340
THE SAXONS IN ENGLAND.
[book I.
Thus we have Mercurius, Woden and OJnnn suf-
ficiently identified. A careful investigation of the
inner spirit of Greek mythology has led some
very competent judges to see a form of Hermes in
Odysseus. This view derives some corroboration
from the Teutonic side of the question, and the re-
lation in which Woden stands to Mercurius. Even
Tacitus had learnt that Ulixes had visited Germany,
and there founded a town which he called Asci-
burgium1 ; and without insisting on the probability
that Asciburgium grew out of a German Anseopurc
or a Scandinavian Asgard, it seems not unreason-
able to suppose that some tales of Woden had
reached the ears of the Roman, which seemed to
him to resemble the history of Odysseus and his
wanderings. Such a tale we yet possess in the ad-
ventures ofThorkill on his journey to Utgardaloki,
narrated by Saxo Grammaticus, which bears a re-
markable likeness to some parts of the Odyssey 2 ;
and when we consider Saxo’s very extraordinary
mode of rationalizing ancient mythological tradi-
tions, we shall admit at least the probability of an
earlier version of the tale which would be much
more consonant with the suggestion of Tacitus,
although this earlier form has unfortunately not
’ ,l Ceterum et Ulixen quidam Opinantur Iongo illo et fabuloso errors
in hunc Oceanum delatum adiisse Germaniae terras, Asciburgiumque,
quod in ripa Rheni situm hodieque incolitur, ab illo Constitutum nouɪi-
natumque. Aram quinetiam Ulixi Consecratam adiecto Laertae patrie
nomine eodem loco olim repertam, m Onimentaque et tumulos quosdam
Graecis Iitteris inscriptos in confinio Germaniae Rhaetiaeque adhuc
exstare. Quae neque Confirmare arguments, neque refellere in animo
st ; ex ingenio suo quisque demat л el addat fidem.” Germ. iii.
l Saxo Gram. Hist. Dan. lib. x iii.
CH. ХИ.]
HEATHENDOM. WO'DEN.
341
survived. Woden is, like Odysseus, preeminently
the wanderer ; he is Gangradr, Gangleri, the rest-
less, moving deity. Even the cloak, hood or hat
in which 0∣>inn is always clad1 reminds us both of
the petasus of Hermes and the broad hat which
Odysseus generally wears on ancient gems and
pottery. That Woden was worshiped æt uoega
gelætum, and that he was the peculiar patron of
boundaries, again recalls to us this function of
Hermes, and the ''Epμaιa. When we hear that offer-
ings were brought to him upon the lofty hills, we
are reminded that there was an aκpιac,, or Mountain
Hermes too, though little known ; and the 'Epjuηc
πpoμaγoc,, perhaps as little known as his moun-
tain brother, answers to the warlike, victory-giving
deity of our forefathers in his favourite form.
From the godlike or heroic sons of Woden de-
scend all the races qualified to reign, and some of
those whose names are found in the Anglosaxon
genealogies may be easily recognised in the mytho-
logical legends of the continent. In some one or
other of his foɪms he is the eponymus of tribes and
races: thus, as Geat or through Geat, he was the
founder of the Geatas ; through Gewis, of the Ge-
wissas ; through Scyld, of the Scyldingas, the Norse
O Jdnn is called Iieklumalir, the man with the cloak. Forn. Sog.
ɪ. 325. “ Kom par maδr gamall, miok orδspakr, einsynn [Cψinn was
one-eyed only] ok augdapr, ok haf,δi hatt sidan.” Fornman. Sog. ii.
138. “Sa hann mann mikinn me® sfδum hetti... .ok J>otti konungi
gaman æt rætɪuɪn hans, Ji iat hann kunni af olluɪn Iondum ti,δindi at
segja.” Fornman. Sog. v. 250. He is called SfShottr even in the Edda.
Through this cloak or Hackle, Woden becomes Hacleberend or Hackle
berg, who rides at the head of the Wilde Jagd or wild hunt.