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Seaxnēat (pronounced [sæɑksnæːɑt]) or Saxnōt is a god in Anglo-Saxon paganism and in its mythology the founder and ancestor of the Saxons.

The name is interpreted as "Need of the Saxons", apparently in the sense of "help of the Saxons", i.e. the god who would aid the tribe in time of need. He is identified both as a son of Woden and Frige and as the god Tiw.^[1]

Continental Saxnōt is attested in the 8th century renunciation formula along with Uuoden (Woden) and Thunaer (Thor). Seaxnēat appears in the genealogies of the kings of Essex. His name does not survive in any English placenames, although the element nēat in isolation may do so.^[1][2]

See also

• West Germanic deities

References

Anglo-Saxon paganism and mythology Gods and divine figures Beowa • Ēostre • Frigga • Hengist and Horsa • Hretha • Ing • Saxnot • Þunor • Tiw • Wælcyrige • Wade • Wayland the Smith • Wōden Heroic figures Ægil • Beowa • Eormenric • Godwulf • Sceafa • Sigemund • Waldere • Widsith Other beings Cofgod • Elf • Dwarf (Dweorh) • Eoten/Thurs • Wight Locations Middangeard • Neorxnawang Sources Anglo-Saxon Chronicle • Anglo-Saxon calendar • Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem • Beowulf • De temporum ratione • Deor • Ealuscerwen • Finnesburg Fragment • Franks Casket • Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum • Nine Herbs Charm • Old English language • Spong Hill • Wið færstice • Æcerbot Origins Germanic paganism • (Angles • Frisians • Jutes • Saxons) Society and culture Anglo-Saxon law • Anglo-Saxon runes • Calendar • Blōtan • Folkmoot • Frith • Hearg • Maypole • Moot hill • Scop • Symbel • Thegn • Thing • Thyle • Weregild • Wicce • Wilweorthunga • Wyrd • Yule Neopagan revival Fyrnsidu • Seax-Wica • Theodism