Frigg

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Frigg hilando las nubes, por J C Dollman

Frigg es una de las diosas mayores en la mitología nórdica y germánica, esposa de Odín, reina de los Æsir y diosa del cielo. Es la diosa de la fertilidad, el amor, el manejo del hogar, el matrimonio, la maternidad y las artes domésticas. En las Eddas se la menciona como una de las diosas principales, junto a Freyja.^[1] Sus funciones primordiales en los relatos de la mitología nórdica la mencionan como esposa y madre. Tiene el poder de la profecía aunque nunca relata lo que sabe,^[2] y es la única que junto a Odín tiene permitido sentarse en el trono Hlidskjálf y observar sobre los nueve mundos.^[3]

Frigg también participa en la cacería salvaje, Asgardreid, junto a su esposo.^[4] Los hijos de Frigg son Baldr, Höðr y sus hijastros son Hermóðr, Heimdall, Tyr, Vidar y Váli. Thor es mencionado en algunas ocasiones como su hermano o como su hijastro. Frigg es acompañada en ocasiones por Eir, la diosa de las curaciones. Las ayudantas de la diosa son Hlín, Gná y Fulla.

Contenido [ocultar] 1 Etimología 2 Atributos 3 Relatos sobre Frigg 3.1 Muerte de Baldr 3.2 Vili y Ve 3.3 Historia gentis Langobardorum 3.4 Gesta Danorum 4 Similitudes entre Frigg y Freyja 5 Epónimos 5.1 Plantas 5.2 Topónimos 6 Referencias

Etimología [editar]

El nombre de la diosa en nórdico antiguo es Frigg (genitivo Friggjar), en sajón antiguo Fri, y en anglosajón Frig, siendo todas formas derivadas del protogermánico Frijō. Frigg es cognado con el sánscrito prīyā́ que significa "esposa". La raíz también aparece en la forma en sajón antiguo de fri que significa "dama amada", en sueco fría "proponer matrimonio" y en islandés como frjá que significa "amar".^[5]

Algunas traducciones al inglés han adaptado el nombre a Frigga. Se ha sugerido que Frau Holle del folclore germano es un remanente de Frigg.^[6] La conexión entre Frau Holle y Frigg puede ser trazada hasta Jacob Grimm. Sin embargo algunos catedráticos sugieren que la evidencia lingüística que las relaciona se debe a una traducción errónea desde el latín.^[7]

Atributos [editar]

El asterismo de Orión era conocido como la "rueca de Frigg" o el "huso de Frigg" Friggerock, aunque en ocasiones se le asignaba a Freyja y era llamado Frejerock.^[8] Algunos señalan que la constelación se encuentra en el ecuador celeste y se ha sugerido que las estrellas rotando en el cielo de la noche pudieron ser asociadas con la rueca de Frigg.^[9]

En las Eddas,se menciona que Frigg es Fjörgyns mær, etimológicamente "doncella de Fjörgynn". El problema es que en nórdico antiguo mær significa tanto "hija" como "esposa", razón por la cual no es del todo claro si Fjörgynn es el padre de Frigg tal como se relata en Skáldskaparmál^[10] o es otro nombre para su esposo Odín tal como es interpretado en Lokasenna.^[11] El significado original de fjörgynn era "la tierra", cf. versión femenina de Fjörgyn, un epíteto para Jörð, "la tierra".^[12]

La residencia de Frigg en el Asgard es Fensalir, que significa "Salón del pantano".^[13] La diosa Saga, quien es descrita bebiendo con Odín de copas doradas en su salón Sökkvabekkr, de características idénticas a Frigg y se ha sugerido que se trata de otro nombre para la diosa.^[14]

Relatos sobre Frigg [editar]

Muerte de Baldr [editar]

Muerte de Baldr, en una pintura de Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg.

La más famosa de las historias de Frigg la representa en su rol de madre, en el relato de la muerte de Baldr, su hijo, preservado en el poema Baldrs draumar de la Edda poética, y también en Gylfaginning en la Edda prosaica. Frigg no se preocupa demasiado por su otro hijo, el ciego Höðr, pero si por su hermano Baldr, y con una preocupación maternal intenta protegerlo luego de que él tuviera sueños proféticos sobre su propia muerte.

La diosa recorrió el mundo y le hizo prestar juramento a todas las cosas de que no le harían daño. Luego de ello, los dioses reunidos en el Thing se entretenían arrojándole cosas sabiendo que nada era capaz de herirlo. El gigante Loki quien sentía aversión por Baldr, intentó averiguar alguna debilidad suya engañando a Frigg. Se convirtió en una mujer y le preguntó a la diosa si había olvidado tomar juramento a alguna cosa. Frigg reveló que había considerado al muérdago muy joven como para hacerle jurar. Loki conociendo esto hizo un dardo de muérdago y lo colocó en las manos de Höðr quien no se había unido al juego de arrojarle cosas ya que era ciego. Loki se ofreció para guiarlo y así ayudó a arrojar a Höðr el dardo que dio muerte a Baldr.^[15]

Höðr luego es muerto en un enfrentamiento con Váli, y Odín envía a uno de sus hijos, Hermóðr, para negociar con Hel el regreso de Baldr desde el inframundo. Hel es hija de Loki y diosa de los muertos. Establece como condición para devolver al dios que todas las cosas de los nueve mundos lo lloren. Frigg y Odín instan a todas las cosas a derramar lágrimas por él, pero Loki bajo la forma de un vieja giganta se escondió en una cueva y no lloró y debido a eso Baldr nunca pudo regresar. Más tarde los dioses descubrirían el papel de Loki en la muerte de Baldr, y le castigarían lo que eventualemente conduce al fin del mundo.^[15]

Aunque Frigg debía saber que Baldr estaba condenado, tanto por los sueños proféticos de él como por la capacidad de predecir el futuro que ella tenía, aún así intenta alterar su destino. Aún luego de su muerte ella intentará infructuosamente rescatarlo del inframundo. Según algunas versiones de este relato, el muérdago se convirtió en sagrado para Frigg como resultado de su fracaso en darle a Frigg un juramento.^[16]

Vili y Ve [editar]

La historia de Frigg y los hermanos de Odín, Vili y Ve, se ha preservado de forma muy breve en la Saga de los Ynglings. En esta historia se relata que en una ocasión Odín había emprendido un largo viaje y no había regresado en mucho tiempo, por lo que los Æsir pensaron que jamás regresaría. Entonces sus hermanos se dividieron sus posesiones pero no lograron acordar sobre Frigg y decidieron compartirla. Sin embargo enseguida apareció Odín y recuperó sus posesiones y su esposa.^[17]

Se hace una mención a esta historia en los insultos de Loki a los dioses en Lokasenna, en donde agravia a la diosa acusándola de infidelidad con los hermanos de Odín.^[18]

Catedráticos modernos tales como Lee Hollander explican que Lokasenna tenía la intención de ser un texto divertido y las acusaciones que hace Loki en el poema no necesariamente deben ser tomadas como parte de lo aceptado en el folclore de la época en que fue compuesto. Algunos de sus agravios son fáciles de realizar para Loki y difíciles de refutar para los dioses o tal vez no están interesados en ello.^[19]

Historia gentis Langobardorum [editar]

El historiador longobardo Pablo el Diácono,en su obra Historia gentis Langobardorum describe como la esposa de Odín llamada Frea (Frigg/Freyja) le da a los longobardos su victoria en la guerra contra los vándalos. Es descrita como una esposa que sabe como salirse con la suya aún cuando su esposo piensa que él es quien está a cargo. Los vinnili y los vándalos eran dos tribus en guerra, Odín favorecía a los vándalos y Frea a los vinnili. Luego de una acalorada discusión, Odín prometió que le daría la victoria a la primer tribu que viera en la mañana al despertarse. Sabiendo Frea que la cama de Odín se encontraba de tal forma que al levantarse vería primero a los vándalos, mientras su esposo dormía le dijo a las mujeres de los vinnili que peinaran sus cabellos sobre sus caras de modo que parecieran hombres de largas barbas y giró la cama de modo que viera a las mujeres vinnili. Cuando Odín se despertó se sorprendió al ver a aquellos hombres de largas barbas y preguntó a su esposa que tribu era aquella y de ese modo obtuvieron el nuevo nombre de longobardos. Odín mantuvo su promesa y les otorgó la victoria a los vinnili, ahora conocidos como los lombardos.^[20]

Gesta Danorum [editar]

Saxo Grammaticus escribió en su Gesta Danorum otro relato sobre Frigg y su disputa con Odín por una estatua de oro y una infidelidad de parte de ella. Sin embargo, la obra de Saxo es extremadamente evemerista y su visión de las deidades paganas es muy tergiversada, siendo la gran mayoría de sus relatos inexistentes en las tradiciones populares.

Similitudes entre Frigg y Freyja [editar]

Frigg es la diosa mayor de los Æsir, mientras que Freyja lo es para los Vanir. Se ha debatido la idea de la posibilidad de que tanto Frigg como Freyja sean realmente la misma diosa, avatares una de la otra.^[21]

Algunos argumentos están basados en análisis lingüísticos, otros en el hecho de que Freyja era desconocida en el sur de Alemania y en algunas partes ambas diosas eran consideradas las mismas, mientras que en otras zonas eran consideradas deidades diferentes.^[22] Existen muchas similitudes entre ambas, las dos poseen capas de plumas de halcón y pueden transformarse en aves, Frigg estaba casada con Odín, mientras que Freyja lo estaba con Óðr, ambas tenían collares mágicos, a una personificación de la tierra como padres, y ambas eran invocadas en los matrimonios y los partos.

También existe el argumento de que Frigg y Freyja son parte de una tríada de diosas, junto a una tercera diosa como Hnoss o Iðunn, asociada con las diferentes edades de una mujer, Freyja como doncella, Frigg como madre y una tercera como mujer anciana.^[23] Las áreas de influencia de Frigg y Freyja no encajan del todo con lo que se ha observado en otras tríadas de diosas, lo que puede indicar que nunca hubo tal tríada o que se trata de una peculiaridad de la cultura del norte de Europea comparada con los pueblos celtas y otros más meridionales.

Finalmente, está el argumento de que Frigg y Freyja son diosas similares de diferentes panteones que fueron primero combinadas en una sola deidad y luego en un período tardío nuevamente separadas. Esto es consistente con el tratamiento teológico que se daba a algunas deidades griegas, romanas y egipcias a finales del período clásico.

Epónimos [editar]

Plantas [editar]

Hierba de Frigg.

Frigg era invocada para asistir en los partos y en ellos los escandinavos utilizaban como sedante la planta Galium verum, que era llamado "Hierba de Frigg".^[8]

Topónimos [editar]

No es muy común encontrar en la toponimia referencias a Frigg, sin embargo en Västergötland, Suecia, hay una zona llamada Friggeråker.^[5]

Una carta inglesa del año 936 menciona el nombre de "Frigedun", que significa "Valle de Frigg". Friden, en Derbyshire, Inglaterra, lleva su nombre en honor a la diosa.^[21]

Referencias [editar]

1. ↑ Sturluson, Snorri. trad. Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur: Gylfaginning, capítulo 35. Edda prosaica. Consultado el 01/03/2008.
2. ↑ Sturluson, Snorri. trad. Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur: Gylfaginning, capítulo 20. Edda prosaica. Consultado el 05/04/2008.
3. ↑ Sturluson, Snorri. trad. H. A. Bellows (1936): Grímnismál. Edda poética. Consultado el 05/04/2008.
4. ↑ Guerber, H. A. (1895). «Frigga», Myths of Northern Lands, pág. 59.
5. ↑ ^{a b} Hellquist, Elof (1922). Svensk etymologisk ordbok. LiberLaromedel Lund (1980). ISBN 91-40-01978-0.
6. ↑ Simek, Rudolf (1987). en trad. Angela Hall: Dictionary of Northern Mythology. Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, pág. 81. ISBN 0-85991-513-1.
7. ↑ Smith, John B. (agosto 2004). «Perchta the Belly-Slitter and Her Kin: A View of Some Traditional Threatening Figures, Threats and Punishments». Folklore vol. 2 (n° 115): págs. 167,169.
8. ↑ ^{a b} Schön, Ebbe (2004). Asa-Tors hammare, Gudar och jättar i tro och tradition. Fält & Hässler, Värnamo, págs. 228.
9. ↑ Krupp, E.C. (enero 1996). «The thread of time». Sky and Telescope vol. 1 (n° 91): pág. 60.
10. ↑ Sturluson, Snorri. trad. Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur: Skáldskaparmál, capítulo 27. Edda prosaica. Consultado el 05/04/2008.
11. ↑ Sturluson, Snorri (1936). trad. H. A. Bellows: Lokasenna, estrofa 26. Edda poética. Consultado el 05/04/2008.
12. ↑ Turville-Petre, O.E.G. (1964). Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. Weidenfeld and Nicolson, pág. 189. ISBN 0-8371-7420-1.
13. ↑ Lindow, John (2001). Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Oxford University Press, págs. 128-130. ISBN 0-19-515382-0.
14. ↑ Thorsson, Edred (1998). Northern Magic: Rune Mysteries and Shamanism. Llewellyn Publications, pág. 38.
15. ↑ ^{a b} Sturluson, Snorri. trad. Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur: Gylfaginning, capítulo 49. Edda prosaica. Consultado el 05/04/2006.
16. ↑ Mistletoe and holly. Consultado el 05/04/2008.
17. ↑ Sturluson, Snorri (1884). trad. Samuel Laing: Saga de los Yngligns, capítulo 3. Heimskringla. Consultado el 05/04/2008.
18. ↑ Sturluson, Snorri. trad. H. A. Bellows (1936): Lokasenna, estrofa 26. Edda poética. Consultado el 05/04/2008.
19. ↑ Hollander, Lee M. (1990). «Introduction to "Lokasenna"», The Poetic Edda, 2da. edición, University of Texas Press, pág. 90. ISBN 0-8371-7420-1.
20. ↑ Harrison, D.; Svensson, K. (2007). Vikingaliv. Fälth & Hässler, Värnamo, pág.74. ISBN 978-91-27-35725-9.
21. ↑ ^{a b} Davidson, Hilda Ellis (1998). Roles of the Northern Goddess. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-13611-3.
22. ↑ Welch, Lynda, (2001). Goddess of the North. Weiser Books, pág. 75. ISBN 1-57863-170-X.
23. ↑ Welch, Lynda, (2001). Goddess of the North. Weiser Books, págs. 107-126. ISBN 1-57863-170-X.

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Frigg

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For other uses, see Frigg (disambiguation).

"Frigga Spinning the Clouds" by J. C. Dollman.

Frigg (seated) and Fulla by Ludwig Pietsch (1865)

Frigg (or Frigga) is a major goddess in Norse paganism, a subset of Germanic paganism. She is said to be the wife of Odin, and is the "foremost among the goddesses".^[1] Frigg appears primarily in Norse mythological stories as a wife and a mother. She is also described as having the power of prophecy yet she does not reveal what she knows.^[2] Frigg is described as the only one other than Odin who is permitted to sit on his high seat Hlidskjalf and look out over the universe. The English term Friday derives from the Anglo-Saxon name for Frigg, Frigga.^[3]

Frigg's children are Baldr and Höðr, her stepchildren are Thor, Hermóðr, Heimdall, Tyr, Vidar, Váli, and Skjoldr. Frigg's companion is Eir, a goddess associated with medical skills. Frigg's attendants are Hlín, Gná, and Fulla.

In the Poetic Edda poem Lokasenna 26, Frigg is said to be Fjörgyns mær ("Fjörgynn's maiden"). The problem is that in Old Norse mær means both "daughter" and "wife", so it is not fully clear if Fjörgynn is Frigg's father or another name for her husband Odin, but Snorri Sturluson interprets the line as meaning Frigg is Fjörgynn's daughter (Skáldskaparmál 27), and most modern translators of the Poetic Edda follow Snorri. The original meaning^{[dubious – discuss]} of fjörgynn was the earth, cf. feminine version Fjorgyn, a byname for Jörð, the earth.^[4]

Contents [hide] 1 Etymology 2 Attributes 3 Myths 3.1 Death of Baldr 3.2 Vili and Ve 3.3 Historia gentis Langobardorum 3.4 Gesta Danorum 4 Connection between Frigg and Freyja 5 Toponyms 6 References

[edit] Etymology

Main article: Frijjō

Old Norse Frigg (genitive Friggjar), Old Saxon Fri, and Old English Frig are derived from Common Germanic Frijjō.^[5] Frigg is cognate with Sanskrit prīyā́ which means "wife".^[5] The root also appears in Old Saxon fri which means "beloved lady", in Swedish as fria ("to propose for marriage") and in Icelandic as frjá which means "to love".^[5]

[edit] Attributes

Frigg's grass.

The asterism Orion's Belt was known as "Frigg's Distaff/spinning wheel" (Friggerock) or "Freyja's Distaff" (Frejerock)^[6]. Some have pointed out that the constellation is on the celestial equator and have suggested that the stars rotating in the night sky may have been associated with Frigg's spinning wheel^[7].

Frigg's name means "love" or "beloved one" (Proto-Germanic *frijjō, cf. Sanskrit priyā "dear woman") and was known among many northern European cultures with slight name variations over time: e.g. Friggja in Sweden, Frīg (genitive Frīge) in Old English, and Frika in Wagner's operas.^[8] Modern English translations have sometimes altered Frigg to Frigga. It has been suggested that "Frau Holle" of German folklore is a survival of Frigg.^[9]

Frigg's hall in Asgard is Fensalir, which means "Marsh Halls."^[10] This may mean that marshy or boggy land was considered especially sacred to her but nothing definitive is known. The goddess Saga, who was described as drinking with Odin from golden cups in her hall "Sunken Benches," may be Frigg by a different name.^[11]

Frigg was a goddess associated with married women. She was called up by women to assist in giving birth to children, and Scandinavians used the plant Lady's Bedstraw (Galium verum) as a sedative, they called it Frigg's grass)^[6].

[edit] Myths

[edit] Death of Baldr

"Baldr's Death" (1817) by Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg.

Frigg plays a major role in section 49 of the 13th century Prose Edda book Gylfaginning written by Snorri Sturluson, where a version of a story relating the death of Baldr is recorded by Snorri. Baldr has had a series of ominous dreams. As Baldr was popular amongst the Æsir, after Baldr told the Æsir about his dreams, they met together at the thing and decided it wise to provide a truce for Baldr that would maintain his safety. Frigg, his mother, here takes an oath from all things, which includes disease, poisons, the elements, objects and all living beings that none will harm Baldr.

After the oaths were taken, the Æsir, aware of Baldr's newly gained invincibility, had Baldr stand in front of the thing. There, the Æsir hit Baldr with blows, shot objects at him, and some would hit him with stones. Nothing harmed him and everyone felt it was remarkable.

Loki witnessed this and was angered by Baldr's invulnerability. Loki changed himself into a woman and visited Frigg at her hall Fensalir. There, Frigg asked the woman if she knew what was happening at the thing. The woman told her that the Æsir were shooting at Baldr and yet he remained unharmed. Frigg responded that nothing could harm Baldr, as she had taken oaths from all things.

The woman asked Frigg if all things had indeed promised not to hurt Baldr, to which Frigg reveals that:

"A shoot of wood grows west of Valhalla. It is called mistletoe, and it seemed too young for me to demand its oath."^[12]

Immediately after Frigg revealed this, the woman vanished. Loki then took hold of the mistletoe, broke it off and went to the thing.

There, Höðr, since he was blind, stood at the edge of the circle of people. Loki offered to help Höðr in honoring Baldr by shooting things at him. Höðr took the mistletoe from Loki and, following Loki's directions, shot at Baldr. The mistletoe went directly through Baldr and he fell to the ground. Baldr was dead.

The gods were speechless and devastated, unable to react due to their grief. After the gods gathered their wits from the immense shock and grief of Baldr's death, Frigg asked the Æsir who amongst them wished "to gain all of her love and favor"^[12] by riding the road to Hel. Whomever agreed was to offer Hel a ransom in exchange for Baldr's return to Asgard. Hermóðr agrees to this and set off with Sleipnir to Hel.

While Hermóðr rides to Hel, Frigg arrives at the cremation with Odin, Hugin and Munin, and the Valkyries. With them came various other gods and beings during which a grand funeral for Baldr was held. After a long journey, Hermóðr arrives in Hel, meets with Hel and pleads for the return of Baldr on behalf of Frigg. Hel gives the condition that all things must weep for Baldr if Baldr will be returned to Asgard. Nanna, the wife of Baldr (whose heart burst upon seeing the corpse of Baldr and was placed upon the pyre with Baldr), gives gifts to Hermóðr to return to Asgard with. "Along with other gifts"^[12], only two gifts are specifically mentioned: a white linen robe for Frigg and a golden ring for Fulla.

The Æsir then sent forth messengers to all things to have them weep for Baldr, so that he may return from Hel. All things did but a giantess by the name of Þökk, regarding whom Snorri writes that "people believe that the giantess was Loki".^[12] Afterwards, in sections 50 and 51, a series of events occur where the gods take revenge upon Loki by binding him and thus furthering the onset of Ragnarök, though Frigg is not mentioned further in these sections.

[edit] Vili and Ve

"Frigga" (1832) from Die Helden und Götter des Nordens, oder Das Buch der sagen.

The story of Frigg and Odin's brothers, Vili and Ve, has survived in very brief form. In the Ynglinga Saga of Snorri Sturluson the entire story is told as follows:

"Othin [Odin] had two brothers. One was called Ve, and the other Vili. These, his brothers, governed the realm when he was gone. One time when Othin was gone to a great distance, he stayed away so long that the Æsir thought he would never return. Then his brothers began to divide his inheritance; but his wife Frigg they shared between them. However, a short while afterwards, Othin returned and took possession of his wife again."^[13]

The same story is referenced in one stanza of the poem, Lokasenna, in which Loki insults Frigg by accusing her of infidelity with Odin's brothers:

Hush thee, Frigg, who art Fjorgyn's daughter:
Thou hast ever been mad after men.
Vili and Ve, thou, Vithrir's spouse, [Vithrir=Odin]
Didst fold to thy bosom both.^[14]

Modern scholars such as Lee Hollander explain that Lokasenna was intended to be humorous and that the accusations thrown by Loki in the poem are not necessarily to be taken as "generally accepted lore" at the time it was composed. Rather they are charges that are easy for Loki to make and difficult for his targets to disprove, or which they do not care to refute.^[15]

Comparisons have been proposed regarding Frigg's role in this story to that of sacred queens during certain periods in ancient Egypt, when a king was king by virtue of being the queen's husband.^[16]

[edit] Historia gentis Langobardorum

A depiction of Odin and Frigg (1895) by Lorenz Frølich.

The Langobard historian Paul the Deacon, who died in southern Italy in the 790s, was proud of his tribal origins and related how his people once had migrated from southern Scandinavia.^[17] In his work Historia gentis Langobardorum, Paul relates how Odin's wife Frea (Frigg/Freyja) had given victory to the Langobards in a war against the Vandals.^[17] She is depicted as a wife who knows how to get her own way even though her husband thinks he is in charge. The Winnili and the Vandals were two warring tribes. Odin favored the Vandals, while Frea favored the Winnili. After a heated discussion, Odin swore that he would grant victory to the first tribe he saw the next morning upon awakening-- knowing full well that the bed was arranged so that the Vandals were on his side. While he slept, Frea told the Winnili women to comb their hair over their faces to look like long beards so they would look like men and turned the bed so the Winnili women would be on Odin's side. When he woke up, Odin was surprised to see the disguised women first and asked who these long bearded men were, which was where the tribe got its new name, the Langobards ("longbeards"). Odin kept his oath and granted victory to the Winnili (now known as the Lombards), and eventually saw the wisdom of Frea's choice.

[edit] Gesta Danorum

Saxo Grammaticus wrote in his Gesta Danorum another story about Frigg:

"At this time there was one Odin, who was credited over all Europe with the honour, which was false, of godhead, but used more continually to sojourn at Upsala; and in this spot, either from the sloth of the inhabitants or from its own pleasantness, he vouchsafed to dwell with somewhat especial constancy.

The kings of the North, desiring more zealously to worship his deity, embounded his likeness in a golden image; and this statue, which betokened their homage, they transmitted with much show of worship to Byzantium, fettering even the effigied arms with a serried mass of bracelets. Odin was overjoyed at such notoriety, and greeted warmly the devotion of the senders. But his queen Frigg, desiring to go forth more beautified, called smiths, and had the gold stripped from the statue.

Odin hanged them, and mounted the statue upon a pedestal, which by the marvellous skill of his art he made to speak when a mortal touched it. But still Frigg preferred the splendour of her own apparel to the divine honours of her husband, and submitted herself to the embraces of one of her servants; and it was by this man's device she broke down the image, and turned to the service of her private wantonness that gold which had been devoted to public idolatry. Little thought she of practicing unchastity, that she might the easier satisfy her greed, this woman so unworthy to be the consort of a god; but what should I here add, save that such a godhead was worthy of such a wife? So great was the error that of old befooled the minds of men.

Thus Odin, wounded by the double trespass of his wife, resented the outrage to his image as keenly as that to his bed; and, ruffled by these two stinging dishonours, took to an exile overflowing with noble shame, imagining so to wipe off the slur of his ignominy. At home, Frigg went with a certain Mith-Othin and took over Odin's properties, until Odin came back and drove them away. Frigg's death later cleared Odin's name and he regained his reputation." (Gesta Danorum, Book I)^[18]

In Saxo's Gesta Danorum, however, the gods and goddesses are heavily euhemerized, and Saxo's view on pagan deities is extremely biased, therefore most stories related to pagan gods written in it might not exist in ancient lore. Georges Dumézil linked Saxo's account of Frigg's infidelity and the stolen gold with the burning of Gullveig.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Connection between Frigg and Freyja

Fricka rides a chariot in this illustration by Arthur Rackham to Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen.

Frigg is the highest goddess of the Æsir, while Freyja is the highest goddess of the Vanir. Many arguments have been made both for and against the idea that Frigg and Freyja are really the same goddess, avatars of one another.^[19] Some arguments are based on linguistic analysis, others on the fact that Freyja wasn't known in southern Germany, only in the north, and in some places the two goddesses were considered to be the same, while in others they were considered to be different.^[20] There are clearly many similarities between the two: both had flying cloaks of falcon feathers and engaged in shape-shifting, Frigg was married to Odin while Freyja was married to Óðr, both had special necklaces, both had a personification of the Earth as a parent, both were called upon for assistance in childbirth, etc.

There is also an argument that Frigg and Freyja are part of a triad of goddesses (together with a third goddess such as Hnoss or Iðunn) associated with the different ages of womankind.^[21] The areas of influence of Frigg and Freyja don't quite match up with the areas of influence often seen in other goddess triads. This may mean that the argument isn't a good one, or it may show something interesting about northern European culture as compared to Celtic and southern European culture.

Finally, there is an argument is that Frigg and Freyja are similar goddesses from different pantheons who were first conflated into each other and then later seen as separate goddesses again (see also Frige). This is consistent with the theological treatment of some Greek, Roman, and Egyptian deities in the late classical period.

[edit] Toponyms

In Västergötland, Sweden, there is a place called Friggeråker.^[5] An English charter from 936 AD displays the name Frigedoone, which means "Valley of Frig", thus implying that Friden in Derbyshire is named after Frigg.^[22] The cities of Froyle ("Frigg's Hill") and Freefolk ("Frigg's People") in Hampshire, England may also be named after Frigg.^[23]

[edit] References

1. ^ Sturluson, Snorri. Prose Edda, Gylfaginning.
2. ^ Sturluson, Snorri. Prose Edda, Skáldskaparmál. "She will tell no fortunes, yet well she knows the fates of men."
3. ^ Barnhart, Robert K. (1995) The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, page 300. ISBN 0062700847
4. ^ Turville-Petre, E.O.G. (1964). Myth and Religion of the North. Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York. p. 189.
5. ^ ^{a b c d} Hellquist, E. (1922). Svensk etymologisk ordbok p. 244
6. ^ ^{a b} Schön, Ebbe. (2004). Asa-Tors hammare, Gudar och jättar i tro och tradition. Fält & Hässler, Värnamo. p. 228.
7. ^ Krupp, E. C. (Jan. 1996). The thread of time. Sky and Telescope. 91(1), 60.
8. ^ Claims of a connection between Frau Holle and Frigg can be traced back at least to Jacob Grimm. However, some recent scholarship suggests that the linguistic evidence connecting Frau Holle with Frigg is based on a mistaken translation from Latin. Smith, John B. (Aug. 2004). Perchta the Belly-Slitter and Her Kin: A View of Some Traditional Threatening Figures, Threats and Punishments. Folklore. 115(2), 167, 169.
9. ^ Simek, Rudolf (1993). Dictionary of Northern Mythology, page 81. Trans. Angela Hall. Cambridge: D. S. Brewer.
10. ^ Simek, pages 93-94. Also: Lindow, John (2001). Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs, pages 128-130. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
11. ^ Thorsson, Edred (1998). Northern Magic: Rune Mysteries and Shamanism, page 38. St. Paul: Llewellyn Publications. (Stating that Saga is "likely an active aspect of Frigg.")
12. ^ ^{a b c d} Byock, Jesse. Trans. The Prose Edda (2006) Penguin Classics ISBN 0140447555
13. ^ Heimskringla: History of the Kings of Norway, by Snorri Sturlson, Lee Hollander, trans. The American-Scandinavian Foundation by the University of Texas Press, 1964. "The Saga of the Ynglings," Chapter 3, page 7.
14. ^ The Poetic Edda (2nd edition), Lee Hollander, trans. University of Texas Press, 1990. Lokasenna, stanza 26, page 96.
15. ^ The Poetic Edda (2nd edition), Lee Hollander, trans. University of Texas Press, 1990. Introduction to "Lokasenna", page 90.
16. ^ Gundarsson, Kveldulf Hagan, ed. Our Troth, Volume 1 (Second Edition), Chapter 17, "Frigg," page 327-328. The Troth, 2006. See also [1] for Egyptian heiress theory.
17. ^ ^{a b} Harrison, D. & Svensson, K. (2007). Vikingaliv Fälth & Hässler, Värnamo. ISBN 978-91-27-35725-9 p. 74
18. ^ The Nine Books of the Danish History of Saxo Grammaticus, translated by Oliver Elton (Norroena Society, New York, 1905) Available online: [2]
19. ^ Davidson, Hilda Ellis. (1998). Roles of the Northern Goddess, page 10. London: Routlege. Also: Grundy, Stephen, Freyja and Frigg, pages 56-67; Nasstrom, Brit-Mari. Freyja, a goddess with many names, pages 68-77. Billington, Sandra & Green, Miranda (Eds.) (1996) The Concept of the Goddess. London: Routlege.
20. ^ Welsh, Lynda. (2001). Goddess of the North, page 75. York Beach: Weiser Books.
21. ^ Welsh, Lynda. (2001). Goddess of the North, pages 107-126. York Beach: Weiser Books. (Chapter, "Putting together the fragments," which speculates on possible components of a triple goddess.)
22. ^ Davidson, Hilda Ellis (1998). Roles of the Northern Goddess. Routledge. pp. 20. ISBN 0415136113.
23. ^ Grigsby, John (2005). Beowulf & Grendel: The Truth Behind England's Oldest Legend, page 44. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN 1842931539