Nevertheless, Freya was known for her promiscuity, a reputation she earned by using both her beauty and her sex as weapons. Freya made her home at the palace of Sessrmnir (seat room,") located in the field of Flkvangr (field of the host,") where half of the dead slain in battle went to spend eternity; the other half went to Odins hall, Valhalla. In Heimskringla: ea Sgur Noregs Konunga. Looking for more great information on Norse mythology and religion? [11] Many of the surviving tales involving Odin have him traveling far and wide throughout the Nine Worlds, to the point that hes probably more often away from Asgard than within it. Your email address will not be published. [1] Orel, Vladimir. [33], In Vlsunga saga, the great king Rerir and his wife (unnamed) are unable to conceive a child; "that lack displeased them both, and they fervently implored the gods that they might have a child. r is an obscure and seldom-mentioned character in Old Norse literature. 2003. [7] Enright, Michael J. Her father is Njord. He is married to the goddess Frigg, by whom he is the father of the twin gods Baldr and Hr. She was the divine model of a Viking Age sorceress. [9], Regarding the FreyjaFrigg common origin hypothesis, scholar Stephan Grundy writes that "the problem of whether Frigg or Freyja may have been a single goddess originally is a difficult one, made more so by the scantiness of pre-Viking Age references to Germanic goddesses, and the diverse quality of the sources. While the late Old Norse literary sources that form the basis of our current knowledge of pre-Christian Germanic religion present Freya and Frigg as being at least nominally distinct goddesses, the similarities between them run deep. Theorised yes, confirmed no. In later life, Freya took Odr as her husband. Its a cognate of the modern German word Frau, which is used in much the same way as the English title Mrs. In the Viking Age, Scandinavian and Icelandic aristocratic women were sometimes called freyjur, the plural of freyja. . Who Were the Indo-Europeans and Why Do They Matter. The Viking Way: Religion and War in Late Iron Age Scandinavia. Venus' Day In most languages with Latin origins, the day is named after the fertility goddess and planet Venus, like Italian venerdi and French vendredi. "[13], Meanwhile, Ybor and Agio called upon Frea, Godan's wife. [11] Saxo Grammaticus. Translated by James Steven Stallybrass. In the first mention the poem recounts that Frigg wept for the death of her son Baldr in Fensalir. Daniel McCoy 2012-2019. Freyas cultural popularity witnessed a resurgence with the rise of Germanic nationalism in the nineteenth century. Freya taught Odin much of what he knew when it came to magic. Frigga was far later recognized than Freyja, which leads me to believe (personal opinion here) that Frigg is simply the more mature form of Freyja. [12] Saxo Grammaticus. [14] Snorri Sturluson. [3] This power could potentially be put to any use imaginable, and examples that cover virtually the entire range of the human condition can be found in Old Norse literature. Loki accompanied him dressed as Freyas maid, and together the two found Mjlnir and pried it forcefully from Thryms possession. A Handbook of Germanic Etymology. Due to iconographic similarities to the literary record, these figures have been theorized as depictions of Freyja and Frigg respectively. Ynglinga Saga. Heimskringla. It is also possible that in different regions the myth took different shapes. If there were a Norse version of Satan, it would be Loki, the trickster. Frigg, also called Friia, in Norse mythology, the wife of Odin and mother of Balder. Frigg is Aesir. After all, mythology is storytelling at its finest. The introduction recounts that two sons of king Hrauungr, Agnar (age 10) and Geirrr (age 8), once sailed out with a trailing line to catch small fish, but wind drove them out into the ocean and, during the darkness of night, their boat wrecked. [13] Snorri Sturluson. She was a promoter of marriage and of fertility. Her husband, named Odr in late Old Norse literature, is certainly none other than Odin, and, accordingly, Freya is ultimately identical with Odins wife Frigg (see below for a discussion of this). There is no equal to Lucifer or the devil in Christianity. His brothers started to divvy up Odin's inheritance, "but his wife Frigg they shared between them. He was often depicted with the phallus that was typical of fertility gods. While somewhat veiled, this is ultimately still the case in Old Norse literature. There is evidence that In the north western Germanic belief Freyja and Frigg were two separate entities with clear distinctions. [28], There, Frigg asks this female visitor what the sir are up to assembled at the thing. 1882. Seidr is a form of pre-Christian Norse magic and shamanism that involved discerning the course of fate and working within its structure to bring about change, often by symbolically weaving new events into being. Like the male gods, Freya had a taste for blood and fought fiercely in battle. Why, then, are they presented as nominally distinct in the late Old Norse sources? Ive also written a popular list of The 10 Best Norse Mythology Books, which youll probably find helpful in your pursuit. However, a short while afterwards, [Odin] returned and took possession of his wife again. Gro Stensland's Fornnordisk Religion (if you can read Scandinavian) or Etymology Online. Lokis story is very similar to Prometheus and shares moments, hes also the trickster god, again Lucifers method. Translated by Henry Adams Bellows. Of all Norse gods and goddesses only Odin rivaled Freya when it came to magical abilities. Regarding a Freyja-Frigg common origin hypothesis, scholar Stephan Grundy comments, "the problem of whether Frigg or Freyja may have been a single goddess originally is a difficult one, made more so by the scantiness of pre-Viking Age references to Germanic goddesses, and the diverse quality of the sources. Woanaz is the warbands chieftain, and Frija is its veleda. Why does r (Oder) travel away from Freyja? As summer began to near, the builder, relying heavily on the labor of Svadilfari, was coming dangerously close to finishing the fortress. Skldskaparml 18-19. Like other northern Eurasian shamans, her social status was highly ambiguous she was by turns exalted, feared, longed for, propitiated, celebrated, and scorned. Among the Norse gods is Frigg, one of the greatest goddesses, wife of Odin and leader of the sir, Origins and myth of Frigg Frigg was a goddess of Scandinavian and Germanic mythology of great importance, as she was the wife of Odin, the lord of all the gods of Northern Europe called Asi. In Old Norse Religion in Long-Term Perspectives: Origins, Changes and Interactions. obviously identified as the Latin equivalent to Frigg that dies Thanks in part to these linguistic differences, some interpretations of Norse mythology believed Freya to be synonymous with Frigg, Odin . [22], In the poem Lokasenna, where Loki accuses nearly every female in attendance of promiscuity and/or unfaithfulness, an aggressive exchange occurs between the god Loki and the goddess Frigg (and thereafter between Loki and the goddess Freyja about Frigg). ago I like the way assassin's Creed Valhalla did it. The moral of the story is dont be to careful, and teaches you anything can hurt you and threaten your life. p. 117. Thanks for contributing an answer to Mythology & Folklore Stack Exchange! [18] Like the reference to Frigg weeping in Fensalir earlier in the poem, the implied "first grief" is a reference to the grief she felt upon the death of her son, Baldr. There is no firm evidence for this, but scholars have found some similarities both in their . After all, mythology is storytelling at its finest. Who shall have seats in the hall; Frigg subsequently receives promises from the elements, the environment, diseases, animals, and stones, amongst other things. [8] In Sweden and some parts of Germany, the asterism of Orion's Belt is known as her distaff or spindle. The request successful, the sir make sport of Baldr's newfound invincibility; shot or struck, Baldr remained unharmed. Both Frigg and Freyja are associated with weaving, combining the aspects of a love goddess and a domestic goddess. Other examples include fine art works by K. Ehrenberg (Frigg, Freyja, drawing, 1883), John Charles Dollman (Frigga Spinning the Clouds, painting, c. 1900), Emil Doepler (Wodan und Frea am Himmelsfenster, painting, 1901), and H. Thoma (Fricka, drawing, date not provided). Here again we can discern the ultimate reducibility of both goddesses to one another: ones name is identical to the others attributes, and the other name is a generic title rather than a unique name. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. The two names come from the same word and have the same meaning. While her mothers identity was ultimately unknown, some speculated that Freya was the daughter of Nerthus, an old Germanic deity known as a goddess of peace and plenty." Freya guarded the necklace from any and all would-be thieves with a fiery passion. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Once, while Odin was gone for an extended period, the sir concluded that he was not coming back. It is cognate with Old Frisian Fradei ( Fri(g)endei), Middle Dutch Vridach ( Vriendach), Middle Low German Vrdach ( Vrgedach), and Old High German Fratac. Thus, in the Migration Period, the goddess who later became Freya (and Frigg) was the wife of the god who later became Odin. In religion, however, Freya was much more important than Frigg, who is a somewhat nebulous figure in the Edda myths. Freya agreed. "[21] Away went the ship and Geirrr walked to a house, where he was greeted with joy; while the boys were gone, their father had died, and now Geirrr was king. Freya, worried that Ottar would not be able to remember the detailed genealogy, further ordered Hyndla to pour the beer of memory. It is said that Frigg heard their prayers and told Odin what they asked. Frigg is married to Odin the all-father, and together with Odin, they have two sons Balder and Hod. Frigg was also prononced friggjar and sound a lot like freya that way. Nearly all sources portray her as the wife of the god Odin. They are very similar. The true High Goddess. [6][7] On the other hand, the names Freyja ('lady, mistress') and Freyr ('lord') are cognates stemming from the common root *frawjn, which does not necessarily imply further relation. The gods agreed to his terms, and the giant began his task. This is also evidenced by Freya's husband Or. When Baldr told his fellow sir about his dreams, the gods met together for a thing and decided that they should "request immunity for Baldr from all kinds of danger." Stories of Freya often highlighted her sex appeal and desirability. In order to find it, Loki asked Freya for her cloak made of falcon feathers. The Prose Edda. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. The one passage that tells us anything about his personality or deeds anything beyond merely listing his name in connection with Freya comes from the Prose Edda, which states that r is often away on long journeys, and that Freya can often be found weeping tears of red gold over his absence. The Prose Edda. Required fields are marked *. [16], Frigg receives three mentions in the Poetic Edda poem Vlusp. Translated by James Steven Stallybrass. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Much was uncertain about the identities of Freya and Odr. Were building the worlds most authoritative, online mythology resource, with engaging, accessible content that is both educational and compelling to read. Lol. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Veneris became OHG friatac, OE frigedeag [Engl. Frigg ( / fr /; Old Norse: [fri]) [1] is a goddess, one of the sir, in Germanic mythology. If I journeyed with thee to the giants home.. And who were the people that wrote a lot of the stories depicting her as a whore ? Internet Sacred Text Archive. 2006. If youre going to name your boat after a Norse god, it should be Njord. Freyja is the maiden form, Frigg would be the mother form. Freyas husband is named r, a name which is virtually identical to that of inn (the Old Norse form of Odin). Historische Sprachforschung / Historical Linguistics 112, no. A Handbook of Germanic Etymology. Here again we can discern the ultimate reducibility of both goddesses to one another: ones name is identical to the others attributes, and the other name is a generic title rather than a unique name. Freya was the most important goddess in Norse mythology and religion. What I've learned is that the word "Freya" literally means "lady", so one explanation would be that "Freya" started out as the goddess's title and then evolved into the name of a separate goddess. Each time the kings slayed each other, they would rise again to fight. [7] Several place names refer to Frigg in what are now Norway and Sweden, although her name is altogether absent in recorded place names in Denmark. [30] Hermr locates Baldr and Nanna in Hel. Freyas most prized possession was likely the necklace, or torc, known as Brsingamen (gleaming torc or amber torc). Her father is Njord. In the Droplaugarsona saga there is a description of a temple in . The names of the two goddesses are also particularly interesting in this regard. What are the "nine fearful curses that plague mankind" of Orcadian folklore, besides the 'Stoor Worm'? Freyas personality became more developed in other mythic traditions such as the poemHyndlulj of thePoetic Eddawhere Freyas generosity was on full display. Edited by Anders Andrn, Kristina Jennbert, and Catharina Raudvere. Frigg is the Goddess of Marriage, Fertility and Love; as Odin's wife, she is one of the most recognisable goddesses in Norse mythology. Christianity has little relation- one thing about literature is openness to interpretation. . Were building the worlds most authoritative, online mythology resource, with engaging, accessible content that is both educational and compelling to read. Thus, its hard to see Freyas husband as anything but an only nominally distinct extension of Odin. In the 18th century, Gustav III of Sweden, king of Sweden, composed Friggja, a play, so named after the goddess, and H. F. Block and Hans Friedrich Blunck's Frau Frigg und Doktor Faust in 1937. [2] [13][14] Many scholars have tried to differentiate between Freya and Frigg by asserting that the former is more promiscuous and less steadfast than the latter,[15] but these tales suggest otherwise. What are the advantages of running a power tool on 240 V vs 120 V? Frigg and Freyja are nothing alike. When Loki approached Freya with the news, she reacted with such fury that the palace of the gods shook on its foundations and her torc, Brsingamen, fell to the ground: Wrathful was Freyja, and fiercely she snorted, The Aesir look down on magic, but the Vanir practice magic. Ive also written a popular list of The 10 Best Norse Mythology Books, which youll probably find helpful in your pursuit. Freyja was a peace between the two. The best that can be done is to survey the arguments for and against their identity . Thereupon the gods held a council and resolved to make Balder secure against every danger. 10 Freya = Frigg Explanation. Gylfaginning 35. In theLokasennafrom thePoetic Edda, Loki accused Freya of having slept with all the gods and jtnar: Be silent, Freyja! Lucifer isnt a destroyer of anything, thats Jehova. Is there any known 80-bit collision attack? Frea responded to Godan, "As you have given them a name, give them also the victory". This politico-theological conception was based on the mythological model provided by the divine pair Frija and Woanaz, deities who later evolved into, respectively, Freya/Frigg and Odin. Frigg is a older goddess than freya, and if you study the old norse mythology it is more likely that freya is a replica of frigg and not the other way around. Can I use an 11 watt LED bulb in a lamp rated for 8.6 watts maximum? In another Frigg and Freja are completely separate queens. It seems that there is very good evidence that Frigg and Freya are one in the same. Teutonic Mythology, Volume 1. However, it would eventually gain popularity and become a personal name. In the Viking Age, the vlva was an itinerant seeress and sorceress who traveled from town to town performing commissioned acts of seidr in exchange for lodging, food, and often other forms of compensation as well. Brsingamen was made by dwarves and purchased at a dear price. [12][13] Many scholars have tried to differentiate between Freya and Frigg by asserting that the former is more promiscuous and less steadfast than the latter,[14] but these tales suggest otherwise. It is from the Germanic frijaz meaning "beloved, belonging to the loved ones, not in bondage, free". 1882. 2023. While this site provides the ultimate online introduction to the topic, my book The Viking Spirit provides the ultimate introduction to Norse mythology and religion period. Frigg is an Aesir. The word for Friday in Germanic languages (including English) is named after Frija,[15] the Proto-Germanic goddess who is the foremother of Freya and Frigg.
is frigg, freya