Old Germanic Theonyms

The interest in investigation of Germanic antiquity has widely changed within time, but what has not changed is the fact that it is almost exclusively names which can be used as a linguistic source available from this period. Names are relevant to all research areas that deal with Germanic antiquity. The analysis of sources from classical antiquity and the early Middle Ages dealing with Old Germanic theonyms is desirable for both linguistics and for cultural and religious studies. The proposed project joins the series of previous projects by the applicant, which have the following aim in common: they are to be conceived as interpretational volumes to the Lexikon der altgermanischen Namen (LAN) by Hermann Reichert, who for the first time compiled all attestations of Germanic names from the beginning of attestation until roughly 600 AD. The aim of the planned project is to create a comprehensive dictionary of Old Germanic theonyms with both etymological discussion of the lemmata and a critical survey of all relevant research literature. The project comprises the following tasks: (1) Gathering all relevant research literature from 1990 onward, completing the collection of literature about Old Germanic names until 1990 made by Robert Nedoma, and compiling and redacting the existing excerpts from previous projects, taking into account the most recent studies. (2) Writing entries concerning the individual theonyms, comprising philological, etymological and bibliographical information; where possible, questions concerning religious and cultural studies shall be discussed, too. (3) Preparing the manuscript for print, publishing the dictionary in book form. A handbook of the Old Germanic theonyms will be created, containing all instances of each theonym and a critical discussion of its phonological and morphological peculiarities; furthermore an outlook on possible ways of interpretation in regard to cultural and religious questions will be given, where possible. Such a compilation of all mythological names in Old Germanic languages has not been created yet. The comprehensive dictionary of Old Germanic theonyms will continue the series of previous investigations on Old Germanic names initiated by the project supervisor Hermann Reichert. It will be useful both for linguists and for historians and scholars with interest in Germanic antiquity in general. This project aims at becoming a standard reference work on the subject of Old Germanic mythological names. In order to distinguish the subject matter of the project from any previous or possible subsequent projects, the following working definition of the term theonym has been adopted: theonyms refer to what is labeled `mythological names` in Reichert`s LAN; like there and in previous projects, both the term `name` and the constituent `theo-` will be used in the broadest sense. All names whose affiliation to the religious sphere has been discussed will be treated and included in the collection of theonyms.

During the two years of the research project (P 23423-G20) Old Germanic Theonyms, an etymological handbook of the Old Germanic theonyms is being prepared. It will continue the series of interpretational monographs [Sitzmann Grünzweig 2008, Grünzweig Scheungraber 2013 (in print)], which add to Hermann Reicherts Lexikon der altgermanischen Namen(=LAN). Among the theonyms, the most prominent group of names consists of matrons names, which were investigated in thoroughly regarding their etymology and word formation. This is the inner structure of the lexicons entries: Each lexicon entry starts with Referenz, where a cross reference to the LAN is given, and information on the written records (Überlieferung), find spot with embedded link to Google Maps; embedded link to an online picture of the particular inscription, and Kontext, where further information on epigraphical or iconographical aspects or philological comments (reading variants etc.) are given. The following section contains a critical survey of the relevant literature and etymologies. In a few cases, however, no explicit etymology can be given, e.g. when the name is too fragmentary or when a misspelling occurs in a hapax. The onomastic data is mostly of Germanic and / or Celtic origin. Concerning the Rhinish matrons names and their derivational peculiarities, it is safe to say that there was major Celtic influence on Germanic. Hybrid formations, Celtic-Germanic name doublets, etc. are witnesses of language and culture contact. In the Rhinish and British contact situations, the Romans played an important role in transmission of culture and religion. The monograph The Old Germanic Theonyms, containing a comprehensive dictionary with etymological discussion and analysis of the oldest attested mythological names of Old Germanic, will be an important handbook and essential for the field of Germanic antiquity. References: Grünzweig, Friedrich E. & Scheungraber, Corinna. Die Altgermanischen Toponyme sowie Ungermanische Toponyme Germaniens Ein Handbuch zu ihrer Etymologie (unter Verwendung einer Bibliographie von Robert Nedoma). Philologica Germanica (Hg. Hermann Reichert), i. pr. Reichert, Hermann. Lexikon der altgermanischen Namen I-II (Thesaurus Palaeogermanicus 1). Wien 1987-1990 [= LaN I-II]. Scheungraber, Corinna. Die komplexen Suffixe der westgermanischen Matronennamen und der keltisch-germanische Sprachkontakt am Rhein samt einem Exkurs zu Baduhenna. In: Reichert, Hermann & Scheungraber, Corinna (Hgg.). Germanische Altertumskunde: Quellen, Methoden, Ergebnisse. Akten des Much-Symposiums, Wien 28.-30.9.2012, Philologica Germanica, i. pr. Scheungraber, Corinna. Die Altgermanischen Theonyme Ein Handbuch zu ihrer Etymologie, unter Benützung einer Bibliographie von Robert Nedoma, Philologica Germanica (Hg. Hermann Reichert), forthc. Sitzmann, Alexander & Grünzweig, Friedrich E. Die altgermanischen Ethnonyme, Ein Handbuch zu ihrer Etymologie, unter Benützung einer Bibliographie von Robert Nedoma, Philologica Germanica 29 (Hg. Hermann Reichert), Fassbaender Wien 2008.