Donars

Donars refers to the Germanic thunder god traditionally identified with the Norse deity Thor. In scholarly and historical contexts, the name Donar (and its plural or variant forms) is used to discuss the continental Germanic interpretation of the thunder deity, its cult, and its linguistic and cultural reception. The term is most often encountered in Old High German sources and later medieval transcriptions, where Donar stands as the germane counterpart of Thor in the western Germanic world.

Etymology and forms of the name show a shared Germanic root with other forms such as the Norse Thor. The reconstructed proto-Germanic name is linked to the word for “thunder.” The association with Thursday, or the corresponding day in several languages, reflects the wider cultural footprint of the thunder god in Germanic-speaking regions. In Latin and later medieval writings, Donar is used to refer to the thunder deity in the continental tradition.

Historically, Donar was worshiped as a sky and weather god, often linked to thunderous storms, protection, and warfare. Symbols associated with him include the hammer, believed to be a tool and weapon used to summon lightning. Sacred sites and objects, such as sacred trees and springs, are linked with his cult in various legends and place-name traditions. The rise of Christianity led to the decline of the Donar cult, with evidence of continuing memory in folklore, inscriptions, and toponyms rather than active worship.

In modern times, Donar is studied within the broader framework of Germanic religion and comparative mythology. The figure also appears in literary and reconstructed pagan contexts, where scholars compare it to Thor and examine its linguistic and cultural legacy.