"Seven Idols of Time: The Germanic Roots of 

English Weekday Names"







Each of us starts our day aware of which day of the week it is. However, many of us don't reflect on the origins of these day names. Where do terms like "Thursday" or "Friday" come from? What historical and cultural roots underpin our calendar? Let's delve into the world of the English language and its Germanic roots by turning to Richard Verstegan's "A Restitution of Decayed Intelligence" to learn more about the "seven idols" he believed stand behind the names of the days of the week.

In his work "A Restitution of Decayed Intelligence," Richard Verstegan seeks to restore the "lost knowledge" about the early history of England and the origins of the English people. He describes the migration of ancient Germanic tribes and Saxons to Britain and examines their contribution to the formation of the English people and language. The book also contains a defense of Catholicism. Verstegan argues in favor of the continuity of the Catholic Church from ancient times and attempts to refute the anti-Catholic sentiments in England of that era. Verstegan also introduces several words of Anglo-Saxon origin into the English language, emphasizing the Germanic roots of English.

1.     Sunne: An idol dedicated to the Sun. It is associated with Sunday.

2.     Mone: An idol of the Moon. This deity is linked with Monday.

3.     Tiu: A Germanic deity of war. It is associated with Tuesday, which in Old English is called "Tiw's day."

4.     Woden: The chief god in Germanic mythology, equivalent to Odin in Norse mythology. From his name comes the term Wednesday.

5.     Thuner: Equivalent to the god Thor. This deity is linked with Thursday, which in Old English is referred to as "Thor's day."

6.     Frig: Equivalent to the Norse goddess Frigg, Odin's wife. Her name gives rise to the term Friday.Given that Richard Verstegan describes the idol Frig as a symbol embodying both genders, Friday, in the context of this interpretation, becomes a day of duality.

7.     Sæter: The most mysterious of the idols, as its exact significance and origin are unclear. This deity is associated with Saturday. Some researchers link this name with the Roman god Saturn, though the exact nature of this correspondence remains a matter of debate.

Verstegan connects these names with the days of the week to emphasize the Germanic roots of the English language and culture.

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