Thunor
Anglo Saxon · deity · mythic · Recorded classification
Anglo-Saxon thunder god, cognate with Norse Þórr; attested in weekday name, place-names and a baptismal renunciation.
Domains
- thunder
- sky storm
Powers
- Hurl thunder and lightning across the sky
Relations
- companion: SeaxneatReciprocal of anglosaxon_seaxneat.companion — Renounced together - 'Thunaer ende Uuoden ende Saxnote' - as the three great gods.Old Saxon Baptismal Vow (9th c.) (primary)
- companion: WodenRenounced together - 'Thunaer ende Uuoden ende Saxnote' - as the three great gods.Old Saxon Baptismal Vow (9th c.) (primary)
- equated with: ThorReciprocal of norse_thor.equated-with — Cognates < PGmc *Þun(a)raz 'thunder'; shared weekday calque (Þunresdæg/Þórsdagr) and the Old Saxon baptismal vow's Thunaer carry the English/Saxon god; no OE myths survive, so the equation is philological, not narrative.J. de Vries, Altgermanische Religionsgeschichte, 2nd ed. (1956-57) (secondary); R. Simek, Dictionary of Northern Mythology (1993), s.v. 'Thor' (secondary)
Sources
- existence: Weekday 'Þunresdæg'; Old Saxon Baptismal Vow renouncing Thunaer, Woden, Saxnot (primary); M. Gelling, Signposts to the Past (1978), on Thunor place-names (secondary)