Germanic paganism

Germanic paganism was a religion that was a form of paganism. It was practiced in Central and Northern Europe before Christianity came there. The best-known form is now called Norse mythology. Being polytheistic, the religion haf many gods. The main ones seem to have been Odin, Thor and Tyr, which may have been the most important one.

Modern influence

Day	Origin
Monday	Moon's day
Tuesday	Tiw's (Tyr's) day
Wednesday	Wóden 's (Odin's) day
Thursday	Þunor's (Thor's) day
Friday	Frigg's day
Sunday	Sun's day

The Germanic gods have affected elements of everyday western life in most countries that speak Germanic languages. An example is some of the names of the days of the week, which come from Germanic deities. In English and Dutch, Saturn was not replaced. Saturday is named after the Sabbath in German and is called "washing day" in Scandinavia.

Also, many place names in England such as Woodway House, Wansdyke, Thundersley and Frigedene are named after the old deities of the English people.

More recently, people have created a modern form of Germanic paganism, called Asatru.

Germanic Paganism Media

A 5th or 6th-century C-type bracteate (DR BR42) showing a figure, likely Odin, above a horse with dislocated legs. This may refer to Odin's healing of Baldr's horse in the Second Merseburg Charm and was likely a talisman.^[1]
The B inscription on the Negau helmet, c. 450-350 BCE. This inscription may be the earliest attestation of the name of the Germanic god Tyr's name.^[2]
Sønder Kirkeby runestone I (c. 1000). The inscription calls on Thor to hallow something unspecified.^[3]
The opening page of the Codex Aesinas of Tacitus's Germania, which gives a large amount of information on Roman-era Germanic religion.^[4]
The Gundestrup Cauldron. Found in a bog in Denmark, the cauldron was likely made by Celts in Romania or Bulgaria. Decorated with motifs from Celtic mythology, it is evidence of Celtic-Germanic contact.^[5]
The pages of manuscript Clm 22053 containing the 9th-century Old High German Wessobrunn Prayer, which seems to describe the time before creation similarly to the Old Norse pagan sources.^[6]
Ismantorp Fortress, an Iron Age ringfort from c. 300-600 CE on Öland island, Sweden. Anders Andrén has argued that the structure is meant to represent Midgard, the enclosed, inhabited world.^[7]
A 9th-century picture stone from Ardre, Gotland that may depict Valhalla on the upper left.^[8] The figure on the eight-legged horse may depict Odin or a dead warrior riding to Valhalla.^[9]
Opening illustration of the Origo gentis Langobardorum, showing the Gods Godan (Odin) and Frea (Frigg) at the upper left corner.