E X T E N S I O N GODS AND GODDESSES The early Anglo-Saxons believed that the most important deities1 were females2 rather than3 males4. Then slowly gods became more important than goddesses. The principal goddess was Nerthus, the earth5 mother responsible for the fertility of the earth. Associated with Nerthus was Freya, similar to the Roman Venus. She had power over love and friendship and was the wife of Woden. Friday takes the name from her. Eostre was the goddess of spring and new life. She gave her name to the Christian spring festivity of Easter, which was originally celebrated on the same day as the festivity of Eostre 21 March, the spring equinox. The modern Easter symbolisms of Easter eggs and Easter rabbit come from pagan customs. The eggs symbolise fertility, the rabbit was Eostre s sacred animal. The most important god was Woden (Odin in Viking mythology). Woden was the lord of war and hunting6 but also of magic and poetry7. Wednesday is named after him. Other important male deities were Tiw, god of justice (Tuesday takes the name from him) and Thor, god of thunder8 (Thursday takes the name from him). The Anglo-Saxons believed also in the spirits of nature, like elves9 and trolls10, and in valkyries, women at Woden s service, who led11 the souls12 from the battlefield13 to Valhalla the home for those who died gloriously The statue of Woden in battle. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. deities: gods and goddesses. female: woman. rather than: instead of, and not. male: man. earth: soil, ground. hunting: the act of catching and killing an animal for food or sport. 7. poetry: poems in general. 8. thunder: the loud noise which comes from the sky especially during a tempest. 9. elf (pl. elves): small creature of great beauty with pointed ears and magical powers, living in forests. 10. troll: generally an ugly, large creature that has magical powers and lives in mountains. 11. led (lead-led-led): guided, showed the way to. 12. soul: spirit of a person. 13. battlefield: place of a battle. 45