Legends describing the adventures of Wóden either in a godlike or heroic form were probably not wanting here, or in Germany; it is only in Scandinavia that a portion of these have been preserved, unless the tales of Geát and Sceaf, to be hereafter noticed, are in reality to be referred to him. Equally probable is it that he had in this country temples, images and religious rites, traces of which we find upon the continent[639]; and that trees, animals and places were consecrated to him[640]. So numerous indeed are the latter, so common in every part of England are names of places compounded with his name, that we must admit his worship to have been current throughout the island: it seems impossible to doubt that in every quarter there were localities (usually rising ground) either dedicated to him, or supposed to be under his especial protection; and thus that he was here, as in Germany, the supreme god whom the Saxons, Franks and Alamans concurred in worshiping. The following names of places may all be unhesitatingly attributed to this cause, and they attest the general recognition and wide dispersion of Wóden’s influence. ----- Footnote 639: The ancient Germans sacrificed human victims to him. “Deorum maxime Mercurium colunt, cui certis diebus humanis quoque hostiis litare fas habent.” Tac. Germ. xxxix. “Victores diversam aciem Marti ac Mercurio sacravere, quo voto equi, viri, cuncta victa occidioni dantur.” Tac. Annal. xiii. 57. King Ane or Avn the old, offered up in succession nine of his sons to Oþinn, to increase the length of his own life. Yngling. Sag. cap. xxix.; Geijer, Gesch. Schwed. i. 416. “Sunt etenim inibi vicinae nationes Suevorum; quo cum moraretur et inter habitatores illius loci progrederetur, reperit eos sacrificium profanum litare velle, vasque magnum, quod vulgo cupam vocant, quod viginti et sex modios amplius minusve capiebat, cerevisia plenum in medio habebant positum. Ad quod vir dei accessit et sciscitatur, quid de illo fieri vellent? Illi aiunt: deo suo Wodano, quem Mercurium vocant alii, se velle litare.” Ion. Bobbiensis Vita Columbani. Compare also what Saxo Grammaticus says of the immense tub of beer which Hunding prepared to celebrate the obsequies of Hadding. Hist. Dan. p. 19. On festal occasions it was usual to drink to the health, _love_ or _minne_ of the gods. Oþinn was generally thus honoured: the custom was preserved among Christians, who drank _minne_ to St. John, St. Martin, St. Gertrude and other saints. Grimm, Myth. p. 53 _seq._ Footnote 640: