Freyr (meaning "lord;" pronounced FREY-ur), also known as Frey, is the god of prosperity, good weather, agriculture, and the sun in Norse mythology. He is the brother of Freyja.
Biography
Freyr and Freyja are part of the Vanir, but reside with the Æsir. He is especially associated with Sweden and is the ancestor of the Swedish Royal House of Yngling.
He is the son of Njord and Nerthus. His wife is Gerda, and they have a son named Fjolnir. Freyr lives in Alfheim, the homeland of the elves.
The most extensive surviving Freyr myth relates Freyr's falling in love with the female jötunn Gerðr. Eventually she becomes his wife, but first Freyr has to give away his magic sword which fights on its own "if wise be he who wields it." Although deprived of this weapon, Freyr defeats the jötunn Beli with an antler. However, lacking his sword, Freyr will be killed by the fire jötunn Surtr during the events of Ragnarök.
Description
- Symbols: boar, sword, phallus, Skdbladnir (his longship meaning "wooden-bladed" that can fold up like a tent)
- Animals: a golden boar named Gullinbursti (meaning "Golden-Bristled;" a symbol of daybreak) a magical horse named Blodighofi (meaning "bloody-hoof")
- Colors: green, orange, brown, gold
- Runes: Ingwaz, Ehwaz, Fehu
- Offerings: boar, fresh water, barley wine, ale, mead, on the eve of Yule sacrifice sónargöltr (meaning “atonement boar”)
- Time to Honor: Lughnasadh (First Harvest), before a marriage, Sundays, for peace, Freyfaxi (August 21), Lammas (August 1-2)
In Vikings
When Athelstan asks Ragnar, Floki, and the others if Odin is the only god who lives in a great hall, he is told of Thor's hall Thrudheim, and how Frey was given the hall at Alfheim when he cut his first tooth.
Frey is one of the gods prayed to at the temple in Uppsala. Lagertha prays to him, asking him to make her pregnant again and bless her with a son. She says, "Do as you will with me, make me blind or deaf if you want to, but give me a son before it’s too late."
Ingrid invokes Freyr, among many other gods, as she casts her spell on a charm she makes to remove Erik from the throne and her bed.
Gallery
