Symbols of the Saxon gods of Old England

I recently wrote an article about the Anglo-Saxon Gods of Old England – those that our ancestors worshipped before England became Christian. Just as Christianity is linked to the powerful symbol of the Cross and Judaism to that of the Star of David or the Menora, these gods had their own symbols that would be used on pottery, weapons and on pendants worn by the faithful. Here are some of the main Saxon gods and their symbols.

Woden (Odin)

Woden is the chief god of the Anglo-Norse Pantheon. He is seen as being often a grumpy old man, or a warrior and sometimes a shadowy cloaked figure sneaking around watching men. He was a god of life and death, of of war. In Saxon and in Norse mythology, Woden/Odin was the highest ranking god and the leader of the Wild Hunt. He was often imagined galloping across the sky  in a chariot pulled by white horses. It is thought that he is the original inspiration for Santa Claus. There are a  number of symbols associated with him. Both the Raven and the Wolf are animals linked to Woden. He is often depicted with a spear.

This is another symbol linked to Woden. It is not  a cross but is meant to be a wheel representing the circle of life and death over which woden held power. This symbol might well be on pendants, clothing and weapons.

Frige/Frigga

Frige was the wife of Woden and so queen of the gods. She was the goddess of Marriage, Child-birth, the Home and the Harvest. The stork is associated with her as is the spinning wheel. The constellation ‘Orion’s Belt’ was called ‘Frige’s Distaff’. Friday is named after her. Her Festival was harvest time.

Thunor (Thor)

Thunor (Thor) is famously see as a hammer-wielding god with power over thunder and lightning  as well as storms. He also has a role as the protector of mankind. Saxons also believed he had a gentler side involving healing, and fertility.

The most famous  symbol of Thunor ( often worn around the neck) is the hammer symbol.

Tiw (Tyr)

Tiw is the Anglo-Saxon god of War and Combat. His sacred animal was the wolf. He is often depicted as having only one hand as he lost one to the giant wolf Fenris. Our day Tuesday is named after Tiw. This rune is associated with him and may represent a spear:

Ingui-Freyr

Ingui- Freya (Norse Freya) was the male God of Fertility. His symbol was the boar.

Freya/Freo

Freo, brother of Ingui-Freya was the Saxon Love goddess. Her sacred animals are like her brother the boar but also  the cat. Cats pulled her chariot, and she sometimes rode a boar. She had a magic cloak of falcon feathers.

Eostre

Eostre  is a fairly obscure goddess of which we know far less than the others.  She seems to be a  goddess of purity, youth, beauty and of rebirth. Her festival became the later Christian Easter and the rabbit was the sacred animal to Eostre, and a  symbol of fertility. The egg also symbolised fertility and rebirth of spring. The whiteness of the egg and the rabbit also indicated purity. Cakes or buns (later the hot cross buns) may even date to her festival and indeed the Cross MIGHT be the sun wheel (which is the same as Woden’s symbol) representing the turning of the year and the coming of light.

Loki

Loki is a bit of a puzzle. He is strongly mentioned in Norse Mythology BUT not much in Anglo-Saxon literature. So was he part of Saxon mythology? Probably he was because he is mentioned in SOME stories for example Beowulf. Many other Saxon gods are NOT mentioned much but enough echoes in tradition and symbology are about to suggest they were worshipped. Loki is the God of Cunning and Deceit. Later, in the Christian era he became associated with the idea of  the Devil.

Loki is the trickster god. He manipulates and plots. BUT he is also the catalyst that makes things happen and moves things forward. It has been suggsted that the snake might be associated with him – interesting that it is also the form that Satan took in the Garden of Eden. Another example of how mythologies and religions borrow and share elements.

In my Dark Ages Historical fiction, The Amber Treasure and its sequel, Child of Loki these beliefs and the new Christian ones appear and have influences on the characters and their world.