#eddic

Goddess of love and somewhat  fertility. Goddess of the Heavens. Most renown and gently born. Known more to Icelandic and Norway

Names

‘The Lady” Vanabrudr ‘Bride of the Vanir’ Vanadis ‘ Lady of the Vanir’ Vangod ‘Vanir goddess’ Possessor of the Slain Ods-mær ‘Bride of Od.’ Mardoll Horn Gef Syr Gratfarga god ‘goddess of beautiful tears’ Noble women of honour were names Freyjur after her. .

Possessions

Chariot drawn by cats. Attended Baldur’s funeral with them. Brisinga-men (necklace) stolen by Loki and recovered by Heimdall. Feather dress that she uses to fly. Rides Hildisvini, a battle swine who has golden bristles. It is actually her lover Ottarr.

Brisinga-Men

Sorla-tháttr (14th century) Saw four dwarves fashioning a beautiful necklace. Offered to purchase it but the four dwarves only wanted her instead. She submitted and was given the necklace. Loki heard of this and recounted it to Odin who asked him to get necklace. Shifted into a fly and flea in order to get it! Regained it only when vowing to incite Hedin and Hilde into unending conflict. In another version it’s Heimdall who recovers it.

Features of Brisinga-Men

Necklace of Brisings. Maybe rainbow, moon, evening or morning star, red dawn. Perhaps the sun setting in the sea. Sparkles like fire. ‘Brisingr’ meaning fire. This word is still used in Norway.

Changes form of who wears it to Freyja because she is the owner. Thor was able to change form like her on the Eddas.

Feather dress

Hovers over Midgard in a feather dress and gives the summer rain.

Freyja’s Dwelling + Warlike goddess

Folkvang ‘Folk-plain’ Sessrumnir ‘Rich in seats’ where she assigns seats to the fallen in battle. She shares half with Odin. Egils-Saga: Freyja receives women after death. No one may enter without her consent. Home is like Valhalla and can be associated with Vingolf (seat of goddesses and slain). Chief of Valkyries ‘wheresoever she rides forth to battle she has half the slain,’ (Snorri).

Love + Related things

Beautiful and voluptuous. Desired by Giants: The one who rebuilt the citadel of the Æsir, Hrungnir and Thrym.

Feisty!

When Thyrm wanted her as a bride, she was so angry she shook the gods and her necklace broke on her breast. ‘Maddest for men might I be called, did I travel with thee to Jötunheim.’

Magic

Introduced evil magic and seidr to the Æsir.

Tradition

Peasants of Throndhjem offered roasts st the beginning of sacrifices to Freyja, Odin, Thor and Æsir.

Family

Daughter of Njord. Sister of Frey.

Married to Od Daughter is Hnoss ‘Jewel’ of which she is ‘so fair and precious things are called after her hnóssir’ In Ynglinga-saga, Freyja has Hnoss and Gersimi ‘ after whom all things dearest to have are named’

Ottar In Hyndluljod, Freyja rides on a boar seeks out the giantess Hyndla to learn about Ottar’s descent and ride with her on a wolf to Valhalla. Hyndla knows who she is and says that her boar is her lover Ottar and warns her. Freyja admits the truth and tells her to bring memory-beer or that she would raise flames and burn her alive. Hyndla brings it laced with venom of ill fate to which Freyja says it will not work when she begs the favour of the gods. Probably killed her after gaining knowledge of genealogy.

Thor

Her friend by Eilif Gudrunarson. Maybe lover?

Frey

Associated with Freyja. Both sensual gods of love. Both ride a boar or are driven by it. Perhaps more prominent than Frey.

Od

Not a god. He goes far away a lot and leaves Freyja in red tears. She often searches for him. Gold is called tears of Freyja. Tears becoming pearls in folk tales are well known and in an Icelandic story there was a maiden who cried gold (Mœrthöll).

Freyja or Frigg

Shares the slain with Odin: should have been Frigg’s privilege. Both have hawk plumage. Christian Hjallti Skeggjason outlawed because of his blasphemy against Odin and Freyja:

Ever will I gods blaspheme, Freyja methinks a bitch does seem, Freyja a bitch? Ate let them be Both dogs together, Odin and she.

Lokasenna

Loki attacks her after defending Frigg, calling her an evil witch. Accused her of warming her brother’s bed.

Be silent, Freyja, well I know thee, Thou art not free of faults; All the Æsir and Alfar who now are here Hast thou in turn made happy.