Freya/Frigg

[Myst]

Does anyone have thoughts on whether Freya is Frigg and Frigg is Freya? I've read differening opinions. Also interesting that I read that Freya's husband was Od and Frigg's was Odin? Where's Rick when I need some help with Norse mythology :)

[Avena]

I don't think Freya and Frigg are the same. There are some facts in Norse mythology that speak against it:

1. Freya is originally a member of the Vanir before she joins the Asir clan, which is ruled by Odin and Frigg.

2. Freya is rather a goddess of luv and lust (comparable to Greek Aphrodite) and Frigg a goddess of marriage, household and family (as Greek Hera).

3. In texts of th Edda, when Snorri specifies the different deities, he DOES name Frigg and Freya as completely individual goddesses.


I think ( I really just think, don't have any historical knowledge about the Norse & Teutons and their religions :) ) that Freya is of rather Nordic, really Nordic, origin, while Frigg may have also been worshipped by folks like the Teutons and neighbors. Maybe later Freya also became known in these Teuton areas, and as people there didn't know much about her, they just gave her some attributes they knew from their own goddess Frigg. And so it happened that Frigg's and Freya's identities got completely tangled.
Well, that's my version :elf:

[Emy]

Well I have been told that Frigg is NOT the same, there are so many things that speak against it, just like Avena pointed out.

As for Snorre/Snorri there are other older sources of the Edda (older versions), and they too speak of Frigg and Freya as different goddesses.

Well I too have heard sources that claims that Freya has been worshipped long before Oden came along, and also that she is part of the old "vanatro" anyways Freya is off the "vanerna" and she is the daughter of Njord (which btw might have been a goddess at first, and later presumed to have been a god).

I am not sure from where Frigg comes and when she first appeared, but she is the most "important" goddess, she is Odens wife, and she is the head of the "asynjorna".

I apologize for all the swedish words, my dictionary can't help me translate them, but I think/hope that you will know what I mean anyways...

Blessings

[Emerald Sky]

I believe that the two are separate also. Along with what the others have noted, I've read that Frigg is Odin's wife, and Freya is Odin's mistress.

There's another Germanic goddess named Holda, who may have been the "fore-runner" of the goddess Frigg.

The following is taken from an article by Thorskegga Thorn

Holda is a Germanic goddess whose cult has survived in the folklore of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The tales surrounding her are of vital importance to us because the underlying theme represents the lost myths of Frig. By reading the various sources of Teutonic mythology, one can find little information on Frig, and consequently she has been only briefly mentioned by twentieth century researchers. It is therefore to Holda that we should turn to fill the gaps in our lore.

<snip>

Holda's connection with the Norse goddess Frigg is very evident. The Norse wife of Odin is attended by loyal servants and Holda seems to have borrowed Frigg's handmaidens for the occasion. Frigg also has connections with spinning and in Scandinavia the constellation we call Orion's Girdle was known as 'Friggjar rockr', meaning Frigg's distaff. Holda's connections with the sky again support her connection with Frigg as the `Queen of Heaven', as do her associations with mothers and children.
From these two sources of the worship of the goddess we can try to recreate the role of the Saxon goddess Frig. She is principally the patroness of mothers and children. Her powers extend over the heavens, fertility and possibly fate. She is the embodiment of female wisdom and women's skills were her gift to the world, a goddess of peace and stability.

The spindle was a powerful symbol for our heathen ancestors. In the Norse myths it was employed by Norns and Valkyries alike to shape the destiny of man. The Norse Eddas tell of Frigg's knowledge of the future and her role as a spinner may be connected to this tradition. ...

[Myst]

Thanks for the clarification guys.

[Adrenaline Junkie]

I know nothing about norse Gods, but it's interesting to read this. Goes to show ya, we never stop learning.

[Xander67]

its very interesting in that on a related subject, each of the days of the week are named after one of the seven planets, and FRIDAY is Freya's day and the norse Goddess Freya is relative to the goddess Venus...

[Twilight Garden]

I've heard that Friday was named after Frigg (as well as Freya.) I just think Friday is named after a goddess of love. (To me that points to Freya, but Frigg is who I was told it was named after by a Norse practicioner. "They named it after Woden's (Wednesday's) wife.") Whatever... It's a bit confusing. Good topic.

***starts singing The Cure's, "friday i'm in love"*** :D

[Xander67]

when isnt it confuseing? LOL LOVE/FRIDAY LOL

[Myst]

Originally posted by Xander67
its very interesting in that on a related subject, each of the days of the week are named after one of the seven planets, and FRIDAY is Freya's day and the norse Goddess Freya is relative to the goddess Venus...

Don't tell Rick that :P

Wait, I thought Frigga was Odin's wife, not Woden's, or is Woden the other name for Odin? Darn I get so confused :)

[Xander67]

see what I mean folks, someone turn the light on please? :)

[Emy]

Well, in swedish the weekdays are all (almost all) named after norse gods or goddesses, and hmm actually I believe Fredag (friday) is named after Frigg here, but I am not sure, it might just as easily have been Freya... :)
Don't know anything about this Woden person, haven't heard the name before, but again the norse gods/esses
are not called the same thing in swedish as they are in english, but most of the time it is very similar though... As to Frigg I know for sure that she is supposed to be Odens wife. :)

B*B

[Emy]

Oh well actually if the weekdays in english has anything to do with the swedish weekdays (and they just might, english and swedish have lots in common, the english word knife is a borrowed word from swedish, it was in the old days spelled knifve and today it is spelled kniv) wednesday in swedish is Onsdag, meaning Odens dag, Odins day! So maybe this Woden is just another name for Odin?! He is known to have several names... :) :D

[Avena]

Yes, Woden is Odin:

Oden/Odin = Norse
Woden = English
Wodan = Dutch
Wotan = German

I read that in Germany Wotan was originally a storm God who, when annoyed, produced all the storms and thunderstorms together with his wife Hulda (or Holda?). Later he was associated with the Scandinavian (more civilized :) ) Odin and his wife with Frigg or Freya.

Good book: "Leaves of Yggdrasil" by Freya Aswynn

[Mairwen]

Odin is also sometimes seen as "Odhinn" ....

[Mnemosyne]

Ok, some of you are interested in Freya and Frigg. I think that you may find this thread interesting.

[FeatherGoblinglimmer]

Frigg( Frigga was also one of her names) is not the same goddess as Freyja.Frigg was a Aesir whereas Freyja was Vanir and under Friggs control as she was in charge of the vanir .As for the Friday debate some people think it is Freyjas day and some think it is Friggs day. I personally think it was Friggs day. You might want to check out the tread I started on Frigg as it has some links you might be interested in.
Sarah***