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Mythology and Folklore People Words

Interpretatio germanica

I’m surprised I’ve never thought about this before:

More on Odin/Mercury from Wikipedia:

Scholars have noted, most recently Anthony Birley, that Odin’s apparent identification with Mercury has little to do with Mercury’s classical role of being messenger of the gods, but appears to be due to Mercury’s role of psychopomp. Other contemporary evidence may also have led to the equation of Odin with Mercury; Odin, like Mercury, may have at this time already been pictured with a staff and hat, may have been considered a trader god, and the two may have been seen as parallel in their roles as wandering deities.

For the week in full:

  • Monday/Lundi = Máni (personification of the Moon)/Luna (the Moon)
  • Tuesday/Mardi = Tyr/Mars (both Gods of War)
  • Wednesday/Mercredi = Woden/Mercury (as above)
  • Thursday/Jeudi = Thor/Jupiter (thunderbolts and lightning…)
  • Friday/Vendredi = Frigg/Venus (love)
  • Saturday/Samedi = Saturn/Day of Sabbath
  • Sunday/Dimanche = Sunna (personification of the Sun)/Day of God