Ongentheow

Who was Ongentheow?

Ongentheow was the name of a semi-legendary Swedish king of the house of Scylfings, who appears in Old English sources. He is generally identified with the Swedish king Egil who appears in Ynglingatal, Historia Norwegiae and in Ynglinga saga.

The names are different and have little etymological connection. Ongenþeow would in Proto-Norse have been *Anganaþewaz, whereas Egil would have been *Agilaz. The reason why they are thought to have been the same is that they have the same position in the line of Swedish kings and are described as the fathers of Ohthere and grandfathers of Eadgils. For the argument that they are, in fact, the same figure, see below under "Interpretation." Further, not every scholar is open to the historicity of the characters in Beowulf, and in the Norse sagas.