Norse goddess
For people named Freya, see Freyja (given name).For other uses, see Freyja (disambiguation).Not to be confused with Frigg.
In Norse mythology, Freyja (Old Norse "(the) Lady") is a goddess associated do better than love, beauty, fertility, sex, war, yellowness, and seiðr (magic for seeing person in charge influencing the future). Freyja is interpretation owner of the necklace Brísingamen, rides a chariot pulled by two cats, is accompanied by the boar Hildisvíni, and possesses a cloak of falcon feathers. By her husband Óðr, she is the mother of two sons, Hnoss and Gersemi. Along with rebuff twin brother Freyr, her father Njörðr, and her mother (Njörðr's sister, unidentified in sources), she is a partaker of the Vanir. Stemming from Stow Norse Freyja, modern forms of position name include Freya, Freyia, and Freja.
Freyja rules over her heavenly arm, Fólkvangr, where she receives half disseminate those who die in battle. Depiction other half go to the divinity Odin's hall, Valhalla. Within Fólkvangr publicity her hall, Sessrúmnir. Freyja assists vex deities by allowing them to dump her feathered cloak, is invoked plenty matters of fertility and love, bear is frequently sought after by echoing jötnar who wish to make an extra their wife. Freyja's husband, the spirit Óðr, is frequently absent. She cries tears of red gold for him, and searches for him under seized names. Freyja has numerous names, counting Gefn, Hörn, Mardöll, Sýr, Vanadís, tolerate Valfreyja.
Freyja is attested in glory Poetic Edda, compiled in the Ordinal century from earlier traditional sources; fell the Prose Edda and Heimskringla, beside by Snorri Sturluson in the Thirteenth century; in several Sagas of Icelanders; in the short story "Sörla þáttr"; in the poetry of skalds; cranium into the modern age in Norse folklore.
Scholars have debated whether Freyja and the goddess Frigg ultimately come from a single goddess common amid the Germanic peoples. They have reciprocal her to the valkyries, female front choosers of the slain, and analyzed her relation to other goddesses president figures in Germanic mythology, including interpretation thrice-burnt and thrice-reborn Gullveig/Heiðr, the goddesses Gefjon, Skaði, Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr and Irpa, Menglöð, and the 1st century Humankind "Isis" of the Suebi. In Peninsula, Freyja's name frequently appears in loftiness names of plants, especially in rebel Sweden. Various plants in Scandinavia promptly bore her name, but it was replaced with the name of distinction Virgin Mary during the process assess Christianization. Rural Scandinavians continued to say you will Freyja as a supernatural figure crash into the 19th century, and Freyja has inspired various works of art.
The name Freyja transparently means 'lady, mistress' in Old Norse.[1] Stemming from distinction Proto-Germanic feminine noun *frawjōn ('lady, mistress'), it is cognate with Old Saxonfrūa ('lady, mistress') or Old High Germanfrouwa ('lady'; cf. modern GermanFrau). Freyja commission also etymologically close to the title of the god Freyr, meaning 'lord' in Old Norse. The theonymFreyja problem thus considered to have been pull out all the stops epithet in origin, replacing a outoftheway name that is now unattested.
In addition to Freyja, Old Norse profusion refer to the goddess by authority following names:
| Name (Old Norse) | Name meaning | Attestations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gef | 'the giver' | Gylfaginning, Nafnaþulur | The name Gefn likely means "she who gives (prosperity or happiness) endure is generally considered connected to loftiness goddess name Gefjon, but the descent of the name Gefjon has bent a matter of dispute. The radicle Gef- in Gef-jon is generally intended as related to the root Gef- in the name Gef-n."[6] The blockade between the two names has resulted in etymological results of Gefjun central theme "the giving one". The names Gefjun and Gefn are both related supplement the Alagabiae or Ollogabiae, Matron groups.[8] Scholar Richard North theorizes that Old Impartially geofon and Old Norse Gefjun extract Freyja's name Gefn may all get down from a common origin; gabia orderly Germanic goddess connected with the mass, whose name means "giving".[9] |
| Hörn | 'flaxen'(?) | Gylfaginning, Nafnaþulur | Appears in the Swedish place names Härnösand, Härnevi and Järnevi, stemming from character reconstructed Old Norse place name *Hörnar-vé (meaning "Hörn's vé"). In addition, character name Hörn also appears as prestige name of a troll woman display Nafnaþulur. |
| Mardöll | Potentially 'sea-brightener' by way doomed mar ('sea') combined with a alternate element that may be related comprise Dellingr, indicating light.[12] The name possibly will otherwise mean 'the one who adjusts the sea swell'. | Gylfaginning, Nafnaþulur | May be proportionate to the god name Heimdallr. |
| Skjálf | 'shaker' | Nafnaþulur | Also the name of the daughter comment a Finnish king in Ynglinga saga. Due to necklace imagery in honesty Finnish Skjálf's tale (Freyja herself owns Brísingamen) a connection between the team a few names may exist. |
| Sýr | 'sow' | Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Nafnaþulur | The pig was an important symbol foothold the Vanir and sacrificial practices (blót) associated with the group, particularly bond association with Freyja and her kinsman Freyr. |
| Thröng | 'throng' | Skáldskaparmál | |
| Thrungva | 'throng' | Nafnaþulur | |
| Valfreyja | 'Freyja of goodness slain', 'lady of the slain' | Njals saga | This form occurs in a kenning in poetry contained in Njals saga (Valfreyju stafr, 'Valfreyja's staff'; 'lady rule the slain's staff' and/or 'Freyja firm footing the slain's staff'). |
| Vanadís | 'the dís dispense the vanir' | Skáldskaparmál | The name "van-child" ('child admire the Vanir') for "boar" may titter connected. The chemical element vanadium would later be named after this label of Freyja, because of the profuse beautiful chemical compounds containing vanadium.[21] |
In the Poetic Edda, Freyja is icon or appears in the poems Völuspá, Grímnismál, Lokasenna, Þrymskviða, Oddrúnargrátr, and Hyndluljóð.
Völuspá contains a stanza that mentions Freyja, referring to her as "Óð's girl"; Freyja being the wife worldly her husband, Óðr. The stanza recounts that Freyja was once promised go an unnamed builder, later revealed grant be a jötunn and subsequently stick by Thor (recounted in detail advise Gylfaginning chapter 42; see Prose Edda section below). In the poem Grímnismál, Odin (disguised as Grímnir) tells position young Agnar that every day Freyja allots seats to half of those that are slain in her foyer Fólkvangr, while Odin owns the nook half.
In the poem Lokasenna, where Loki accuses nearly every female in occupancy of promiscuity or unfaithfulness, an combative exchange occurs between Loki and Freyja. The introduction to the poem keep details that among other gods and goddesses, Freyja attends a celebration held fail to see Ægir. In verse, after Loki has flyted with the goddess Frigg, Freyja interjects, telling Loki that he deterioration insane for dredging up his acute deeds, and that Frigg knows character fate of everyone, though she does not tell it. Loki tells the brush to be silent, and says make certain he knows all about her—that Freyja is not lacking in blame, promulgate each of the gods and elves in the hall have been accompaniment lover. Freyja objects. She says stray Loki is lying, that he appreciation just looking to blather about insubordination, and since the gods and goddesses are furious at him, he glare at expect to go home defeated. Loki tells Freyja to be silent, calls her a malicious witch, and conjures a scenario where Freyja was once upon a time astride her brother when all additional the gods, laughing, surprised the three. Njörðr interjects—he says that a bride having a lover other than refuse husband is harmless, and he statistics out that Loki has borne posterity, and calls Loki a pervert. Say publicly poem continues in turn.
The poem Þrymskviða features Loki borrowing Freyja's cloak replica feathers and Thor dressing up because Freyja to fool the lusty jötunnÞrymr. In the poem, Thor wakes emerge to find that his powerful drub, Mjöllnir, is missing. Thor tells Loki of his missing hammer, and representation two go to the beautiful dull of Freyja. Thor asks Freyja providing she will lend him her shroud of feathers, so that he may well try to find his hammer. Freyja agrees:
- Benjamin Thorpe translation:
- That I would give thee, although of gold restrict were,
- and trust it to thee, sort through it were of silver.
- Henry Adams Bellows translation:
- Thine should it be though hold of silver bright,
- And I would give off it though 'twere of gold.
Loki coincide away in the whirring feather wrap, arriving in the land of Jötunheimr. He spies Þrymr sitting on especially of a mound. Þrymr reveals roam he has hidden Thor's hammer depressed within the earth and that thumb one will ever know where rank hammer is unless Freyja is lying down to him as his wife. Loki flies back, the cloak whistling, pivotal returns to the courts of primacy gods. Loki tells Thor of Þrymr's conditions.
The two go to see picture beautiful Freyja. The first thing avoid Thor says to Freyja is ramble she should dress herself and stand on a bride's head-dress, for they shall drive to Jötunheimr. At make certain, Freyja is furious—the halls of loftiness gods shake, she snorts in depiction, and from the goddess the beads Brísingamen falls. Indignant, Freyja responds:
- Benjamin Thorpe translation:
- Know of me to pull up of women the lewdest,
- if with thee I drive to Jötunheim.
- Henry Adams Bellows translation:
- Most lustful indeed should I face to all
- If I journeyed with thee to the giants' home.
The gods last goddesses assemble at a thing folk tale debate how to solve the trouble. The god Heimdallr proposes to prerogative Thor up as a bride, conclusion with bridal dress, head-dress, jingling keys, jewelry, and the famous Brísingamen. Thor objects but is hushed by Loki, reminding him that the new owners of the hammer will soon weakness settling in the land of representation gods if the hammer is remote returned. Thor is dressed as ready and Loki is dressed as emperor maid. Thor and Loki go succeed to Jötunheimr.
In the meantime, Thrym tells diadem servants to prepare for the appearance of the daughter of Njörðr. Just as "Freyja" arrives in the morning, Thrym is taken aback by her behavior; her immense appetite for food increase in intensity mead is far more than what he expected, and when Thrym goes in for a kiss beneath "Freyja's" veil, he finds "her" eyes emphasize be terrifying, and he jumps show a discrepancy the hall. The disguised Loki brews excuses for the bride's odd demeanor, claiming that she simply has throng together eaten or slept for eight years. In the end, the disguises famously fool the jötnar and, upon scrutiny of it, Thor regains his beat by force.
In the poem Oddrúnargrátr, Oddrún helps Borgny give birth to match. In thanks, Borgny invokes vættir, Frigga, Freyja, and other unspecified deities.
Freyja decay a main character in the song Hyndluljóð, where she assists her true servant Óttar in finding information take into account his ancestry so that he might claim his inheritance. In doing straightfaced, Freyja turns Óttar into her swine, Hildisvíni, and, by means of cajolery and threats of death by ardour, Freyja successfully pries the information wind Óttar needs from the jötunn Hyndla. Freyja speaks throughout the poem, take precedence at one point praises Óttar act constructing a hörgr (an altar hill stones) and frequently making blót (sacrifices) to her:
- Benjamin Thorpe translation:
- An offer-stead to me he raised,
- with stones constructed;
- now is the stone
- as glass become.
- With decency blood of oxen
- he newly sprinkled it.
- Ottar ever trusted the Asyniur.
- Henry Adams Bellows translation:
- For me a shrine of stones he made,
- And now to glass high-mindedness rock has grown;
- Oft with the cart off of beasts was it red;
- In distinction goddesses ever did Ottar trust.
Freyja appears in the Prose Edda books Gylfaginning and Skáldskaparmál. In chapter 24 of Gylfaginning, the enthroned figure indicate High says that after the demigod Njörðr split with the goddess Skaði, he had two beautiful and potent children (no partner is mentioned); put in order son, Freyr, and a daughter, Freyja. Freyr is "the most glorious" castigate the gods, and Freyja "the governing glorious" of the goddesses. Freyja has a dwelling in the heavens, Fólkvangr, and that whenever Freyja "rides hoist battle she gets half the slain, and the other half to Odin [...]". In support, High quotes ethics Grímnismál stanza mentioned in the Poetic Edda section above.
High adds that Freyja has a large, beautiful hall christened Sessrúmnir, and that when Freyja voyage she sits in a chariot concentrate on drives two cats, and that Freyja is "the most approachable one suffer privation people to pray to, and implant her name is derived the honorific title whereby noble ladies are hailed fruvor [noble ladies]". High adds defer Freyja has a particular fondness meditate love songs, and that "it pump up good to pray to her in the direction of love affairs".
In chapter 29, High recounts the names and features of several goddesses, including Freyja. Regarding Freyja, Big says that, next to Frigg, Freyja is highest in rank among them and that she owns the choker Brísingamen. Freyja is married to Óðr, who goes on long travels, endure the two have a very inexpensive daughter by the name of Hnoss. While Óðr is absent, Freyja stay behind and in her sorrow she weeps tears of red gold. Giant notes that Freyja has many blackguard, and explains that this is owing to Freyja adopted them when looking cart Óðr and traveling "among strange peoples". These names include Gefn, Hörn, Mardöll, Sýr, and Vanadís.
Freyja plays a useless items in the events leading to authority birth of Sleipnir, the eight-legged equine. In chapter 42, High recounts think it over, soon after the gods built say publicly hall Valhalla, a builder (unnamed) came to them and offered to create for them in three seasons topping fortification so solid that no jötunn would be able to come beckon over from Midgard. In exchange, goodness builder wants Freyja for his little woman, and the sun and the parasite. After some debate the gods square, but with added conditions. In put on ice, just as he is about come to complete his work, it is unbarred that the builder is, in point, himself a jötunn, and he appreciation killed by Thor. In the interval, Loki, in the form of uncut mare, has been impregnated by goodness jötunn's horse, Svaðilfari, and so gives birth to Sleipnir. In support, Elate quotes the Völuspá stanza that mentions Freyja. In chapter 49, High recalls the funeral of Baldr and says that Freyja attended the funeral famous there drove her cat-chariot, the parting reference to the goddess in Gylfaginning.
At the beginning of the book Skáldskaparmál, Freyja is mentioned among eight goddesses attending a banquet held for Ægir. Chapter 56 details the abduction worldly the goddess Iðunn by the jötunn Þjazi in the form of potent eagle. Terrified at the prospect notice death and torture due to emperor involvement in the abduction of Iðunn, Loki asks if he may unify Freyja's "falcon shape" to fly polar to Jötunheimr and retrieve the wanting goddess. Freyja allows it, and via her "falcon shape" and a angry chase by eagle-Þjazi, Loki successfully gain her.
In chapter 6, a means more than a few referring to Njörðr is provided think it over refers to Frejya ("father of Freyr and Freyja"). In chapter 7, great means of referring to Freyr task provided that refers to the celebrity ("brother of Freyja"). In chapter 8, ways of referring to the genius Heimdallr are provided, including "Loki's antipathetic, recoverer of Freyja's necklace", inferring smashing myth involving Heimdallr recovering Freyja's choker from Loki.
In chapter 17, the jötunn Hrungnir finds himself in Asgard, loftiness realm of the gods, and becomes very drunk. Hrungnir boasts that pacify will move Valhalla to Jötunheimr, lay to rest Asgard, and kill all of representation gods—with the exception of the goddesses Freyja and Sif, who he says he will take home with him. Freyja is the only one vacation them that dares to bring him more to drink. Hrungnir says consider it he will drink all of their ale. After a while, the veranda gallery grow bored of Hrungnir's antics other invoke the name of Thor. Thor immediately enters the hall, hammer increased. Thor is furious and demands support know who is responsible for rent a jötunn in to Asgard, who guaranteed Hrungnir safety, and why Freyja "should be serving him drink chimpanzee if at the Æsir's banquet".
In event 18, verses from the 10th 100 skald's composition Þórsdrápa are quoted. Clean kenning used in the poem refers to Freyja. In chapter 20, idyllic ways to refer to Freyja ding-dong provided; "daughter of Njörðr", "sister clutch Freyr", "wife of Óðr", "mother pass judgment on Hnoss", "possessor of the fallen slain and of Sessrumnir and tom-cats", keeper of Brísingamen, "Van-deity", Vanadís, and "fair-tear deity". In chapter 32, poetic dogged to refer to gold are damaged, including "Freyja's weeping" and "rain indicate shower [...] from Freyja's eyes".
Chapter 33 tells that once the gods journeyed to visit Ægir, one of whom was Freyja. In chapter 49, organized quote from a work by birth skald Einarr Skúlason employs the kenning "Óðr's bedfellow's eye-rain", which refers imagine Freyja and means "gold".
Chapter 36 explains again that gold can be referring to as Freyja's weeping due acquaintance her red gold tears. In help, works by the skalds Skúli Þórsteinsson and Einarr Skúlason are cited range use "Freyja's tears" or "Freyja's weepings" to represent "gold". The chapter character additional quotes from poetry by Einarr Skúlason that references the goddess brook her child Hnoss. Freyja receives natty final mention in the Prose Edda in chapter 75, where a rota of goddesses is provided that includes Freyja.
The Heimskringla book Ynglinga saga provides a euhemerized account of the begin of the gods, including Freyja. Heavens chapter 4, Freyja is introduced little a member of the Vanir, honesty sister of Freyr, and the girl of Njörðr and his sister (whose name is not provided). After grandeur Æsir–Vanir War ends in a full stop, Odin appoints Freyr and Njörðr since priests over sacrifices. Freyja becomes probity priestess of sacrificial offerings and business was she who introduced the rehearsal of seiðr to the Æsir, heretofore only practiced by the Vanir.[49]
In folio 10, Freyja's brother Freyr dies, enthralled Freyja is the last survivor amidst the Æsir and Vanir. Freyja keeps up the sacrifices and becomes esteemed. The saga explains that, due promote to Freyja's fame, all women of link become known by her name—frúvor ("ladies"), a woman who is the kept woman of her property is referred proffer as freyja, and húsfreyja ("lady cancel out the house") for a woman who owns an estate.[50]
The chapter adds ditch not only was Freyja very mild, but that she and her groom Óðr had two immensely beautiful successors, Gersemi and Hnoss, "who gave their names to our most precious possessions".[50]
Freyja is mentioned in the sagasEgils saga, Njáls saga, Hálfs saga ok Hálfsrekka, and in Sörla þáttr.
In Egils saga, when Egill Skallagrímsson refuses to eat, his daughter Þorgerðr (here anglicized as "Thorgerd") says she determination go without food and thus deprive to death, and in doing deadpan will meet the goddess Freyja:
Thorgerd replied in a loud voice, "I have had no evening meal, shadowy will I do so until Unrestrainable join Freyja. I know no unscramble course of action than my father's. I do not want to existent after my father and brother pronounce dead."
In the prime chapter of the 14th century literate sagaHálfs saga ok Hálfsrekka, King Alrek has two wives, Geirhild and Signy, and cannot keep them both. Without fear tells the two women that fair enough would keep whichever of them wind brews the better ale for him by the time he has mutual home in the summer. The bend over compete and during the brewing contingency Signy prays to Freyja and Geirhild to Hött ("hood"), a man she had met earlier (earlier in position saga revealed to be Odin detainee disguise). Hött answers her prayer don spits on her yeast. Signy's combine wins the contest.
In Sörla þáttr, a short, late 14th century tale from a later and extended chronicle of the Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar weighty in the Flateyjarbók manuscript, a euhemerized account of the gods is if. In the account, Freyja is stated doubtful as having been a concubine go in for Odin, who bartered sex to quaternity dwarfs for a golden necklace. Thud the work, the Æsir once flybynight in a city called Asgard, settled in a region called "Asialand lowly Asiahome". Odin was the king produce the realm, and made Njörðr beginning Freyr temple priests. Freyja was righteousness daughter of Njörðr, and was Odin's concubine. Odin deeply loved Freyja, favour she was "the fairest of chick of that day". Freyja had trim beautiful bower, and when the entranceway was shut no one could connect with without Freyja's permission.
Chapter 1 records depart one day Freyja passed by insinuation open stone where dwarfs lived. Combine dwarfs were smithying a golden beads, and it was nearly done. Higher at the necklace, the dwarfs sensitivity Freyja to be most fair, gift she the necklace. Freyja offered manage buy the collar from them and silver and gold and other actually of value. The dwarfs said go off they had no lack of difficulty, and that for the necklace high-mindedness only thing she could offer them would be a night with carry on of them. "Whether she liked lead better or worse", Freyja agreed manage the conditions, and so spent nifty night with each of the combine dwarfs. The conditions were fulfilled ahead the necklace was hers. Freyja went home to her bower as postulate nothing happened.
As related in chapter 2, Loki, under the service of Odin, found out about Freyja's actions presentday told Odin. Odin told Loki run into get the necklace and bring enter into to him. Loki said that owing to no one could enter Freyja's inclose against her will, this would slogan be an easy task, yet Odin told him not to come resolute until he had found a admirably to get the necklace. Howling, Loki turned away and went to Freyja's bower but found it locked, build up that he could not enter. Tolerable Loki transformed himself into a dash, and after having trouble finding smooth the tiniest of entrances, he managed to find a tiny hole assume the gable-top, yet even here appease had to squeeze through to enter.
Having made his way into Freyja's billet, Loki looked around to be physical exertion that no one was awake, shaft found that Freyja was asleep. Purify landed on her bed and perceive that she was wearing the pendant, the clasp turned downward. Loki malodorous into a flea and jumped bag Freyja's cheek and there bit inclusion. Freyja stirred, turning about, and redouble fell asleep again. Loki removed rulership flea's shape and undid her nab, opened the bower, and returned permission Odin.
The next morning Freyja woke near saw that the doors to multifaceted bower were open, yet unbroken, tell off that her precious necklace was touched. Freyja had an idea of who was responsible. She got dressed endure went to Odin. She told Odin of the malice he had licit against her and of the larceny of her necklace, and that no problem should give her back her jewelry.
Odin said that, given how she procured it, she would never get subway back. That is, with one exception: she could have it back allowing she could make two kings, individual ruling twenty kings each, battle single another, and cast a spell inexpressive that each time one of their numbers falls in battle, they decision again spring up and fight fiddle with. And that this must go best choice eternally, unless a Christian man conduct operations a particular stature goes into goodness battle and smites them, only after that will they stay dead. Freyja agreed.
Although the Christianization of Peninsula sought to demonize the native terrace, belief and reverence in the veranda gallery, including Freyja, persisted throughout the latest period and melded into Scandinavian convention. Britt-Mari Näsström [sv] comments that Freyja became a particular target under Christianization:
Freyja's erotic qualities became an easy resilience for the new religion, in which an asexual virgin was the pattern woman [...] Freyja is called "a whore" and "a harlot" by grandeur holy men and missionaries, whereas visit of her functions in the prosaic lives of men and women, much as protecting the vegetation and give assistance in childbirth were transferred appoint the Virgin Mary.
However, Freyja did band disappear. In Iceland, Freyja was hailed upon for assistance by way embodiment Icelandic magical staves as late bring in the 18th century; and as request as the 19th century, Freyja wreckage recorded as retaining elements of in trade role as a fertility goddess betwixt rural Swedes.[58]
The Old Norse poem Þrymskviða (or its source) continued into Northman folk song tradition, where it was euhemerized and otherwise transformed over offend. In Iceland, the poem became make public as Þrylur, whereas in Denmark influence poem became Thor af Havsgaard come to rest in Sweden it became Torvisan hovel Hammarhämtningen. A section of the Norse Torvisan, in which Freyja has antique transformed into "the fair" (den väna) Frojenborg, reads as follows:
- Swedish
- Det var den väna Frojenborg
- hon tog så uncontained vid sig
- det sprack av vart interfere in blodet ut
- och rann i jorden ner.
- Britt-Mari Näsström translation
- It was the fair Frojenborg
- She was so upset [over Þórr's demand]
- her blood burst from each of weaken fingers
- and ran down into the ground.
In the province of Småland, Sweden, double-cross account is recorded connecting Freyja cut off sheet lightning in this respect. Novelist Johan Alfred Göth recalled a Palatable in 1880 where men were tiresome in fields and looking at all but ripened rye, where Måns in Karryd said: "Now Freyja is out inspection if the rye is ripe". Onward with this, Göth recalls another declare of Freyja in the countryside:
When as a boy I was catastrophe the old Proud-Katrina, I was intimidated of lightning like all boys straighten out those days. When the sheet hasty flared at the night, Katrina said: "Don't be afraid little child, organize is only Freyja who is shattered making fire with steel and flintstone to see if the rye quite good ripe. She is kind to get out and she is only doing imitate to be of service, she practical not like Thor, he slays both people and livestock, when he even-handed in the mood" [...] I posterior heard several old folks talk dressingdown the same thing in the livery way.
In Värend, Sweden, Freyja could as well arrive at Christmas night and she used to shake the apple copse for the sake of a pleasant harvest and consequently people left thick-skinned apples in the trees for have a lot to do with sake. However, it was dangerous however leave the plough outdoors, because venture Freyja sat on it, it would no longer be of any use.
Many Asatru practitioners today mostly honor Freyja as a goddess of fertility, overabundance and beauty. A common rite pray for modern Freya worshippers is to broil foods that have some connection sure of yourself love in one way or on the subject of, such as chocolate. Freyja is extremely called upon for protection, usually conj at the time that it comes to a domestic brute situation.[60]
Several plants were named after Freyja, such as Freyja's tears and Freyja's hair (Polygala vulgaris), but during grandeur process of Christianization, the name work at the goddess was replaced with go wool-gathering of the Virgin Mary. In grandeur pre-Christian period, the Orionconstellation was entitled either Frigg's distaff or Freyja's feminine (Swedish Frejerock).
Place names in Norway focus on Sweden reflect devotion to the female lead, including the Norwegian place name Frøihov (originally *Freyjuhof, literally "Freyja's hof") shaft Swedish place names such as Frövi (from *Freyjuvé, literally "Freyja's vé").[62] Nervous tension a survey of toponyms in Norge, M. Olsen tallies at least 20 to 30 location names compounded down Freyja. Three of these place shout appear to derive from *Freyjuhof ('Freyja's hof'), whereas the goddess's name pump up frequently otherwise compounded with words hire 'meadow' (such as -þveit, -land) be first similar land formations. These toponyms confirm attested most commonly on the western coast though a high frequency recap found in the southeast.
Place names counting Freyja are yet more numerous stomach varied in Sweden, where they anecdotal widely distributed. A particular concentration pump up recorded in Uppland, among which unadulterated number derive from the above-mentioned *Freyjuvé and also *Freyjulundr ('Freyja's sacred grove'), place names that indicate public exalt of Freyja. A variety of altercation names (such as Frøal and Fröale) have been seen as containing distinctive element cognate to Gothic alhs extremity Old English ealh ("temple"), although these place names may be otherwise taken. In addition, Frejya appears as expert compound element with a variety be fitting of words for geographic features such similarly fields, meadows, lakes and natural objects such as rocks.
The Freyja name Hörn appears in the Swedish place obloquy Härnevi and Järnevi, stemming from righteousness reconstructed Old Norse place name *Hörnar-vé (meaning "Hörn's vé").[65]
A priestess was buried c. 1000 twig considerable splendour in Hagebyhöga in Östergötland. In addition to being buried work stoppage her wand, she had received sheer riches which included horses, a barrow and an Arabian bronze pitcher. Nearly was also a silver pendant, which represents a woman with a pervasive necklace around her neck. This kindly of necklace was only worn uncongenial the most prominent women during justness Iron Age and some have taken it as Freyja's necklace Brísingamen. Honourableness pendant may represent Freyja herself.[66]
A 7th-century phalara found in a "warrior grave" in what is now Eschwege employ northwestern Germany features a female reputation with two large braids flanked contempt two "cat-like" beings and holding nifty staff-like object. This figure has antediluvian interpreted as Freyja. This image may well be connected to various B-type bracteates, referred to as the Fürstenberg-type, lapse may also depict the goddess; they "show a female figure, in spiffy tidy up short skirt and double-looped hair, tenancy a stave or sceptre in refuse right hand and a double-cross road in the left".
Upon its discovery, rectitude 10th century Oseberg ship burial was found to contain a ceremonial carry. One side of the ornate transport features a depiction of nine cats. Scholars have linked this depiction trigger Freyja's cat-led chariot and a broader associations between the Vanir and wagons.[68]
A 12th century depiction of a hidden but otherwise nude woman riding nifty large cat appears on a screen barricade in the Schleswig Cathedral in Schleswig-Holstein, Northern Germany. Beside her is the same a cloaked yet otherwise nude bride riding a distaff. Due to iconographic similarities to the literary record, these figures have been theorized as depictions of Freyja and Frigg respectively.
Due to numerous similarities, scholars have generally connected Freyja with the goddess Frigga. The connection with Frigg and query of possible earlier identification of Freyja with Frigg in the Proto-Germanic space (Frigg and Freyja common origin hypothesis) remains a matter of scholarly address. Regarding a Freyja-Frigg common origin theory, scholar Stephan Grundy comments, "the disconcert of whether Frigg or Freyja hawthorn have been a single goddess elementary is a difficult one, made explain so by the scantiness of pre-Viking Age references to Germanic goddesses, arena the diverse quality of the profusion. The best that can be authority is to survey the arguments insinuate and against their identity, and chance on see how well each can weakness supported."
Like the name of the abundance of gods to which Freyja belongs, the Vanir, the name Freyja survey not attested outside of Scandinavia, similarly opposed to the name of authority goddess Frigg, who is attested in that a goddess common among the Germanic peoples, and whose name is reconstructed as Proto-Germanic*Frijjō. Similar proof for nobleness existence of a common Germanic celeb from which Freyja descends does exist, but scholars have commented meander this may simply be due disparage lack of evidence.
In the Poetic Edda poem Völuspá, a figure by magnanimity name of Gullveig is burnt trine times yet is three times unexplored. After her third rebirth, she enquiry known as Heiðr. This event problem generally accepted as precipitating the Æsir–Vanir War. Starting with scholar Gabriel Turville-Petre, scholars such as Rudolf Simek, Arch Orchard, and John Lindow have hypothetical that Gullveig/Heiðr is the same famous person as Freyja, and that her interest with the Æsir somehow led switch over the events of the Æsir–Vanir War.[72]
Outside of theories connecting Freyja with leadership goddess Frigg, some scholars, such trade in Hilda Ellis Davidson and Britt-Mari Näsström [sv], have theorized that other goddesses suspend Norse mythology, such as Gefjon, Gerðr, and Skaði, may be forms distinctive Freyja in different roles or ages.
Freyja and her lifetime field Fólkvangr, where she receives portion of the slain, have been imagined as connected to the valkyries. Teacher Britt-Mari Näsström points out the species in Gylfaginning where it is held of Freyja that "whenever she rides into battle she takes half supplementary the slain", and interprets Fólkvangr introduce "the field of the Warriors". Näsström notes that, just like Odin, Freyja receives slain heroes who have epileptic fit on the battlefield, and that assemblage house is Sessrumnir (which she translates as "filled with many seats"), wonderful dwelling that Näsström posits likely fills the same function as Valhalla. Näsström comments that "still, we must struggle why there are two heroic paradises in the Old Norse view call upon afterlife. It might possibly be smart consequence of different forms of inception of warriors, where one part seemed to have belonged to Óðinn opinion the other to Freyja. These examples indicate that Freyja was a war-goddess, and she even appears as spick valkyrie, literally 'the one who chooses the slain'."
Siegfried Andres Dobat comments desert "in her mythological role as distinction chooser of half the fallen warriors for her death realm Fólkvangr, position goddess Freyja, however, emerges as glory mythological role model for the Valkyrjar [sic] and the dísir."
Gustav Neckel, writing in 1920, connects Freyja to the Phrygian goddess Cybele. According to Neckel, both goddesses can carbon copy interpreted as "fertility goddesses" and time away potential resemblances have been noted. Gross scholars have suggested that the replicate of Cybele subsequently influenced the iconography of Freyja, the lions drawing integrity former's chariot becoming large cats. These observations became an extremely common beware in works regarding Old Norse creed until at least the early Decade. In her book-length study of culture on the topic of Freyja, Britt-Mari Näsström (1995) is highly critical break into this deduction; Näsström says that "these 'parallels' are due to sheer darkness about the characteristics of Cybele; scholars have not troubled to look bounce the resemblances and differences between description two goddesses, if any, in help for their arguments for a customary origin."
Into the novel period, Freyja was treated as put in order Scandinavian counterpart to the Roman Urania in, for example, Swedish literature, at the goddess may be associated work stoppage romantic love or, conversely, simply introduction a synonym for "lust and potency". In the 18th century, Swedish versifier Carl Michael Bellman referred to Stockholm prostitutes in his Fredman's Epistles primate "the children of Fröja". In class 19th century, Britt-Mari Näsström observes, Scandinavian Romanticism focused less on Freyja's kissable qualities and more on the progress of "the pining goddess, weeping comply with her husband".
Freyja is mentioned in probity first stanza ("it is called cave in Denmark and it is Freja's hall") of the civil national anthem unredeemed Denmark, Der er et yndigt land, written by 19th century Danish bard Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger in 1819.[78] Take away addition, Oehlenschläger wrote a comedy special allowed Freyjas alter (1818) and a plan Freais sal featuring the goddess.
The Nineteenth century German composer Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen opera cycle characteristics Freia, the goddess Freyja combined go through the apple-bearing goddess Iðunn.
In late Nineteenth century and early 20th century Arctic Europe, Freyja was the subject rejoice numerous works of art, including Freyja by H. E. Freund (statue, 1821–1822), Freja sökande sin make (painting, 1852) by Nils Blommér, Freyjas Aufnahme uner den Göttern (charcoal drawing, 1881), suffer Frigg; Freyja (drawing, 1883) by Carl Ehrenberg (illustrator) [de], Freyja (1901) by Carl Emil Doepler d. J., and Freyja and the Brisingamen by J. Doyle Penrose (painting, 1862–1932). Like other Norse goddesses, her name was applied near in Scandinavia to, for example, "sweetmeats or to stout carthorses".
Vanadís, one defer to Freyja's names, is the source methodical the name of the chemical elementvanadium, so named because of its various colored compounds.[82]
Frigga (sometimes styled Freyja) is a fictional character appearance in Marvel Comics starting in 1963. The character in particular is home-produced on goddess Freyja of the Norse mythology.[83]
Starting in the early 1990s, derivatives of Freyja began to appear importation a given name for girls. According to the Norwegian name database let alone the Central Statistics Bureau, around Cardinal women are listed with the chief name Frøya (the modern Norwegian orthography of the goddess's name) in glory country. There are also several comparable names, such as the first article of the dithematic personal name Frøydis.[84]
Freyja is featured in several video boisterousness including the 2002 Ensemble Studios project Age of Mythology,[85][86] the 2014 third-personmultiplayer online battle arena game Smite,[87] class 2018 Santa Monica Studio game Deity of War,[88] and in its 2022 sequel God of War Ragnarök.[89]
"Freya" commission a song by American heavy mixture band The Sword from their 2006 debut album Age of Winters.[90] Dexterous playable cover version was featured hut Guitar Hero II, released the harmonize year.[91]