Germanic paganism is a religious belief system that was practiced by the Germanic peoples of northern Europe before the conversion to Christianity. Throughout this belief system, there were various gods and goddesses that were worshipped and revered. One of the most well-known gods in Germanic paganism is Odin. He was the chief god and ruler of Asgard, the realm of the gods. Odin was associated with wisdom, war, poetry, and death. He was often depicted with a long beard, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and carrying a spear named Gungnir.
Grimms’ Fairy tales, v. 2. New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce, [1962]. Call number: X 834 G88LUN8. The blue fairy book. Edited by Andrew Lang. London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1889. Call number: 398.4 L25bl.
Because of this oral tradition and the diffusion of tales throughout time, there are countless variants of the same stories in many different lands and cultures. Lang published 25 collections of fairy tales for children from 1889 and 1913 featuring hundreds of stories from many sources, including the Grimm tales.
He was often depicted with a long beard, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and carrying a spear named Gungnir. Another important god in Germanic paganism was Thor. He was the god of thunder and lightning and was known for his immense strength.
What Do The Days Of The Week Have In Common With Germanic Gods?
Why is Monday called “Monday?” Who decided the names of the days of the week? The Germanic gods have more of a say than you would think.
Jan 14, 2021 • By Alexander Standjofski , BA in History & Political Theory w/ pre and post-Christian Ideology
Detail from Thor’s Battle with the Giants by Mårten Eskil Winge, 1872; Medieval Astrological Chart, 1399; and Odin Fighting Fenrir by Emil Doepler, 1905
As the Roman Empire expanded north , it came into more contact (and conflict) with the Germanic sphere of influence. Though the two cultures clashed, they became heavily influential on one another. This mix and mutual influence birthed a hybrid culture divided solely by language – while the Romans took their pantheon from the Greeks , the Germanic gods seemed to share similarities with the Roman gods. The names of these Germanic gods survive in the way we perceive time in the English language. Ancient astrology dictated observation of seven celestial bodies: the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, which were in turn translated into the seven days of the week. When the Germanic, Teutonic, Frankish, and Nordic peoples observed this culture in the Romans, it was interpreted into their own languages and culture .
Thor wielded a mighty hammer named Mjolnir, which he used to protect humanity and battle his enemies. He was often depicted as a burly man with red hair and a beard. Freyr was another significant god in Germanic paganism. He was associated with fertility, prosperity, and the harvest. Freyr was often depicted as a handsome and noble figure, with long golden hair and a beard. He was seen as a benevolent god who brought abundance and blessings to the people. Additionally, there were goddesses worshipped in Germanic paganism. Freyja was the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. She was associated with desire and sensuality, and was often depicted as a beautiful and captivating woman. Another goddess, Frigg, was the wife of Odin and the queen of Asgard. She was associated with marriage, motherhood, and domestic life. These are just a few examples of the gods and goddesses that were worshipped in Germanic paganism. Each deity held a unique role and had their own domain of influence. The Germanic peoples believed in a multitude of gods, which they worshipped and offered sacrifices to in order to gain favor and blessings..
Reviews for "Germanic Paganism and its Connection to Nature: The Gods of the Elements"
1. Samantha - 2 stars
I found "Germanic paganism gods" to be quite disappointing. The storyline was confusing and lacked depth. The characters were not well-developed, and it was hard to connect or feel any sort of attachment to them. Additionally, the writing style was choppy and did not flow smoothly. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and would not recommend this book to others.
2. Marcus - 1 star
"Germanic paganism gods" was a complete waste of my time. The plot was overly simplistic and predictable. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to take the characters seriously. The lack of research and attention to detail was evident throughout the book, which made the story feel shallow and unconvincing. It was clear that the author did not have a strong grasp on the subject matter they chose to write about. I regret picking up this book and would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Emily - 2 stars
I was highly disappointed with "Germanic paganism gods" and found it to be quite dull. The story lacked originality and failed to engage me from the start. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any depth or complexity. The pacing was slow, and it felt like nothing of significance was happening for the majority of the book. Overall, I was left feeling unimpressed and would not recommend this book to others.
4. Jason - 1 star
"Germanic paganism gods" was a complete letdown. The writing was subpar and lacked any sort of captivating or engaging quality. The plot was uninteresting and failed to hold my attention. The author's attempt to create a sense of mythology and awe fell flat, and the story felt disjointed and hard to follow. I was left feeling frustrated and unsatisfied by this book and cannot recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable read.
5. Sarah - 2 stars
I was expecting so much more from "Germanic paganism gods," but it failed to deliver. The characters were bland and underdeveloped, and their motives were unclear throughout the story. The pacing was inconsistent, making it hard to maintain interest. The writing style was basic and lacked imagination, and I found myself skimming through paragraphs because they failed to hold my attention. Overall, I was left feeling let down by this book and would not recommend it to others.