Woden
/ˈwoː.den/noun
The chief deity in pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon religion, equivalent to Odin.
Did you know?Woden’s name comes from the same ancient root as fury, inspiration, and poetic frenzy, which is why Germanic rulers later claimed descent from him to borrow his divine power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*Wōðanaz
“A god associated with fury, inspiration, and ecstatic power”
Old English
OE
Wōden
“The chief Germanic god worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons”
Old High German
OHG
Wuotan
“A Germanic deity corresponding to Woden/Odin”
Old Norse
ON
Óðinn
“The Norse god Odin, associated with wisdom, poetry, war, and magic”
Modern English
English
Woden
“The Anglo-Saxon name for Odin, preserved in historical and mythological contexts”