Note 704 — Chapter XII · HEATHENDOM.

The name of Nerthus stands in all the best MSS. of Tacitus’ Germania, and the change of it into Herthus, though very plausible, was unnecessary. One easily sees the cause of error: it was thought that Herthus, terra mater, was the Gothic Airthus, in Old-german Erdu, in Anglosaxon Eorðe. But there is no H in these words; if there were we should have had a Teutonic Vesta. The goddess’s name was Nairthus, Nerdu, Nerðe, and her corresponding form in Old-norse, Niördr.