Final answer:
The Anglo-Saxon gods and goddesses, embodied in art and literature, have a historical and cultural impact on our lives, influencing names of places and days of the week. While their direct impact has diminished with the spread of Christianity, they provide insights into ancient beliefs and practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anglo-Saxon gods and goddesses have a historical and cultural influence on our lives today. The Anglo-Saxons, with their polytheistic beliefs, left behind artistic representations of their deities and worldviews that were interwoven with symbolic meanings and stories, akin to riddles that were an integral part of their cultural fabric. The objects adorned with dense animal patterns served as means to give physical form to the gods and expressed the whims and beliefs of the people. Additionally, their literary contributions, such as riddles and epic poems like Beowulf, help us understand the Anglo-Saxon language and culture.
The influence of the Anglo-Saxon gods can be seen today in various cultural aspects such as our names of the days of the week, certain place names, and even remnants in modern pagan practices. Moreover, the planetary and celestial names in many languages are derived from these ancient beliefs, demonstrating how intertwined these deities were with everyday life, including agriculture, navigation, and governance. However, with the widespread adoption of Christianity, the direct impact of these deities diminished, and their stories serve more as a historical curiosity rather than a guide to daily life.