We know little about pagan gods though some are mentioned in Classical sources. Among these, gods of war and fertility were most powerful.
Wodan, god of war, and Donar, god of thunder, was worshipped among southern tribes. Nerthus, a fertility goddess, was powerful in the north.
Classical sources mention cult leagues that included many tribal groups, with a major cult centre shared by all and presumably associated with a sacred lake or grove.
Some indication of pagan Germanic cult practices comes from the discovery of many votive offerings in pools, rivers and bogs. These were often weapons; small personal items like jewellery and clothing were also offered and larger offerings included wagons, ships and people, including defeated warrior bands.
Often the same location was venerated for centuries, receiving constant offerings: at Nydam, for instance, three boats were sacrificed at different times, as well as many weapons and other objects.
Occasionally representations of the gods are also found in these deposits: waterlogging has preserved rare wooden statues, crude images whose link to fertility is clear.
Divination by various means was an important aspect of religious practice: seeresses were highly regarded and consulted frequently.
