VIKING FACTS

Viking Goddess Frigg

Viking Goddesses Frigg
Odin's wife the Goddesses Frigg

Who Was the Norse Goddess Frigg

Frigg (also called Frigga) is perhaps the most important of all Viking goddesses. She is Odin's wife and the queen of Asgard. She is the only one of the many medieval Norse Gods and Goddesses allowed to sit on Odin's throne, Hlidskjalf, where she could look out over the universe. Her name means "beloved one" and she appears in many Norse myths as a loving mother and wife. She is the goddess of marriage and fertility and was an extremely important figure for Viking women. She had the ability to see the future, but only revealed what she saw to her closest attendant, Fulla. The English word Friday is derived from her name.

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Where and How the Viking Goddess Frigg Lived

Frigg's home was Fensalir; which in the Prose Edda is said to be a splendid place. Ancient Scandinavian women were known to worship Frigg near the marsh lands. Frigg was a patron of marriage and child birth. She was a keeper of peace and an upholder of moral codes. She had two sons with Odin. There names were Balder and Hod. Balder is very special to Frigg and she loves him more than anyone. Frigg had three attendants; their names are Fulla, Hlin, and Gna. She had a special relationship with Fulla to whom she revealed all her secrets. Fulla had long beautiful hair and wore a gold headband.

Goddess Frigg - Son Balder

Frigg's son Balder was a kind and handsome man. He was married to Nanna who loved him dearly. She was a loving and faithful wife. There home was named Breidablik. As mentioned above, Frigg had a special place in her heart for her son Balder. She was fearful that harm would come to him. To prevent this she made all living things, except the mistletoe, promise to never hurt Balder. She did not consider the mistletoe a threat because it was a small and innocent plant. The Viking God Loki would use Frigg's exclusion of the mistletoe to his advantage. One day the gods were entertaining themselves by shooting arrows at Balder and laughing at how he never got hurt when hit. Balder's brother Hod, who was blind, was the only god not involved. Loki offered to help Hod aim the arrow at Balder. Hod agreed and Loki gave him an arrow he had made from mistletoe. With Loki's assistance Hod shot the arrow hitting his brother in the heart and killing him. Balder's wife Nanna died of a broken heart. Odin was filled with grief, all the gods and goddesses of Asgard mourned, Frigg was devastated. From that day on she cried tears of gold in mourning for her son. Unable to accept their son's death, Frigg and Odin ask the god Hermod to visit Hel (ruler of the dead) and ask for the return of their son. Hermod agrees and rides to the underworld. Hermod begs Hel to let Balder and Nanna return to the living. Hel agrees but only with the condition that every living being must cry for Balder. Hermod returns with the news and every living being started crying for Balder, except one. An old woman named Thokk refused to cry and states "whoever belongs to Hel is hers to keep". It turns out that the old woman is really Loki in disguise. Loki's action seals Balder's and Nanna's fate, and they must remain in the underworld.