Sinthgunt
Sinthgunt is an almost completely unknown deity whose name has been mentioned in the Merseburg charms. She has been described as being the sister of the sun Goddess Sol and both participate in a healing ritual. There are no other known sources that mentions Sinthgunt so a lot of questions remain unanswered. Who was Sinthgunt exactly? What is her role in the Germanic pantheon? What is her relationship to her sister the sun?
"Phol and Wodan were riding to the woods, and the foot of Balder's foal was sprained So Sinthgunt, Sunna's sister, conjured it and Frija, Volla's sister, conjured it and Wodan conjured it, as well he could" - Merseburg charm
Even the meaning of her name is unknown but certain theories exist. One theory suggests that she is the exact opposite of her sister, thus representing either darkness or the moon. This theory claims that her name stems from the Germanic 'Sin, Nax, Gund' which means 'the night-walking one'. Although this is a theory that makes some sense, it is an unlikely one. The moon in the Germanic culture is a masculine force and therefore not represented by a sister of the sun.
Another theory suggests that the name Sinthgunt comes from the Proto-Germanic 'Senþa-gunþjō' which translates into 'raid-fight'. This etymology fits if you look at related old High-German female names such as Sindhilt. Yet another theory suggests that Sinthgunt refers to a 'heavenly body', a star perhaps. This last theory fits the Merseburg charm nicely as well since the sun is also a star and her sister might be a star as well. There is however no good evidence to back this theory up and the ancient Germanic people probably weren't aware that stars are also suns.
Since there is so much uncertainty about the meaning of her name, we can not get any clues from her name on her role in the Germanic pantheon. Friedrich Kauffman, a philologist, researched Sinthgunt in the 19th century and determined that she was not a Goddess but in fact a valkyrie. Friedrich based this theory on the fact that elements of Sinthgund's name are also known amongst other valkyries.
Another theory tells that Sinthgunt is not a deity but an aspect of Sol, the sun Goddess. This theory is based on the mentioning of Fulla and Frigg, Fulla also appears to be an aspect of Frigg. A similar theory suggests that Sinthgunt might be a minor Goddess, a servant of Sol. Yet again none of these theories can be proven but it is still interesting observing these possible explanations.
Karl Heim rejected the Valkyrie theory and instead grouped Sinthgunt together with the Idisi, a divine female being. The Idisi are in fact mentioned in the Merseburg charms and in the epic English poem Beowulf.
"Once the Idisi sat, sat here and there, some bound fetters, some hampered the army, some untied fetters: Escape from the fetters, flee from the enemies." - Merseburg charm
It's quite amazing that so many theories exist about this unknown Goddess since her name has only been mentioned once in all of recorded history. Sadly we will never know what her exact role in the Germanic pantheon is. She might be a sister Goddess, a valkyrie, a minor Goddess, an aspect of Sol/Sunna or part of the Idisi. Perhaps future archeological finds can provide us with some more clarity.
Here are two images representing the healing and the idisi by Emil Doepler,
