A goddess who will leave no one indifferent, we are going to meet Freya, the Norse goddess of the earth and fertility. But as we will see, she has many other important roles to play. Let’s start by noting that Freya means “Lady” or “Sovereign” in Old Norse, the Viking language written with the runes of the Futhark.
She is known by several other names such as Vanadis or Valkyria, depending on the context in which she is spoken of. Freya is her name when referring to the goddess of fertility, while Valkyria is used for her role as goddess of war. Vanadis means “Goddess,” which suggests her crucial importance in Norse mythology.
She is often described as a very beautiful woman, which established her as the reference for pure beauty, with long blonde hair and blue eyes that would captivate men and gods from all horizons.
Freya’s Place in the Norse Pantheon
Freya’s Family
We can distinguish two groups of gods in the Norse pantheon, the Aesir and the Vanir. We know the Vanir for their connection with nature and the essential things in life. So you can guess that Freya, as goddess of the earth and fertility, belongs to the Vanir lineage.
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She is the daughter of Njord, the main god of the Vanir family. He is the god of the sea and winds and is said to be a god who accompanies sailors by bringing them luck. He is considered a very good god, with a strong bond with humans. Indeed, it was not uncommon for the inhabitants of Midgard to pray to Njord at the slightest problem at sea.
Freya has a twin brother named Freyr, who is the god of light, rain, and also prosperity. Many think that Freyr belongs to the Aesir lineage because he was exchanged as a pledge of peace at the end of the conflict between the Aesir and the Vanir.
Freya married the god Od (Odur) with whom she had two daughters, Nossa and Gersimi. However, Od disappeared mysteriously, to the point that some say he was actually Odin himself, who could not resist the beauty of the goddess. He supposedly transformed himself to live alongside the goddess before returning to his responsibilities in Asgard.
Freya’s Powers
Let’s talk a bit about Freya’s beauty. It is described as unmatched, to the point that reactions to her were extraordinary. Some would become paralyzed while others would cry with joy. She is the reference for female beauty among the Vikings.
Freya is not called the goddess of fertility for nothing; she is granted the power to heal and support women during their pregnancies. For example, you will note that Lagertha in the Viking series, upon learning she can no longer have children, prays to Freya. Freya is thus the protector of the home, family, and children.
The earth goddess is very popular; everyone loves her and describes her as just, merciful, and kind. However, another label sticks to her. Her beauty turns men’s heads and creates many fantasies, including among the gods. She is therefore also given other titles such as “goddess of lust.” Moreover, she had many love affairs with gods, dwarves, and giants, notably to fill the void left by her husband Od’s disappearance.
Freya’s powers are numerous, but most come from magical objects that we will list a little further down in this article.
Freya’s Different Roles
Freya, being at the forefront of Norse mythology, occupies many roles. Each of the names given to her reflects one of these roles.
Valkyria Leads the Dead to Her Palace
Valkyria is the name given to the goddess of war who is actually Freya. She is the first and thus the leader of the Valkyries. She leads the Valkyries on the battlefields. She is said to be a great warrior.
She has the power to choose which side will win battles in the world of men, thanks to a magical necklace that we will talk about later. This power made her the deity whose favor everyone sought to win battles.
The dead on these battlefields are taken by Odin to the Valhalla, but Valkyria takes other deceased to her palace Folkvang. This role of accompanying men in life and death also gives her the status of “Goddess of Death,” not to be confused with Hel, who rules over the realm of the dead.
The role of the dead taken by Valkyria is not the same as the warriors of Valhalla. The warriors welcomed by Odin feast with the gods until the day of Ragnarok, when Odin’s legendary army takes up arms. Whereas Valkyria’s army’s goal is to protect the homes.
Vanadis Brings Abundance and Prosperity
Vanadis is another name given to Freya; it is her title when referring to the goddess of abundance, wealth, security, and project building.
Vanadis’s attributes fall within a range of luxury and comfort, and her role is to protect and support. Indeed, whether it is her everyday outfits described as magnificent and distinguished or her armor and weapons in gold, she always appears wealthy.
Moreover, her first daughter Hnoss means “preciousness” and her second daughter Gersimi means “treasure” in Old Norse. All these elements make Freya considered a source of all kinds of treasures.
Freya, Goddess of Love and Fertility
Freya, under her original name, symbolizes fertility and love. In a way, we can approach these qualities by seeing her as a kind of Cupid, who is at the origin of love stories, romances, and faithful commitments. This indeed reflects one of her roles.
But regarding Freya, we are also dealing with natural aspects, a free and relaxed sexuality. By fertility, it is meant that her beauty would make all men capable when they share her bed. And by love, it means a form of polyamory where having many affairs is normal.
Freya, by the way, shared her bed with 4 dwarves in turn to obtain her magical necklace Brisingamen.
Consequently, she is the goddess consulted when seeking advice on romantic relationships.
Freya and Her Array of Accessories
Beyond her divine powers, Freya has many powers granted by the magical objects she possesses.
The Theft of the Magical Necklace Brisingamen
The magical necklace Brisingamen was given to Freya after she shared her bed with 4 dwarves in turn. In more romanticized versions, it is said she married each dwarf for one day. This necklace made of amber and gold grants her extraordinary seductive power, but also the power to favor one side during a battle.
It was stolen from her by Loki under Odin’s orders, who could not bear that she had so much influence in wars. Loki transformed into a fly to steal the necklace from Freya. He bit her hand to distract her before snatching the necklace.
Freya’s Magical Cloak
Freya owns a magical cloak made of falcon feathers that gives her the ability to transform into a falcon and travel between the nine worlds of Yggdrasil. It is also by transforming into a falcon that she guides the Valkyries to war.
The falcon being a majestic bird, this transformation reinforced her status as goddess of beauty.
Thor and Freya’s Chariot
Among the best-known stories is that of Freya’s chariot.
One day, Thor, while going fishing, stopped in front of Freya’s home with his chariot pulled by two giant goats. He made a tremendous noise and apologized to Freya.
Further on, he met two blue cats with their father. He thought that offering a chariot pulled by two giant blue cats to Freya would be a good way to make amends. He then asked the cats’ father, who refused, claiming his kittens deserved better. Thor, filled with anger, defeated the father and took the two kittens. That is how Freya received as a gift from Thor a chariot pulled by two giant cats.
Freya is often depicted on her chariot traveling through the cosmos.
