Anglo-Saxon Heathen Glossary |
A Æfterra Geola Old English meaning after Yule, and is the month that corresponds to modern day January. Æfterra Litha Heathen name for the month of July. Ærra Geola Old English meaning before Yule and is the month that corresponds to modern December. Ærra Litha Heathen name for the month of June and the time of the summer solstice. Angles Germanic tribe that settled in Britain in the fifth century.Their original homeland was the Jutland peninsula where they worshipped the goddess Nerthus. They created the ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Mercia, East Anglia and Northumbria and gave their name to England itself, i.e. Angle-Land. Augustine, St Missionary who was despatched by Pope Gregory to convert the Heathen Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. He landed on the Isle of Thanet in the year 597.AD. B Balder Anglo-Saxon word/name that corresponds to that of the Norse god Baldr. Bede Anglo-Saxon monk of the 7th and 8th centuries who recorded much about the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. In his writings he also preserved many insights into Heathenism such as the Heathen names of the months Beowulf Epic Anglo-Saxon tale set in Scandanavia, which preserves much of the warrior cult and society of the Heroic age of the Germanic peoples. It also gives an insight into many Anglo-Saxon traditions such as the symbel. Blotmonath Old English for Bloodmonth, which is that Heathen name for the month of November. Brosingamen Old English word that corresponds to the Norse Brisingamen, which was a treasure stolen by Loki from Freya. Boar The boar was a very sacred animal to the Anglo-Saxons. Images of boars have been found on helmets and jewellery. C Coifi A Heathen priest at the court of King Edwin of Northumbria. His destruction of his own Heathen temple and subsequent conversion to Christianity was recorded by the Venerable Bede in his Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation. D Dweorg Old English for dwarf. The belief in dwarfs by the Anglo-Saxons was strong enough for there to be charms to be recited to fight against them and their powers. E Ealh Old English word meaning temple. This word is found in many English place names and point to possible places of Heathen worship. Earendel Old English word that corresponds to the Norse Aurandvill. Earendal was a name for the morning star. Edwin Heathen king of Northumbria who was converted to Christianity in the 7th century. Ælf Old English for elf. The belief in elves was very strong and very widespread amongst the Anglo-Saxons in both Heathen and Christian times. The belief was such that charms were recited to protect against their evils. Eostre Anglo-Saxon Spring/dawn goddess who's name is found in Eostremonath, the fourth month of the Heathen calendar. Belief in her was such that the Christians adopted her name for the Christian festival of Easter. Eostremonath Heathen month name for April, named after and in honour of the spring/dawn goddess Eostre. Éoten Old English word meaning giant. Erce Possible Anglo-Saxon goddess. The word/name Erce is found in an Anglo-Saxon Land fertility charm alongside the term Earth Mother. Ermula Said by Saint Aldhelm to be pillars in the image of snakes and stags that the Anglo-Saxons worshipped in Wessex. Esa Old English word that corresponds to the Norse word Aesir. Ése is found in an Anglo-Saxon charm which mentions a shot or arrow fired by either the Ésa, elves or hags. Ethelbert Anglo-Saxon king of Kent who was the first King in England to be converted to Christianity. F Frea Anglo-Saxon word or title that corresponds to the name of the Norse god Freyr. Frige Anglo-Saxon goddess who gave her name to Friday, and who's name can also be found in many English place names such as Freefolk. Fulwiht Old English term meaning baptism that is likely to be of a pre-Christian origin. G Galdor-craeftig A word refering to someone who is skilled in incantations. Godweb Native Old English term of a pre-Christian origin meaning vestments. Gregory, Pope Pope who was responsible for the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. After seeing Heathen Angle children in Rome he despatched Saint Augustine to convert them. Grendel Fierce monster found in the poem Beowulf. Grim Another name for the Anglo-Saxon god Woden. Grimsdyke Place name of a ditch in Southern England containing the Woden by-name Grim. H Hæðenweoh Old English term meaning heathen-idol. Halegmonath Old English month name meaning holy month, which corresponds to our September. In this month Heathen festivals took place. Hengist/Horsa Legendary brothers who lead the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain. Also possible that Hengist and Horsa were twin horse gods. Hearg Old English word meaning sanctuary, which is found in English place names such as Harrowden and points clearly to places of Heathen worship Heorot The hall of king Hrothgar in the poem Beowulf. Hretha Anglo-Saxon goddess who gave her name to Hrethmonath, the third month of the Anglo-Saxon Calendar. Hrethmonath Heathen Anglo-Saxon name for the month March, which was named after the goddess Hretha. I Ingui Anglo-Saxon god who's name corresponds to that of the Norse god Ingvi. And who's name is also found in Anglo-Saxon genealogies and in the Old English rune poem as Ing. J Jutes Germanic tribe from the Jutland peninsula who settled in Southern England in the fifth century and made Kent their kingdom. K L Licwiglunga Old English word that means incantations of the dead. M Middengeard Old English word meaning middle enclosure, which corresponds to the Norse Midgard. Morth-wyrtha Old English word meaning worshipper of the dead. Mother's Night An Anglo-Saxon Heathen festival that was recorded by the venerable Bede in his description of the Anglo-Saxon Heathen Calendar. The festival took place at night during the celebration of Yule. N Nerthus A very ancient Germanic Earth goddesses who as recorded by the Roman historian Tacitus was worshipped on an Island by seven Germanic tribes, one of which was the Angles. Nine Herbs Charm An Anglo-Saxon charm that mentions and uses the healing powers and magic of the god Woden. O Os The singular form of Ese. Ós simply means god and can be found in names such as Oswald. P Penda 7th century Anglo-Saxon king of Mercia who refused to convert to Christianity and died in battle a Heathen. Q R Redwald 7th century Anglo-Saxon king of East Anglia who was partially converted to Christianity on a visit to Kent, but on return to East Anglia he continued to worship the Heathen gods aswell as the Christian one. He is widely considered to be the king interred in the Sutton Hoo ship burial. S Saxons Germanic tribe that lived in North Germany, many of whom settled in Britain and created the kingdoms of Essex (East Saxons), Wessex (West Saxons) and Sussex (South Saxons). The Saxons that remained in Germany became known as the 'Old Saxons'. Scinlaeca An Old English word meaning a type of phantom or apparition, the word was also used to describe someone who was capable of producing such things. Seaxneat Anglo-Saxon and Saxon god who was believed to be the ancestor of the Saxons, his name is found in the genealogies of the kings of Essex. Solmonath Old English meaning mud month or sun month. It corresponds to modern day February and as described by Bede was the month that the Heathen Anglo-Saxons offered cakes to their gods. Sutton Hoo A magnificent Anglo-Saxon ship burial that Ship Burial dates from the 630's which contained many grave goods. Although the burial contained Christian objects the tradition of ship burials and the inclusion of grave goods was very much Heathen. T Thrimilci Heathen name for the month of May. The name means three milkings as cows could be milked three times a day. Thunor Anglo-Saxon thunder god. Thyrs Old English word meaning giant. Tiig Another name for the Anglo-Saxon war god Tiw. Tiw Anglo-Saxon war god who in most ancient times was called Tiwaz and was chief god of the Germanic peoples. U Unlybban Wyrce Old English word that means destructive of life. V W Wælcyrgie Old English word that corresponds to the Norse word Valkyrie. Wansdyke An earth work in Southern England meaning dyke or ditch of Woden. Wayland Anglo-Saxon smith god. Waylands Smithy A megalithic monument which English folklore and legend says is the home of Wayland smith. Winterfyllith Heathen month name meaning winter full moon, which corresponds to modern day October. In this month winter started at the sighting of the full moon. Weodmonath Old English meaning weed month and is the month that corresponds to our modern August. Wéoh Old English word meaning idol or shrine which can be found in Old English place names like Cusanweoh meaning 'shrine of Cusa'. Wiglaer An Old English word made from wig (idol) and laer (learning). Wiglaer literally means idol or temple learning. Wigbed Old English term meaning alter, but very likely to be of a pre-Christian origin. Wigbora Old English word meaning idol bearer. Wigsmith Old English word meanins the maker of idols. Wigweorthung Old English word meaning to honour idols. Wild Hunt Supernatural hunt of noisy souls through the sky led by Woden. Wilweorthunga Old English word that literally means fountain worship. Woden Chief god of the Anglo-Saxons in England. Woden was a god a battle and wisdom and the Anglo-Saxon kings traced their ancestry back to him. Wulder Old English word/name that corresponds to the Norse Ullr. Wyrd Old English word meaning fate. X Y Ylfa Old English word meaning Elves. Yule From the Old English Geola, which could mean wheel. Yule was a twelve day festival which started around the winter solstice and for the Anglo-Saxons contained the start of the new year and the mothers night celebration. Z |
