The ancient pantheon of gods worshipped by the early English and the Viking Norsemen share many striking similarities. This has led scholars and enthusiasts alike to ask: Were the pagan gods of Anglo-Saxon England the same as those of the Vikings? The answer is complex, but fascinating, rooted in shared linguistic roots, cultural exchange, and a common Germanic ancestry.

Common Origins: The Germanic Pagan Foundation

Before diving into the similarities and differences, it's important to understand the broader context. Both the Anglo-Saxons (the early English) and the Vikings (Norsemen from Scandinavia) descended from the larger family of Germanic peoples. These tribes, which once spread across Northern Europe, shared a proto-Germanic language and religion long before their migrations to Britain or Scandinavia.

As a result, many of the deities worshipped by both cultures stem from a common ancestral belief system. Over time, these gods evolved and were shaped by the unique histories, environments, and migrations of each group.

Similar Gods with Different Names

A number of gods appear in both Norse and Anglo-Saxon traditions under different names but with similar characteristics:

• Odin (Old Norse) / Woden (Old English):
  The chief god, associated with war, wisdom, poetry, and death. The Anglo-Saxon Woden was the ruler of the gods, just as Odin was in Norse mythology. Wednesday, or Wōdnesdæg in Old English, is named after him—just as it is Onsdag in Scandinavian languages.

• Thor (Old Norse) / Thunor (Old English):
  The thunder god, protector of humanity, wielding a mighty hammer (Mjölnir in Norse myth). In English, Thunor (or Þunor) was the god of thunder, associated with strength and storms. Thursday—Þunresdæg—is named after him.

• Týr (Old Norse) / Tiw (Old English):
  The god of war and justice. Both figures are connected with warfare and heroic sacrifice. The English name for Tuesday, Tiwesdæg, reflects this deity.

• Frigg (Old Norse) / Frige (Old English):
  The goddess of marriage and fate, wife of Odin/Woden. Friday (Frigedæg in Old English) is named after her.

These linguistic links highlight a shared mythological structure that predates the Anglo-Saxon and Viking migrations, rooted in earlier Germanic paganism. shutdown123