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When Christianity came, the old gods vanished from the cult, but not from the landscape. In many place names their memory lives on.
Godesberg (near Bonn, earlier Wodenesberg) and Gudensberg (Hesse) probably bear the name of Wodan – a regional hook right on our doorstep. Old "Wodan's ways" and field names belong here too.
In the north it is even clearer: Odense (Denmark) = "Odin's sanctuary" (Odins vé), plus Swedish names with Thor, Freyr and others. Such names are often the surest proof that a god was really worshipped in a region.
"Odins vé", the sanctuary of Odin, is hidden in the name of Odense.after place-name research (public domain)
The place names show the belief in the land. Continue with Wodan, Donar & Ziu and the interpretatio Romana.
Interpretatio Romana · Wodan, Donar & Ziu · Tiwaz · Donar · Germanic Religion.
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