn, has been derived from an earlier Proto-Norse *Haiha-hariz/ʀ ('the One-eyed Hero'). [31] According to scholar Adam Hyllested, "the Celtic god Lug closes one eye in his magic ritual, while in Germanic mythology being one-eyed is a key attribute of Óðinn". [2] See Hárr for further information. | |
*Hludanaz | Hludana [32] [33] | – | ON Hlóðyn [32] [33] | – | Uncertain etymology. [32] | According to De Vries, probably a chthonic deity. [34] [33] The ONHlóðyn was possibly borrowed from the West Germanic theonym Hludana around the 8th c. AD. [34] See Hludana for further discussion. | |
? *Huldō [35] | – | Ger. Holda [36] | ON Huld , Hulder [36] | – | Meaning 'the Hidden One'. [36] | Although the relationship between the names is uncertain, all forms point to a common meaning of 'the hidden one'. [36] | |
*Ingwaz [37] | – | OEIng, OSIng [37] | ON Yngvi [37] | Goth.Ing, enguz [37] [38] | Uncertain etymology [37] [38] | A mythical ancestor, progenitor of the Ingvaeōnes . See also the Latinized Proto-Germanic personal name Inguiomērus . Name of the ŋ-rune ᛝ. [37] See Yngvi for further discussion. | |
? *Ingwina-frawjaz [39] | – | OEfrēa Ingwina [39] | ONlngunarfreyr [39] | – | Possibly a compound of PGmc *Ingwina- (Ing-friends') and *frawja- ('Lord'). *Ingwina- is derived from the name Ing- (see *Ingwaz) attached to PGmc *winiz ('friend'). [39] Together, these forms mean 'Lord of the Ing-friends'. [39] (See Ingaevones) | See also ONYgvifreyr (< *Ingwia-frawjaz). [39] | |
*Mannaz ~ *Manwaz [40] | Mannus [40] | OEmann, OFrismann, OSmann, OHGman(n) [40] | ONmaðr, mannr [40] | Goth.manna [40] | Meaning 'Man'. [40] Cognate with Sanskrit Mánu and Avestan*Manuš. [41] | Cosmogonical figure; son of *Twistō, divine ancestor of the West Germanic peoples (Tacitus). Name of the m-rune ᛗ (cf. man(n), maðr). [40] See Mannus and Indo-European cosmogony for further discussion. | |
*Mēnōn [42] | – | OEmóna, OFrismōna, OSmāno, ODu.māne, OHGmāno [42] [43] | ONMáni [42] [43] | Goth.mēna, Crim. Goth.mine [42] [43] | Meaning 'Moon'. [44] From PIE *meh₁n-ōs ('moon; month'). The Germanic n-stem arose secondarily from the nom. *mēnō, which may regularly continue *meh₁n-ōt (cf. PGmc *mēnōþ-z 'month'). [42] [44] | Source of Late PGmc *Mēnandag ('Moon-day; Monday'). [45] Personified as a deity, Máni ('Moon'), in Old Norse. | |
*Nerþuz [46] [47] | Nerthus [46] [47] | – | ONNjǫrðr [46] [47] | – | The original meaning of the theonym is contested. It may be related to the Irish word nert, meaning 'force' and 'power'. The name Njǫrðr may be related to Njǫrun , an Old Norse goddess name. [48] [49] | See Nerthus, Njörðr, and Sister-wife of Njörðr for further discussion. | |
*Sowelō ~ *Sōel [50] [51] | – | OHGSunne(theonym), OEsigel [52] | ONSól(theonym) [52] | Goth.sugil [52] | PGmc *Sowel- > *Sōel- (gen.*Sunnōn) derives from the PIE word for 'sun', *séh₂uel, whose genitive form is *sh₂éns, sh₂unós. [53] *Sugelan is a variant of Sowelō that can be morphologically compared to PGmc *sweglaz ('sunlight'). [50] | Meaning 'Sun'. [53] A goddess and personification of the Sun. The variant *Sugelan may have been the original name of the s-rune ᛊ (cf. sigel, sugil), via taboo avoidance. The genitive form *Sunnōn is at the origin of OHGSunne and Late PGmc *Sunnandag ('Sun-day'); it is also the predecessor to modern English Sun. [54] See Sól for further discussion. | |
*Tīwaz [55] | – | OETīw, OHG *Ziu [55] | ONTýr [55] | Goth. *Teiws [56] | From PIE *deywós ('celestial', hence a 'deity'), itself from * dyēus ('daylight sky god'). [57] | A general epithet meaning 'god, deity' that eventually replaced the name of a specific deity whose original name is now lost. *Tīwaz was associated with the thing and equated with the Roman war god Mars through interpretatio germanica . Name of the t-rune (ᛏ). [58] [57] [59] Source of Late PGmc *Tīwasdag ('Tīwaz-day; Tuesday'). [60] See Týr for further discussion | |
*Twistō | Tuisto | – | – | – | Etymologically 'Twofold' (i.e. 'Twin', 'Bisexual', or 'Hermaphrodite'). [61] [62] [63] Related to PGmc *twistaz, which is structurally close to Sanskrit dviṣṭa- ('staying in two places, ambiguous'). [64] | Legendary divine ancestor of the West Germanic peoples according to Tacitus. See Tuisto and Indo-European cosmogony for further discussion. | |
*Þingsaz [65] | Thingsus | MDu. Dings*, MLGDinges*, OHGDinges* | – | – | From PGmc *þingaz ('thing, assembly'). | An epithet meaning 'of the thing' [65] Attached to Mars (*Tīwaz) in early West Germanic cultures (see interpretatio germanica and interpretatio romana ); perhaps originally a god associated with law. Attested in Latin as Thingsus, and probably included in the name for 'Tuesday' in some Germanic languages. [66] [65] | |
*Þun(a)raz [55] | – | OEÞunor, OSThunar, OFrisThuner, OHGDonar [55] | ONÞórr [55] | – | From the PIE root *(s)tenh₂- ('thunder'). Cognate with the Celt. thunder-god Taranis (< *Tonaros), and further related to the Latin epithet Tonans. [67] | Meaning 'Thunder' [55] According to Peter Jackson, the Celtic–Germanic theonym *Þun(a)raz~ *Tonaros may have emerged as the result of the fossilization of an original epithet or epiclesis of the PIE thunder-god * Perkwunos . [68] Source of Late PGmc *Þonaresdag ('Þunraz-day; Thursday'). [69] See also below *melđunjaz, the name of *Þunraz's weapon. See Thor for further discussion. | |
*Yum(i)yaz [37] [70] | – | – | ON Ymir [70] | – | Meaning 'Twin'. [70] Cognate with Skt Yama , Av. Yima, and probably with Lat. Remus (< *Yemos). [71] [72] | Cosmogonical figure, mythical primeval ancestor. See Ymir and Indo-European cosmogony for further discussion. | |
*Wōđanaz [73] | – | OEWōden, OSWoden, ODWuodan, OHGWuotan, Lomb.Godan [73] | ON Óðinn [73] | – | Meaning 'Lord of Frenzy'. [74] From PGmc*wōđaz ('delirious, raging') attached to the suffix -naz ('master of'). The former is identical to PCelt. * wātis ('seer, sooth-sayer') and Lat.vātēs ('prophet, seer'). [75] [2] | Evidence points to a god strongly associated with ecstatic divination and wisdom. Compare the numerous Germanic cognates connoting 'violent agitation, mad rage, possession' with ON Óðr ('wit, sense, song, poetry'), OEwōð ('sound, voice, song'), and the other Indo-European cognates meaning 'seer, prophet'. Source of Late PGmc *Wōdanesdag ('Wōdanaz-day; Wednesday'). [76] See Óðinn for further discussion. | |
*Wulþuz [77] | (o)wlþu- [78] | – | ONUllr [78] | – | From PIE *ul-tu- < *uel- ('to see'). Identical to Lat.vultus ('facial expression, appearance'). [77] [79] | Meaning 'Glory'. [79] Attested as owlþuþewaz ('servant of owlþuz') on the Thorsberg chape (3rd c. AD). [78] Cf. also Goth.wulþus ('glory'). OEwuldor ('glory') stems from PGmc *wuldraz. [79] See Ullr for further discussion. | |
*Wurđiz [80] | – | OEwyrd, OSwurd, OHGwurt [80] | ON Urðr [80] | – | Meaning 'Fate'. [81] From PGmc *werþanan ('to come about, happen, become'). [80] [81] | A concept comparable to fate personified as a female entity in Old Norse (a norn, a goddess-like being) and in Old English. See Urðr for further discussion. | |
Note: OE = Old English; OFris = Old Frisian; OFrank. = Old Frankish; OS = Old Saxon; MLG = Middle Low German; OD = Old Dutch; MDu. = Middle Dutch; OHG = Old High German; ON = Old Norse; Goth. = Gothic; Lomb. = Lombardic; Burg. = Burgundian; PGmc = Proto-Germanic; Pre-Ger. = Pre-Germanic; PIE = Proto-Indo-European; – = Unattested |
Proto-Germanic reconstruction | West Germanic | North Germanic | East Germanic | Etymology | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
*alƀaz [82] | OEælf, MLGalf, OHGalb [82] | ONálfr [82] | Burg. *alfs [82] [83] | From the PIE root for '(matt) white', *h₂elbʰ-. Structurally close to Lat.albus ('(matt) white') and Grkalphoús ('white'). [82] | See elf for further discussion. | ||
*al(j)a-wihtiz [84] | OEæl-wiht [84] | ONal-vitr [84] | – | Compound of *aljaz ('other') and *wihtiz ('thing, creature'). [84] | See *wehtiz ~ *wihtiz below. | ||
*ansuz ~*ansiz [85] | OEōs, OSās, OHGansi- [86] | ONáss [86] | Goth.anses [86] | Meaning '(a) deity'. From PIE *h₂ems-u- < *h₂ems- ('to give birth'). Identical to Hitt.ḫassu- ('king'), Skt.ásu- ('life, vital strength'), Av.ahu- ('lord'), or Venet.ahsu- ('cult image'). Further related to Sktásura- and Av.ahura- ('god, lord'). [87] [88] Potentially connected to PGmc *ansaz 'beam' (see also Anthropomorphic wooden cult figurines of Central and Northern Europe). [87] | Name of the a-rune ᚨ. See Æsir for further discussion. | ||
*đīsō ~ dīsi- [89] [90] | OEides, OSidis, OHGitis [89] | ONdís [89] | – | Uncertain etymology. [90] The West Germanic forms present some difficulty to resolve but the North Germanic and West Germanic forms are used explicitly as cognates (e.g. OEides Scildinga and ONdís Skjǫldunga). [91] | A variety of goddess-like supernatural female entity. Variously rendered by translators into modern English as terms like 'goddess', '(noble, divine) lady', or 'fairy'. [92] The PGmc form may occur in the place name Idistaviso (perhaps PGmc *Idisiaviso 'plain of the Idisi') and may be further reflected in ON Iðavöllr if the location name is amended to *Ið[is]avöllr. [93] According to Jan de Vries, although the connection between the West Germanic and Old Norse forms remains controversial, the fact that ONdís goes back to Proto-Germanic is proved by the personal names Frank.Agedisus, Disibod, Aleman.Disi, Lomb.Tiso. [94] See dís and Idis (Germanic) and compare *wala-kuzjōn below. | ||
*draugaz [95] | – | ONdraugr [95] | – | Identical to PCelt. *drougo- (cf. OIr.airdrech 'sprite, phantom' < *(p)ari-drougo-). [95] | A name for a supernatural being akin to a phantom or a ghost. [95] See draugr for further discussion. | ||
*dwas- [96] | OEdwœs,MHGge-twās [96] | – | – | From Pre-Ger. *dhwos-. Related to PCelt. *dwosyos (cf. Gaul.dusios 'incubus, daemon') and Lith.dvasià ('breath, spirit, soul'). [96] | A name for a supernatural being akin to a phantom or a ghost. [96] | ||
*đwergaz [97] | OEdweorg, OFris.dwirg, OS *dwerg, MDu.dwerch, OHGtwerg [97] [98] | ONdvergr [97] | – | Unclear etymology. Perhaps from a PGmc verb *dwerganan ('to squeeze, press') possibly attested in MHGzwergen. [99] | For further discussion, see Dwarf. | ||
*etunaz [100] | OEeōten [100] | ONjǫtunn [100] | – | Probably from PGmc *etanan ('to eat'). [100] | One of several terms connected to a class of entity. See jötunn for further discussion. | ||
*gaistaz [101] | OEgǽst, OFrisgāst, OSgēst, ODu.gēst, OHGgeist [101] [102] [103] | – | – | Meaning 'ghost, spirit, wrath'. From Pre-Ger.*ghoisdoz ('fury, anger'), which is comparable to Sanskrithéḍas ('anger') and Avestanzōižda- ('terrible, ugly'). [102] [103] | Although the word is only attested in the West Germanic languages, it appears to be of pre-Germanic formation. [103] See ghost for further discussion. | ||
*guđ(a)z [104] | OEgod, OFris.god, ODu.god, OSgod, OHGgot [104] [105] | ONguð [104] | Goth.guþ [104] | Meaning '(a) deity' and predecessor to modern English god. Unclear etymology. Traditionally derived from *ǵʰu-t(ó)- ('libated one') < *ǵʰeu- ('to pour'), although alternative connections with PIE *ǵʰeuH- ('to invoke'), with OCSgověti ('to revere'), or with Greekχυτὴ γαῖα ('burial mound') have also been proposed. [104] [106] | The source of PGmc *guđ(a)-fuhtaz ('god-fearing'), *guđ(a)-lausaz ('god-less'), aƀa-guđaz ('godless, lit. off-god'), *guđ(a)-waƀjaz ('precious fabric, silk'), or *guđ(a)-hūsan (temple; if not a calque of Lat.domus Dei). [107] | ||
*lenþa-wurmaz [108] | MLGlinde-worm, OHGlind-wurm [108] | ONlinn-ormr [108] | – | Compound of *lenþaz ('snake') and *wurmaz ('worm'). [108] | A dragon or serpent-like entity. See lindworm and germanic dragon for further discussion. | ||
*marōn [101] | OEmære, MDmāre,OSmāra, OHGmara [101] [109] | ONmara [101] | – | From PIE*mor-eh₂, of unclear origin. Cognate with Slav. *morà ('nightly spirit, bad dream') and OIr. mor-rígain ('queen of bad dreams'; a goddess of the battlefield and female malicious entity). See also the Russian kiki-mora , a female house-spirit that spins at night. [110] [109] | A malevolent female spirit associated with bad dreams (as in the second element of modern English night-mare). The image of a female ghost or malicious entity who tortures people by way of nightmares is apparently common to Slavic, Germanic and, possibly, Celtic. [111] Borrowed from Middle Dutch into Old Picard as mare > cauque-mare (attached to cauquier 'to press'; mod. Fr.cauchemar), which designated a 'witch' haunting bad dreams. [112] See Mare (folklore) for further discussion. | ||
*nikwiz ~ *nikwuz ~ *nikwaza- [113] [114] | OEnicor, MDu.nicker, MLGnecker, OHGnichus, nihhus [113] [114] | ONnykr [113] | – | From PIE *nígʷ-ōs < *neigʷ- ('to wash'). [113] [114] | An entity associated with water, which probably also existed under the feminine form *nikwazjōn (cf. OHGnickessa). [114] See Nixie (folklore) for further discussion. | ||
*skrattōn ~ *skradan- [115] [116] | OEscrætte, OHGscratto [115] [116] | ONskratti [115] [116] | – | An n-stem originally inflected as *skradō, gen. *skrattaz < *skrodʰōn, *skrodʰnós. [116] | A variety of malicious entity. [115] [116] | ||
*skōhsla- [95] | – | – | Goth.skōhsl [95] | Identical to PCelt.*skāhslo- (cf. Old Irish scál ‘supernatural or superhuman being, phantom, giant, hero; the god Lug’, Middle Welsh yscaul ‘hero, champion, warrior'). [95] | A name for an evil spirit or a demon. [95] | ||
*þurisaz [117] [118] | OEðyrs, OHGduris [117] | ONþurs [117] | – | No clear etymology. Perhaps related to ONþyrja ('to rush'), ONþora ('to dare'), or Icel.þursi ('quarrel, anger, rage'). [117] [118] | One of a series of semantically related Proto-Germanic terms for a type of entity. Borrowed into early Finnish as Turisas , a war god and a sea monster. [118] See jötunn for further discussion. | ||
*wrisjōn [119] | OSwrisi-, OHGriso [119] | ONrisi [119] | – | Probably related to Greek ῥίον ('peak, headland'). [119] | One of the Proto-Germanic terms semantically related to jötunn. Occurs also in OSwrisi-līk ('enormous, wrisi-like'). [119] For further discussion, see jötunn. | ||
*wala-kuzjōn [120] | OEwælcyrge [120] | ONvalkyrja [120] | – | Meaning 'chooser of the slain'. Compound of *walaz ('the slain') and *kuzjōn ('chooser' < PGmc *keusanan 'to trial, select'). [120] [121] See also OEwæl-cēasega, a name for 'raven' that literally means 'chooser of the slain'. [122] | A variety of goddess-like female entity. Compare *đīsō above. [120] See valkyrie for further discussion. | ||
*wira-wulfaz [123] | OEwere-wulf, OFrank.*wer-wolf, MDu.weer-wolf, MLGwer-wulf, WFris.waer-ûl(e), MHGwer-wolf [123] [124] | ONvarg-úlfr [123] | – | Meaning 'man-wolf' and predecessor to modern English werewolf . Probably a compound of *wiraz ('man') and *wulfaz ('wolf'). [125] [126] Alternately derived from *wazi-wulfaz ('wolf-clothed'), bringing the compound semantically in line with the Slavic name for 'werewolf', *vьlko-dlakь, literally 'wolf-haired'. [126] | The Norse branch underwent taboo modifications, with ONvargúlfr replacing *wiraz ('man') with vargr ('outlaw; wolf'), probably under the influence of Old French leus warous, which literally means 'wolf-werewolf'. [125] [126] [127] Old Frankish *werwolf is inferred from ONorm. garwa(l)f ~ garo(u)l. [128] [127] The modern Norse forms varulv (Danish, Norwegian) and varulf (Swedish) were probably borrowed from MLGwerwulf, [127] or else be derived from an unattested ON*varulfr, posited as the regular descendant form of PGmc *wira-wulfaz. [124] See werewolf for further discussion. | ||
*wehtiz ~ *wihtiz [129] | OE wiht, OSwiht, Du.wicht, OHGwiht [129] | ON vættr [129] | Goth.waihts [129] | A 'creature'. Related to Slav.*vektь ('thing'). [129] Possibly from PIE *weḱti- ~ *weǵʰ-ti-, or a Germanic–Slavic isogloss. [130] | Cf. also Far. -vætti ('miserable creature') < *wehtja-. [130] | ||
Note: OE = Old English; OFris = Old Frisian; OFrank. = Old Frankish; OS = Old Saxon; MLG = Middle Low German; OD = Old Dutch; MDu. = Middle Dutch; OHG = Old High German; ON = Old Norse; Goth. = Gothic; Lomb. = Lombardic; Burg. = Burgundian; PGmc = Proto-Germanic; Pre-Ger. = Pre-Germanic; PIE = Proto-Indo-European; – = Unattested |
Proto-Germanic reconstruction | Translation | West Germanic | North Germanic | East Germanic | Etymology | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
*Ferg(w)unjan ~ *Ferg(w)unjō [131] [132] | 'mountain' | OHGFirgunnea [131] [132] | ON Fjǫrgyn [131] [132] | – | Probably from PIE*per-kwun-ih₂ ('wooded mountains', i.e. the realm of *Perkwunos). Cognate with PCelt. *ferkunyo > (H)ercynia. [132] [133] | Cognate with or borrowed into Slav. as *per(g)ynja ('wooded hills'). [132] [133] Cf. also Goth.fairguni and OEfirgen ('mountain'). [131] [132] See Perkwunos for further discussion. | |
*Haljō [134] | 'the concealed' | OEhell, OFrishelle, ODu.helle,OShellia, OHGhella [134] [135] | ONhel [134] | Goth.halja [134] | From PGmc *helanan ('to conceal, hide'). [134] [136] | Precursor to modern English Hell , attested as an afterlife location throughout Germanic languages and personified as a female entity in Old Norse and Old English. See Hel (being) and Hel (location). | |
*Halja-wītjan [134] | 'hell-knowledge' | OEhelle-wīte, OShelli-wīti, MHGhelle-wītze [134] | ONhel-víti [134] | – | Compound of PGmc *Haljō ('Hell') and *wītjan ('knowledge, reason'). [134] | A poetic name for an underworld location. See *Haljō above. | |
*hem(e)naz [137] [138] | 'heaven' | OEheofon, OFris.himel, OSheƀan, ODu.himil, MLGhēven, OHGhimil [138] [139] | ONhiminn [137] [138] | Goth.himins [137] [138] | From the gen. *h₂ḱmnós of PIE *h₂eḱmon ('heavenly vault of stone'). Possibly cognate with PGmc *hamaraz ('hammer') via a metathesized stem *ḱ(e)h₂-m-r- (cf. Grkkamára 'vault'). [137] [140] | See Perkwunos#Heavenly vault of stone for further discussion. | |
*(hemena-)wangaz [137] [141] | '(heaven-)meadow' | OSheƀan-wang, OE (neorxna-)wang [137] [141] | ONhimin-vangr, (Fólk)vangr [137] [141] | Gothicwaggs [141] | Compound of PGmc *hemenaz ('heaven') and *wangaz ('meadow'). [137] The noun *wangaz stems from the PIE root *uongʰ-, denoting a 'field'. [142] | A term denoting an afterlife heavenly meadow. PGmc *wangaz occurs as a gloss for 'paradise' in Old Norse, Old English, and Gothic, implying an early Germanic concept of an afterlife field in the heaven. [141] Fólkvangr is an afterlife location associated with the goddess Freyja in Old Norse texts. See Fólkvangr and Neorxnawang. | |
*Meðjana-garðaz [143] | 'middle-enclosure' | OEmiddan-geard, OSmiddil-gard,OHGmitti-gart [143] [144] | ONmið-garðr [143] | Goth.midjun-gards [143] | Compound of PGmc *meðjanaz ('middle') and *garðaz ('enclosure, courtyard'). [143] | See Midgard for further discussion. | |
*wira-alđiz [145] | 'man-age' | OEweorold, OFris.wrald, OSwerold, MDu.werelt, OHGweralt [145] [146] | ONverǫld [145] | – | Compound of PGmc *wiraz ('man') and *alđiz ('age'). [145] | The inhabited world, the realm of humankind. Source of modern English world. [146] | |
Note: OE = Old English; OFris = Old Frisian; OFrank. = Old Frankish; OS = Old Saxon; MLG = Middle Low German; OD = Old Dutch; MDu. = Middle Dutch; OHG = Old High German; ON = Old Norse; Goth. = Gothic; Lomb. = Lombardic; Burg. = Burgundian; PGmc = Proto-Germanic; Pre-Ger. = Pre-Germanic; PIE = Proto-Indo-European; – = Unattested |
Proto-Germanic reconstruction | Translation | West Germanic | North Germanic | East Germanic | Etymology | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
*alh(a)z [147] | 'temple' | OEealh, OSalah [147] | ON -áll [147] | Goth.alhs [147] | Identical to Lith. alkas ('holy grove'). [147] [148] | – | |
*austro-mēnōþ | 'Austrōn-month' | OEēosturmōnaþ, ODu.ostermanoth, OHGōstarmānōd [149] [5] | – | – | A compound of WGmc*Austrōn (a female deity) and *mēnōþ ('month'). | A West Germanic name for the 'month of *Austrōn', associated with a festival held around April and eventually displaced by the Christian Easter. [149] See Ēostre and Ēosturmōnaþ for further discussion. | |
*ƀlōtanan [150] | 'to sacrifice' | OEblōtan, OHGbluozan [150] | ONblóta [150] | Goth.blotan [150] | Traditionally compared to Lat. flāmen ('sacrificial priest'), possibly from an earlier *flādsmen < *bʰleh₂dmen-. [150] [151] [152] | Source of PGmc *ƀlostran ('sacrifice') and *ƀlotan ('sacrifice, worship'). [153] | |
*ƀlōta-hūsan [153] | 'house of worship, house of sacrifice' | OHGbluoz-hūz [153] | ONblót-hús [153] | – | Compound of PGmc *ƀlotan ('sacrifice, worship') and *hūsan ('house'). [153] | Place of worship, temple. [153] | |
*elhja- [2] | 'evil' | – | ONillr [2] | – | From Pre-Ger. *elkyo-, attested in the Finnish loanwords elkiä ('mean, malicious') and ilkeä ('bad, mean, wicked'). Possibly related to Old Irish ol(c)c ('bad, evil'). [2] | – | |
*frijjadag | 'Friday' | OEFrīgedæg, OFris.Frīadei, MDu.Vriendach, MLGVrīdach, OHGFrīatag [154] | ONFrjádagr [154] | – | A Late PGmc compound of *Frijjō ('Frigg') and *dag ('day'). Calque of LatVeneris dies. [154] | See *Frijjō above. ONFrjádagr was borrowed from OHGFrīatag. [155] Source of Modern English Friday. | |
*galđran [156] | 'magic song, spell, charm' | OEgealdor, OHGgaltar [156] | ONgaldr [156] | – | From PGmc *galanan ('to shout, sing, chant'). [156] [157] | See galdr for further discussion. | |
*guđ(j)ōn [104] | 'priest' | OE *gydda | ONgoði, gyðja [104] [158] | Goth.gudja [104] [158] | From PGmc*guđaz ('god'). [104] | The Old English form appears as an apparent historical element of Modern English place names such as Gedding and Gidleigh. [159] | |
*hailagaz [31] | 'holy' | OEhālig, OFris.hēlich, OShēlag, OHGheilag [31] | ONheilagr [31] | Goth.hailags [31] | From PGmc*hailaz ('hale, whole, sound'). [31] | Source of PGmc *hailagōjanan ('to make holy, consecrate'). [31] | |
*hailaga-mēnōþ | 'holy-month' | OEhāliġ-mōnaþ, ODu.heil-mānōth, OHGheilag-mānōth [160] | – | – | A compound of PGmc*hailagaz ('holy') and *mēnōþ ('month'). | A West Germanic name for the 'holy month', equivalent to modern 'September' or 'December'. [160] See Hāliġmōnaþ for further discussion. | |
*harƀistu-mēnōþz [161] | 'autumn-month, harvest-month' | OEhærfest-mōnaþ, ODu.hervist-mānōth, OHGherbist-mānōth [161] | ONhaust-mánuðr [161] | – | A compound of PGmc*harƀistaz ('autumn, harvest') and *mēnōþz ('month'). [161] | Early Germanic name of the 'month of harvest'; roughly equivalent to modern 'August–November'. [161] Cf. also ODu.Aranmānōth ~ OHGAranmānōd ('harvest month, August'), from another PGmc stem *azani- ('harvest'). | |
*har(u)gaz [162] [163] | 'holy stone', perhaps 'sacrificial mound' [163] | OEhearg, OHGharug [162] | ONhǫrgr [162] | – | From Pre-Ger. *karkú-. Probably borrowed from the same non-Indo-European source as PCelt. *karrikā ('stone'). [162] [163] [95] | See hörgr for further information | |
*halja-rūnō(n) [164] | 'witch, sorceress' | OEhelle-rūne, OHGhelli-rūna [164] | – | Lat.-Goth. pl. (Jordanes) haliurunae [164] | Compound of *haljō ('Hel') and *rūnō ('secret, mystery, rune'). [164] | – | |
*hunslan [165] | 'sacrifice' | OEhūsel [165] | ONhúsl [165] | Goth.hunsl [165] | A sla-suffix added to the PIE stem *ḱuent- ('holy, sacred'). [165] [166] | – | |
*hugi-rūnō [167] | 'secret of the mind, magical rune' | OEhyge-rūn [167] | ONhug-rúnar [167] | – | Compound of *hugiz ('understanding, mind') and *rūnō ('secret, mystery, rune'). [167] | – | |
*jehwlan [168] | 'Yule' | OEgeō(hho)l [168] | ONjól [168] | Goth.*jaihl [169] | No credible etymology. [169] [168] | Name of a Germanic festival organized at the end of each year. Cf. also *Jehwla-đagaz ('Yule-day'). [169] [168] See Yule for further discussion. | |
*jehwla-mēnōþz ~ *jehwlaz [169] [168] | 'Yule-month' | OEgēol-mōnaþ, gīuli [168] | ONjól-mánuðr, ýlir [168] | Goth.jiuleis [168] | |||
*jēra-mēnōþz [170] | 'year-month' | OHGjār-mānōd [170] | ONár-mánaðr [170] | – | A compound of PGmc*jēran ('year') and mēnōþz ('month'). [170] | Early Germanic name of the 'year-month'; equivalent to modern 'January'. | |
*kunjaz [171] | 'omen' | – | ONkyn [171] | – | Closely related to Lith.žinià ('knowledge, magic'). [171] | – | |
*lēk(i)jaz [172] [96] | 'healer, physician' | OElǣce, OS lāki, OFris.letza, OHGlāhhi [172] | ONlækir [172] | Goth.lekeis [172] | From Pre-Ger. *lēgyos. Borrowed from PCelt.lēagis (cf. OIr.lieig 'physician, healer, leech'). [172] [96] | Source of PGmc *lēkinan ('cure, remedy') and *lēkinōjanan ('to heal'). [172] | |
*lubjan [173] | 'herbal medicine, magic potion' | OElybb, OSlubbi, MDu.lubbe, OHGlubbi [173] [174] | ONlýf [173] | Goth.lubja- [173] | Related to PGmc *lauban ('foliage'; cf. PCelt. *lubi- 'herb'). [174] [96] | Medicinal herb associated with magic (cf. Goth.lubja-leisei 'witchcraft, alchemist', OHGlubbari 'magician'). [173] [174] | |
*melđunjaz [175] | 'lightning', 'hammer' | – | ONMjǫllnir [175] | – | From a PIE stem meld-n-, which may have originally designated Perkwunos' weapon. Cognate with Latv.milna (Pērkōns' hammer), OPrus.mealde ('lightning'), OCSmъldni ('lightning'), Welshmellten ('bolt of lightning'). [176] | Thor's hammer. See Mjǫllnir for further discussion. | |
*mēnandag | 'Monday' | OEMōnandæg, OFris.Mōnandei, MDu.MLGMānendach, OHGMānetag [177] | ONMánadagr [177] | – | A Late PGmc compound of *Menōn ('Moon') and *dag ('day'). Calque of LatLunae dies. [177] | See *Mēnōn above. Source of Modern English Monday. | |
*nemeđaz [178] | 'sacred grove' | OFrank.nimid, OSnimidas [178] [179] | Swed.Nymden [179] | – | Related to or borrowed PCelt. *nemetom ('sacred grove, sanctuary'). [178] [179] | See sacred trees and groves in Germanic paganism and mythology | |
*rūnō [180] | 'secret, mystery; secret counsel; rune' | OErūn, OSrūna, MDu. rūne, OHGrūna [180] | ONrún [180] | Goth.runa [180] | Borrowed from or cognate with PCelt. *rūna ('secret, magic'). [180] | Source of PGmc *runōn ('counsellor'), *rūnjan ('mystery'), *raunō ('trial, inquiry, experiment'). [180] See runes for further discussion. | |
*rūna-stabaz [180] | 'runic letter' | OErūn-stæf, OHGrūn-stab [180] | ONrúna-stafr [180] | – | A compound of PGmc *rūnō ('secret, mystery, counsel') and *stabaz ('staff; letter'). [180] | – | |
*saidaz [181] [182] | 'spell, charm, magic' | – | ONseiðr [181] [182] | – | From Pre-Ger.*saiþa-, which is cognate with Lith.saitas ('soothsaying, talisman') and PCelt. *soyto- ('magic'). [181] [182] [96] Probably originally identical to PIE *soito- ('string, rope'), from *seh2i- ('to bind'). [96] | See also the PGmc verb *sīdanan ('to work charms'; cf. ONsíða) and OE -siden 'magic' (< *sidnō-). [181] [182] | |
*saiwalō [183] | 'soul' | OEsāwel; OFrissēle; OSsēola, sēla; OHGsēola, sēla [183] | – | Goth.saiwala [183] | According to Vladimir Orel, derived from PGmc *saiwiz ~ *saiwaz ('sea, lake'), "probably because of a Germanic belief in souls born out of and returning to sacred lakes". [183] | – | |
*skaldaz [184] | 'poet' | OHGskelto [184] | ONskáld [184] | – | Probably from a PGmc verb *skeldanan ~ *skadjanan ('to announce, reproach'; cf. MEscolden, OFri. skelda, ODu. sceldan, OHGsceltan). [184] Perhaps related to PCelt. *sketlo- ('story, tidings'; cf. OIr. scél 'saga, narrative', MWelshchwedl 'traditional narrative, tidings'). [185] | OHGskelto, MHGschelte mean 'blamer, criticizer, satirist'. [184] Middle English scāld was borrowed from ONskáld. [186] [187] See skald for further discussion. | |
*sumlan [188] | 'banquet, symposium' | OEsymbel, OSsumbal [188] | ONsum(b)l [188] | – | From PIE *sṃ-lo- ('joint meal'). [188] | See symbel for further discussion. | |
*sunnandag | 'Sunday' | OESunnandæg, OFris.Sunnandei, MDu.Sonnendach, MLGSunnendach, OHGSunnūntag [189] | ONSunnudagr [189] | – | A Late PGmc compound of *sunnōn (genitive of *Sowēlo 'Sun') attached to *dag ('day'). Calque of LatSolis dies. [189] | See Sowēlo ~ Sōel above. Source of Modern English Sunday. | |
*tafnan [190] | 'sacrificial meat' | – | ONtafn [190] [191] | – | From Pre-Ger.dapno- < PIE *dh₂p-no- ('sacrificial meal'). Cognate with Lat.damnum ('harm, damage, loss'), MIr.dúan ('poem, song') and Arm.tawn ('feast'). [190] [191] [192] | – | |
*taufran [193] | 'sorcery, magic' | OEtēafor, OFris.tāver, MLGtover, OHGzoubar [193] | ONtaufr [193] | – | Possibly derived from PGmc *tawjanan ('to do, make'). [193] | – | |
*tiƀran [194] | 'sacrifice, animal offering' | OEtiber, tifer,OHGzebar [194] | – | Goth.aibr [194] | Cognate with Greekδεῖπνον ('meal') and Arm.tvar ('male sheep') < PIE *déip-r, gen.dip-n-ós. [194] [195] According to some scholars, Goth.aibr should be emended to *tibr. [196] [195] | – | |
*tīwasdag | 'Tuesday' | OETīwesdæg, OFris.Tīesdei, OHGZiestag [197] | ONTýsdagr [197] | – | A Late PGmc compound of *Tīwaz (Týr) and *dag ('day'). Calque of LatMartis dies. [197] | See *Tīwaz above. Source of Modern English Tuesday. | |
*þonaresdag | 'Thursday' | OEÞunresdæg, OFris.Thunresdei, MDu. Donresdach, OHGDonarestag [198] | ONÞórsdagr [198] | – | A Late PGmc compound of *Þun(a)raz (Thor) and *dag ('day'). Calque of LatIovis dies. [198] | See *Þun(a)raz above. Source of Modern English Thursday. | |
*wīhaz [199] [200] | 'holy, divine' | OEwīg-, OSwīh-, OHGwīh [199] [200] | – | Goth.weihs [199] [200] | From PIE *wéik-o-. [200] Identical to Lith.viẽkas ('life force'), and further related to Lat.victima ('sacrificial animal'). [199] [200] | Source of PGmc *wīhēnan ~ *wīhjanan ('to consecrate'), *wīhislōn ('consecration'), and *wīhiþō ('holiness, sanctity'). [201] [200] | |
*wīhan [199] | 'sanctuary' | OEwīh, OSwīh, OHGwīh [199] | ONvé [199] | – | From PGmc *wīhaz ('holy, divine'). [199] [202] | See Vé (shrine) for further discussion. | |
*wīhōn [199] | 'priest' | – | ONVéi [199] | Goth.weiha [199] | From PGmc *wīhaz ('holy, divine'). [199] | See Vili and Vé for further discussion. | |
*wikkōnan [202] | 'to practice sorcery' | OEwiccian, WFris.wikje, MDu.wicken, MHGwicken [202] | – | – | From PGmc *wīhaz ('holy, divine'). [202] | This verb served as the derivational base for OEwicca ('witch') and MHG MDu.wicker ('soothsayer'). [202] Source of Modern English witch . | |
*wītagōn [203] | 'wizard, prophet' | OEwítega, OHGwīzago [203] | ONvitki [203] | – | From PGmc *witanan ('to know'). [203] | Source of the PGmc verb *wītagōjanan ('to prophesy'). [203] | |
*wōdanesdag | 'Wednesday' | OEWōdnesdæg, OFris.Wērnisdei, MDu.Woensdach, MLGWōdensdach, OHGWōdanstag [204] | ONÓðinsdagr [204] | – | A Late PGmc compound of *Wōdanaz (Odin) and *dag ('day'). Calque of LatMercurii dies. [204] | See *Wōdanaz above. Source of Modern English Wednesday. | |
Note: OE = Old English; OFris = Old Frisian; OFrank. = Old Frankish; OS = Old Saxon; MLG = Middle Low German; OD = Old Dutch; MDu. = Middle Dutch; OHG = Old High German; ON = Old Norse; Goth. = Gothic; Lomb. = Lombardic; Burg. = Burgundian; PGmc = Proto-Germanic; Pre-Ger. = Pre-Germanic; PIE = Proto-Indo-European; – = Unattested |
Ægir, Hlér, or Gymir, is a jötunn and a personification of the sea in Norse mythology. In the Old Norse record, Ægir hosts the gods in his halls and is associated with brewing ale. Ægir is attested as married to a goddess, Rán, who also personifies the sea, and together the two produced daughters who personify waves, the Nine Daughters of Ægir and Rán, and Ægir's son is Snær, personified snow. Ægir may also be the father of the beautiful jötunn Gerðr, wife of the god Freyr, or these may be two separate figures who share the same name.
Frigg is a goddess, one of the Æsir, in Germanic mythology. In Norse mythology, the source of most surviving information about her, she is associated with marriage, prophecy, clairvoyance and motherhood, and dwells in the wetland halls of Fensalir. In wider Germanic mythology, she is known in Old High German as Frīja, in Langobardic as Frēa, in Old English as Frīg, in Old Frisian as Frīa, and in Old Saxon as Frī, all ultimately stemming from the Proto-Germanic theonym *Frijjō. Nearly all sources portray her as the wife of the god Odin.
Hel is a female being in Norse mythology who is said to preside over an underworld realm of the same name, where she receives a portion of the dead. Hel is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century. In addition, she is mentioned in poems recorded in Heimskringla and Egils saga that date from the 9th and 10th centuries, respectively. An episode in the Latin work Gesta Danorum, written in the 12th century by Saxo Grammaticus, is generally considered to refer to Hel, and Hel may appear on various Migration Period bracteates.
Týr is a god in Germanic mythology, a valorous and powerful member of the Æsir and patron of warriors and mythological heroes. In Norse mythology, which provides most of the surviving narratives about gods among the Germanic peoples, Týr sacrifices his right hand to the monstrous wolf Fenrir, who bites it off when he realizes the gods have bound him. Týr is foretold of being consumed by the similarly monstrous dog Garmr during the events of Ragnarök.
In Norse mythology, Ullr is a god associated with skiing. Although literary attestations of Ullr are sparse, evidence including relatively ancient place-name evidence from Scandinavia suggests that he was a major god in earlier Germanic paganism. Proto-Germanic *wulþuz ('glory') appears to have been an important concept of which his name is a reflex. The word appears as owlþu- on the 3rd-century Thorsberg chape.
Jörð is the personification of earth and a goddess in Norse mythology. She is the mother of the thunder god Thor and a sexual partner of Odin. Jörð is attested in Danish history Gesta Danorum, composed in the 12th century by Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus; the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century by an unknown individual or individuals; and the Prose Edda, also composed in the 13th century. Her name is often employed in skaldic poetry and kennings as a poetic term for land or earth.
A jötunn is a type of being in Germanic mythology. In Norse mythology, they are often contrasted with gods and other non-human figures, such as dwarfs and elves, although the groupings are not always mutually exclusive. The entities included in jötunn are referred to by several other terms, including risi, þurs and troll if male and gýgr or tröllkona if female. The jötnar typically dwell across boundaries from the gods and humans in lands such as Jötunheimr.
Proto-Germanic is the reconstructed proto-language of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European languages.
In Norse mythology, Óðr or Óð, sometimes anglicized as Odr or Od, is a figure associated with the major goddess Freyja. The Prose Edda and Heimskringla, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, both describe Óðr as Freyja's husband and father of her daughter Hnoss. Heimskringla adds that the couple produced another daughter, Gersemi. A number of theories have been proposed about Óðr, generally that he is a hypostasis of the deity Odin due to their similarities.
The Alcis or Alci were a pair of divine young brothers worshipped by the Naharvali, an ancient Germanic tribe from Central Europe. The Alcis are solely attested by Roman historian and senator Tacitus in his ethnography Germania, written around 98 AD.
Eggþér is a jötunn in Norse mythology. He is the herder of the female jötunn who lives in Járnviðr (Ironwood) and raises monstrous wolves. In the poem Völuspá, Eggþér is described as sitting on a mound and joyfully striking his harp while the red rooster Fjalarr begins to crow to herald the onset of Ragnarök.
Gangr is a jötunn in Norse mythology. He is portrayed as the son of Alvaldi and the brother of Þjazi and Iði.
Proto-Indo-Iranian paganism was the beliefs of the speakers of Proto-Indo-Iranian and includes topics such as the mythology, legendry, folk tales, and folk beliefs of early Indo-Iranian culture. By way of the comparative method, Indo-Iranian philologists, a variety of historical linguist, have proposed reconstructions of entities, locations, and concepts with various levels of security in early Indo-Iranian folklore and mythology. The present article includes both reconstructed forms and proposed motifs from the Proto-Indo-Iranian period, generally associated with the Sintashta culture.
In Norse mythology, Vili and Vé are the brothers of the god Odin, sons of Bestla, daughter of Bölþorn; and Borr, son of Búri.
Fjörgyn is a personification of earth in Norse mythology, and the mother of the thunder god Thor, the son of Odin. The masculine form Fjörgynn is portrayed as the father of the goddess Frigg, the wife of Odin.
Odin is a widely revered god in Germanic paganism. Norse mythology, the source of most surviving information about him, associates him with wisdom, healing, death, royalty, the gallows, knowledge, war, battle, victory, sorcery, poetry, frenzy, and the runic alphabet, and depicts him as the husband of the goddess Frigg. In wider Germanic mythology and paganism, the god was also known in Old English as Wōden, in Old Saxon as Uuôden, in Old Dutch as Wuodan, in Old Frisian as Wêda, and in Old High German as Wuotan, all ultimately stemming from the Proto-Germanic theonym *Wōðanaz, meaning 'lord of frenzy', or 'leader of the possessed'.
Albruna, Aurinia or Albrinia are some of the forms of the name of a probable Germanic seeress who would have lived in the late 1st century BC or in the early 1st century AD. She was mentioned by Tacitus in Germania, after the seeress Veleda, and he implied that the two were venerated because of true divine inspiration by the Germanic peoples, in contrast to Roman women who were fabricated into goddesses. It has also been suggested that she was the frightening giant woman who addressed the Roman general Drusus in his own language and made him turn back at the Elbe, only to die shortly after, but this may also be an invention to explain why a consul of Rome would have turned back. In addition, there is so little evidence for her that not every scholar agrees that she was a seeress, or that she should be included in a discussion on them. She may also have been a minor goddess, a matron.
Trees hold a particular role in Germanic paganism and Germanic mythology, both as individuals and in groups. The central role of trees in Germanic religion is noted in the earliest written reports about the Germanic peoples, with the Roman historian Tacitus stating that Germanic cult practices took place exclusively in groves rather than temples. Scholars consider that reverence for and rites performed at individual trees are derived from the mythological role of the world tree, Yggdrasil; onomastic and some historical evidence also connects individual deities to both groves and individual trees. After Christianisation, trees continue to play a significant role in the folk beliefs of the Germanic peoples.