In Old English poetry, many descriptive epithets for God were used to satisfy alliterative requirements. These epithets include:

List

{| border="1" class="wikitable"

!width="15%"|Main!!width="15%"|Name (Old English)!!width="20%"|Name meaning!!width="50%"|Attestations

|-

!rowspan=1|Cyning<br>"King"

|wuldres Cyning

|"King of Glory"

|The Dream of the Rood

|-

!rowspan=3|Dryhten<br>"Lord"

|ece Dryhten

|"eternal Lord"

|Cædmon's hymn

|-

|dryhntes dreamas

|"the joys of the Lord"

|The Seafarer

|-

|heofones Dryhten

|"heaven's Lord"

|The Dream of the Rood

|-

!rowspan=1|Ealdor<br>"Prince"

|wuldres Ealdor

|"Prince of Glory"

|The Dream of the Rood

|-

!rowspan=2|Fæder<br>"Father"

|Heahfæder

|"Highfather"

|The Dream of the Rood

|-

|Wuldorfæder

|"Glorious Father"

|Cædmon's hymn

|-

!rowspan=2|Frea<br>"Lord"

|Frea ælmihtig

|"Master almighty"

|Cædmon's hymn

|-

|Frea mancynnes

|"Mankind's Master"

|The Dream of the Rood

|-

!rowspan=2|God<br>"God"

|God ælmihtig

|"God almighty"

|The Dream of the Rood

|-

|weruda God

|"God of hosts"

|The Dream of the Rood

|-

!rowspan=1|Hælend<br>"Healer"

|Hælend

|"Healer"

|The Dream of the Rood

|-

!rowspan=2|Metod<br>"Maker"

|Metod

|"Maker"

|Beowulf (110)

|-

|eald Metod

|"Old Maker"

|Beowulf (945)

|-

!rowspan=4|Wealdend<br>"Ruler"

|Wealdend

|"Ruler"

|The Dream of the Rood

|-

|Al-wealda

|"all-ruler"

|Meters of Boethius <small>(11)</small>

|-

|wuldor alwealda

|"Glorious all-ruler"

|Codex Exoniensis

|-

|fæder alwealda

|"Father all-ruler"

|Beowulf <small>(630)</small>

|-

!rowspan=2|Weard<br>"Guard"

|heofonrices Weard

|"the heavenly kingdom's Guard"

|Cædmon's hymn

|-

|

|

|Beowulf

|}

{| align="center"

|267px|Ælmihtiga 186px|Drihten 127px|Metod

|-

|"Ælmihtiga," "Drihten," "Metod," as they appear in the Beowulf.

|}

See also

  • Name of God in Christianity
  • Wuldor
  • List of kennings
  • List of names of Odin
  • List of names of Freyr

Notes

References

  • Swanton, Michael James, The Dream of the Rood.
  • Godden, Malcolm, Michael Lapidge. The Cambridge companion to Old English literature. 2002. University of Cambridge Press.