Looking for the Lost Gods of England

by Kathleen Herbert

Kathleen Herbert sifts through the royal genealogies, charms, verse and other sources to find clues to the names and attributes of the Gods and Goddesses of the early English. The earliest account of English heathen practices reveals that they worshipped the Earth Mother and called her Nerthus. The names Tiw, Woden, Thunor, and Frig have been preserved in place names and in the names given to days of the week. The tales, beliefs and traditions of that time are still with us and able to stir our minds and imaginations; they have played a part in giving us A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Lord of the Rings.

Genres: History, Religion, Mythology, Anglo Saxon, Nonfiction, Folklore, Paganism

64 pages, Paperback

First published July 4, 1994

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chaotic, very short and sometimes eyebrow-raisingly speculative, this book is also a fascinating look at the limited evidence for Anglo-Saxon paganism, drawing connections between a huge array of sources. I met Kathleen Herbert in the eighties and this book really conveys her excitement and vivacity.

[Peter Fox · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's not easy to write about Anglo-Saxon paganism and this book doesn't really succeed in getting to the nitty gritty of it. Tacitus gets mined for references, as does Snorri Sturluson, but there is a thousand years between these and it's very tricky to tell what from these two sources actually applies to the Anglo-Saxons. Naturally, there is room for a lot of speculation, but given the similarities of agrarian economy and warrior dominated culture a lot could look to be of relevance. However, this book wasn't helped with looking at 14th century folklore traditions and seeking old pagan references there. I think you could take any agrarian activity and if you look hard enough, find a link to something that may be pagan inspired.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little gem of a book. Herbert, a student of Tolkein (!!!),is an expert in her own right concerning Anglo-Saxon culture. This is a transcribed lecture; as such it is short, but cram packed with useful and interesting information.

[Paul Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of what little is known about the Anglo-Saxon gods. Transcription of a lecture, not organised very logically, but so short that doesn't matter.

[Ulthuan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great bantz

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but a little difficult to follow (being a transcript of a speech or lecture). I don't know as much as I thought I did about the earliest English nor about Old English literature. I learned quite a bit from this very short book though, and found some little nuggets of information that made other things make more sense.

I was delighted to find a brief reference to an old character, a wolf named Fenrir, obviously borrowed by JKR for the nastiest werewolf in the Harry Potter books. (Some of her references were much more obscure to me than others).

I enjoyed the details of the Old English calendar. Also learned that frig is an Old English word for sexual intercourse, and how far back the metaphor of "ploughing" (or plowing) goes back. I'm interested to read more about the early English. Not much is known but it seems we've carried a lot of their world into our own.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slim tome (less than 60 pages). Nevertheless, Kathleen Herbert crams this little book with fantastic information about the lost and oppressed spirituality of the pre-Christian English and the tales told to explain it. Some of these tales live on today, in modified but still recognisable form, such as the tales of the Wild Hunt and of heroes like Robin Hood.

For its size it isn't cheap (I paid £5.95 at West Stowe Anglo-Saxon Village), but it's an invaluable introduction to the obscure and mystical world of the 'pagan' Anglo-Saxons.

[Sean Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short book that is full of useful commentary and insight into perhaps often overlooked (as opposed to Norse customs) anglo-saxon folk practices and agrarian rites. Along with anything I've picked up by this publisher this is definitely worth a read for anyone interested in rural pagan customs, particularly Germanic.

[Trish Deneen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent little book that is actually a transcript of a lecture given by the author. Small but packed full of info on the given topic of Anglo-Saxon pagan belief and practices that can be gleaned from the sources she cited. Her speculations are an interesting starting point for those looking into the topic, and the long list of footnotes provides grist for further research.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is my review of Kathleen Herbert's Looking for the Lost Gods of England, which I enjoyed, but offer a caveat about, considering the text's presence on Wikipedia.
https://www.newenglandbard.com/post/k...

[Osred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rigorous, stimulating and elegantly brief.

[Heather Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only wish it was longer

[jules revel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really more of an article that has been placed into book format but it is lovely and interesting.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great info.
But again, just entirely too brief.

[Beccameriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.goodreads.com/user/rate_b...#

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, at times a little difficult to follow but that's unsurprising as it's a transcript. Felt it finished a little abruptly.

[Waldo Varjak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abounding in footnotes, this concise written lecture is to savour. While I am still in the dark about the culture that erected Stonehenge, which was about the time the pyramids in Egypt were constructed, the more recent era of Tacitus’ Germania is clear to me after reading this talk given by the author (a writer of historical fiction set in the Dark Ages, describing Norse Gods in (“new”) England.

The depth of the lecture caused me to pause for reflective thought, page by page.

I am still a little curious about the God Ing. At first I am thinking this is the name of the Exalted Mother to the reference “Erce, erce, erce, eorÞan modor” but the appended chart (yay for charts!) makes it clear this is a Christ-like figure (the first man, the Archangel Michael) produced by the mating of the Divine Mother (Nerthus?) and Mannus. Which leads me back to the original question of to whom is the reference referring?

Tacitus is produced like an expert witness. Finally, a learned Roman! His claims, reproduced in the transcribed lecture, suggest the Arch-Mother is Isis – as he is reminded of the Egyptian ‘ship of Isis’ ritual, which makes sense if you believe Gods exist separate from their worship. Everyone seems to have two or more identities on The Internet, so why not a God? In some Heavenly Golden Hall though, I imagine, there must be an original name on some record of birth. Tacitus observes one ritual and compares it to a similar ritual he has knowledge about several thousand miles away, equating the first God he knows to the new God he does not. The author mentions this ideation but immediately puts a stop to this train of thought. Thus I went down an interesting blind alley that was probably more suited to address a scholar than to introduce a novice like myself. Pg 25 (Who was the intended audience for this lecture?)

Nevertheless, since I am not reading to become a priest of Woden, it was interesting. There were a few such instances where I did a double take and flipped pages back, highlighting for later reference. But, still, I do not know who is referred to by name:

“What is exalted high above earth is heaven, so the Mother of the earth Goddess would be Queen of Heaven, the Lady of all Ladies – and we do know who she is.” –pg 25

Is it Jehovah, mentioned in the Æcerbot Field-Remedy (pg 15)? On reflection, ten pages later, is it Mannus? Is it Frey, a fertility God? … wait a minute! I am looking for a mother at the top of this pantheon organogram not penis wielding Gods impregnating the Mother Earth. I am looking for The Mother of all of them. Let’s take a Ritalin and refocus.

The Chart is no help with this question. It starts with Earth, drops down to Tuisto (whoever) and then down to Mannus, who I assume mates with his mother Earth to produce the ‘Christ’ or ‘Adam’ named Ing. I could find no name for the female God referenced in: Erce, erce, erce, eorÞan modor.

I am left with Wodan, Thunor (Thor?), and Tiw/Tyr, and a puzzling question who begat Mother Earth? Who is the Arch-Mother? And, in the end, I begin to wonder if this is a matriarchal lesbian mystery because there are too many phalluses vying for the title of Mother of All?

That could make an interesting queer novel… and answer why, in my mind, all the Norse Gods have long hair. Pause again for reflective thought. And so this goes.

I did not find this slim book as straightforward as I had hoped to from its description. But I did find it to be thought provoking, and that can be just as good as flashcards from my perspective. Is it worth reading again knowing this winding road awaits? I think so if the reader has any interest in the subject. It’s not an arduous journey. The book is concise but it does have many asides as I have given example. It definitely could have been a much shorter book, maybe by half. But then it would not be worth having in a personal library because the incentive to actively engage with it would be lacking.

Still I would have appreciated if the author had told me directly to whom Erce, erce, erce, eorÞan modor refers.

[Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short pamphlet explores some of the central figures in Germanic and early Anglo-Saxon religion, such as the Mother Goddess, old Norse gods like Woden, and Tiw and Thunor. Kathleen Herbert looks at their mention in various sources and also includes sections on the heathen calendar, old folk songs and more besides.

My only complaints are with this book's short length, and that some information is repeated from other books from the same publisher (such as those by Stephen Pollington). As such, this is almost anecdotal, and only really useful for those who already have a deep interest in the era.

[Red Dog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst its seemingly scant nature belies the fact that it represents a transcribed lecture, this book is a treasure trove for anyone interested in a Saxon history of England untainted by both the deterministic Christian account typified by Bede, and the Whiggish triumphalism of those who wrote history in the wake of the Norman invasion. Indeed, as someone who has long been troubled by the standard account of Saxon "dark age" Britain as seen through the prism of 1066, I've been waiting to read a book like this for 25 years.

It's small, it's cheap, it's indispensable - there really isn't any exxcuse not to get it

[Volsung]

Interesting material, but highly speculative and lacking in hard proof; does not address the serious problems scholarship has pointed out in the field of pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon mythology -- i.e. alternative interpretations of the evidence, issues arising from methodology and preconceived assumptions, etc. Not to be relied upon.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, but very informative book. Herbert makes good cases for her conclusions but I do wish she had given a little more background on sources for additional research.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the written record of a lecture. As such, it's shorter and doesn't have as many examples as I want -- but that just means she should write a full book. =)

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. Very helpful.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. A quick and easy read.

[Ceilidhchaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read on the Pagan practices of England before it was England. Really interesting content, very dense and great footnotes for such a short book.