Names of God in Old English poetry
Descriptive epithets
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In Old English poetry, many descriptive epithets for God were used to satisfy alliterative requirements. These epithets include:
List
| Main | Name (Old English) | Name meaning | Attestations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyning "King" |
wuldres Cyning | "King of Glory" | The Dream of the Rood[1] |
| Dryhten[2] "Lord" |
ece Dryhten | "eternal Lord" | Cædmon's hymn[3] |
| dryhntes dreamas | "the joys of the Lord" | The Seafarer[4] | |
| heofones Dryhten | "heaven's Lord" | The Dream of the Rood[5] | |
| Ealdor[6] "Prince" |
wuldres Ealdor | "Prince of Glory" | The Dream of the Rood[7] |
| Fæder "Father" |
Heahfæder | "Highfather" | The Dream of the Rood |
| Wuldorfæder | "Glorious Father" | Cædmon's hymn | |
| Frea[8] "Lord" |
Frea ælmihtig | "Master almighty" | Cædmon's hymn |
| Frea mancynnes | "Mankind's Master" | The Dream of the Rood[9] | |
| God "God" |
God ælmihtig | "God almighty" | The Dream of the Rood[10] |
| weruda God | "God of hosts" | The Dream of the Rood | |
| Hælend[11] "Healer" |
Hælend | "Healer" | The Dream of the Rood |
| Metod[12] "Maker" |
Metod | "Maker" | Beowulf (110) [13] |
| eald Metod | "Old Maker" | Beowulf (945)[14] | |
| Wealdend[15] "Ruler" |
Wealdend | "Ruler" | The Dream of the Rood[16] |
| Al-wealda | "all-ruler" | Meters of Boethius (11) | |
| wuldor alwealda | "Glorious all-ruler" | Codex Exoniensis | |
| fæder alwealda | "Father all-ruler" | Beowulf (630) | |
| Weard[17] "Guard" |
heofonrices Weard[18] | "the heavenly kingdom's Guard" | Cædmon's hymn |
| Beowulf[19] |
   |
| "Ælmihtiga," "Drihten," "Metod," as they appear in the Beowulf. |