Beowa

Beowa

Beowa, Beaw, Beo or Bedwig is a figure in Anglo-Saxon paganism associated with barley and agriculture. Connections have been made between the figure of Beowa and the more well-known Beowulf.

Etymology

"Beow" is the Anglo-Saxon word for barley. Amongst others, Beowa descends from Sceaf, the Anglo-Saxon word for Sheaf. It parallels with the Old Norse word for grain, which is "Bygg". In relation, comparisons between the figure of Beow and Byggvir have been made. [ Bruce, Alexander M, "Scyld and Scef: Expanding the Analogies" (New York: Routledge, 2002), p. 28. ]

Beowa and Beowulf

A consensus among scholars is that there is a distinct connection between the mythical figure of Beowa and the legendary Beowulf. As both characters possess many of the same attributes, it has been suggested that: "a god Beowa, whose existence in myth is certain, became confused or blended with Beowulf." [Lawrence, William Witherle, "Some Disputed Questions in Beowulf-Criticism" PMLA, Vol. 24, No. 2 (1909) p. 249.]

References

ee also

*Beyla
*John Barleycorn
*Sif

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