Ostara

deity Easter single tradition · 1

A potential continental Germanic goddess whose name would have been preserved in the Old High German name of Easter. Jacob Grimm cites comparative evidence to reconstruct her existence. Grimm notes that the Old High German adverb ôstar "expresses movement towards the rising sun".

When

First attested: 700 CE
Attested period: 700 – 700
Historical notes: Mentioned by Eginhart (775-840 CE).

Relationships

co occurs with: Austri, Vasara, Ēostre, Vesna

Expand to full subgraph →

Mentioned by

Ēostre
Vesna

Sources

wikipedia (1)

Ēostre

Source passages

“But if we admit, goddesses, then, in addition to Nerthus, Ostara has the strongest claim to consideration. To what we said on [page] 290 I can add some significant facts. The heathen Easter had much in common with May-feast and the reception of spring, particularly in the matter of bonfires”
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