The genealogy of the kings of Essex originally placed Seaxnēat at its apex. It was subsequently modified to make Seaxnēat son of Woden, with the first king of Essex seven generations later:
The name is usually derived from "seax", the eponymous knife which was characteristic of the tribe, and (ge)-not, (ge)-nēat as "companion" (cognate with German Genosse "comrade"), resulting in a translation of "sword-companion" (gladii consors, ensifer). This interpretation of the name is due to Jacob Grimm, who identified Saxnot with the god Tiw (Zio).[1] Grimm's view is more recently endorsed by Chaney (1970), but Simek (2007:276) prefers an identification with Fro, following Gabriel Turville-Petre (and invoking Georges Dumézil's trifunctional hypothesis).
Swiss linguist Heinrich Wagner (de) proposed that the second element of his name is cognate to Celtic deity Nodens, both from a root meaning 'to get, make use of'.[2]
Parallelsedit
Heinrich Wagner also saw mythological parallels between Saxnot and its proposed cognate Nodens (and Nuada): the word sax may refer to a shortsword, whereas Nuada is the bearer of a flashing sword in Irish mythology; deity Saxnot is revered as the ancestor of the Saxons, while Nuada is "progenitor par excellance".[3]
^Grimm, Deutsche Mythologie (1935), trans. Stallybrass (1888), chapter 9: "As Zio is identical with Zeus as directors of wars, we see at a glance that Eor, Er, Ear, is one with Ares the son of Zeus; and as the Germans had given the rank of Zeus to their Wuotan, Týr and consequently Eor appears as the son of the highest god. [...] Then again the famous Abrenuntiatio names three heathen gods, Thunar, Wôden, Saxnôt, of whom the third can have been but little inferior to the other two in power and holiness. Sahsnôt is word for word gladii consors, ensifer, who else but Zio or Eor and the Greek Ares? The AS. genealogies preserve the name of Saxneát as the son of Wôden, and it is in perfect accordance with it, that Týr was the son of Oðinn, and Ares the son of Zeus. But further, as the Saxons were so called, either because they wielded the sword of stone (saxum), or placed this god at the head of their race, so I think the Cheruscans of Tacitus, a people synonymous, nay identical with them, were named after Cheru, Heru = Eor, from whom their name can be derived."
Chaney, William A. (1970). The Cult of Kingship in Anglo-Saxon England: The Transition from Paganism to Christianity. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Philippson, E. A.(1929). Germanisches Heidentum bei den Angelsachsen. Leipzig.
seaxnēat, germanic, mythology, pronounced, ˈsæɑksnæːɑt, saxnōt, national, saxons, contents, attestation, etymology, parallels, also, notes, referencesattestation, editthe, english, form, recorded, genealogies, kings, essex, saxon, form, saxnōt, attested, saxon. In Germanic mythology Seaxneat pronounced ˈsaeɑksnaeːɑt or Saxnōt was the national god of the Saxons Contents 1 Attestation 2 Etymology 3 Parallels 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesAttestation editThe Old English form Seaxneat is recorded in the genealogies of the kings of Essex The Old Saxon form Saxnōt is attested in the Old Saxon Baptismal Vow along with the gods Uuoden Woden and Thunaer Thor The genealogy of the kings of Essex originally placed Seaxneat at its apex It was subsequently modified to make Seaxneat son of Woden with the first king of Essex seven generations later Woden Seaxneat Gesecg Andsecg Swaeppa Sigefugel Bedca Offa AEscwine r c 527 587 Etymology editThe name is usually derived from seax the eponymous knife which was characteristic of the tribe and ge not ge neat as companion cognate with German Genosse comrade resulting in a translation of sword companion gladii consors ensifer This interpretation of the name is due to Jacob Grimm who identified Saxnot with the god Tiw Zio 1 Grimm s view is more recently endorsed by Chaney 1970 but Simek 2007 276 prefers an identification with Fro following Gabriel Turville Petre and invoking Georges Dumezil s trifunctional hypothesis Swiss linguist Heinrich Wagner de proposed that the second element of his name is cognate to Celtic deity Nodens both from a root meaning to get make use of 2 Parallels editHeinrich Wagner also saw mythological parallels between Saxnot and its proposed cognate Nodens and Nuada the word sax may refer to a shortsword whereas Nuada is the bearer of a flashing sword in Irish mythology deity Saxnot is revered as the ancestor of the Saxons while Nuada is progenitor par excellance 3 See also editList of Germanic deities West Germanic deitiesNotes edit Grimm Deutsche Mythologie 1935 trans Stallybrass 1888 chapter 9 As Zio is identical with Zeus as directors of wars we see at a glance that Eor Er Ear is one with Ares the son of Zeus and as the Germans had given the rank of Zeus to their Wuotan Tyr and consequently Eor appears as the son of the highest god Then again the famous Abrenuntiatio names three heathen gods Thunar Woden Saxnot of whom the third can have been but little inferior to the other two in power and holiness Sahsnot is word for word gladii consors ensifer who else but Zio or Eor and the Greek Ares The AS genealogies preserve the name of Saxneat as the son of Woden and it is in perfect accordance with it that Tyr was the son of Odinn and Ares the son of Zeus But further as the Saxons were so called either because they wielded the sword of stone saxum or placed this god at the head of their race so I think the Cheruscans of Tacitus a people synonymous nay identical with them were named after Cheru Heru Eor from whom their name can be derived Wagner Heinrich Zur Etymologie von keltisch Nodons Ir Nuadu Kymr Nudd Lludd In Zeitschrift fur celtische Philologie 41 no 1 1986 180 181 https doi org 10 1515 zcph 1986 41 1 180 Wagner Heinrich Zur Etymologie von keltisch Nodons Ir Nuadu Kymr Nudd Lludd In Zeitschrift fur celtische Philologie 41 no 1 1986 180 182 https doi org 10 1515 zcph 1986 41 1 180References editChaney William A 1970 The Cult of Kingship in Anglo Saxon England The Transition from Paganism to Christianity Manchester Manchester University Press Philippson E A 1929 Germanisches Heidentum bei den Angelsachsen Leipzig Simek Rudolf 2007 translated by Angela Hall Dictionary of Northern Mythology D S Brewer ISBN 0 85991 513 1 nbsp This article relating to a European folklore is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Seaxneat amp oldid 1126010022, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
