The project focused on identifying and analyzing epithets in Old-Germanic poetry, creating a comprehensive database of epithets from texts in Old English, Old High German, Middle High German, Old Saxon, Old Swedish, and Old Norse. These were manually extracted from texts such as Beowulf, Song of the Nibelungs, and Edda. The database includes original epithets, English translations, references, and semantic categorization, enabling detailed exploration across fields like social relations, age, appearance, character traits, and mythological references.
A typology of epithets was developed, categorizing them semantically to highlight their roles in heroic and mythological contexts. The analysis emphasized attributes such as heroic and social traits. While the comparative study with Vedic Sanskrit, Greek, and Latin epithets was only partially realized due to the lack of equivalent databases, initial groundwork was laid for future comparative studies.
The project also examined whether these epithets reflect Proto-Indo-European heritage or broader naming traditions. Though not fully implemented, findings provide insights into continuity across cultures, offering a foundation for further research.
Key deliverables included:
1. A database of Old-Germanic epithets with semantic typologies.
2. Advances in theoretical frameworks, integrating comparative mythology and semantics.
3. Dissemination through conferences, notably an international event on Early Germanic Poetics and Religion in Copenhagen (2023).
The principal outcome is a digital database presenting Old-Germanic epithets for heroes, gods, and mythological beings, paired with a robust analysis that advances understanding of early Germanic poetics and naming traditions.
