Freyr



Drawing from a small bronze figure wearing a pointed cap, thought to represent the fertility deity Freyr, found at Rallinge, Sodermanland, Sweden.
Click on image for full size (19K JPEG)
In Norse mythology, Freyr is linked with the Sun. His parents were the sea god Njord and the giantess Skadi. He once fell in love with a giantess named Gerd. He tried to convince Gerd to marry him. To do this, he sent his servant Skirnir to the underworld.

Skirnir used the magic sword his master gave him to convince Gerd to marry Freyr. Skirnir's journey into the underworld is symbolic of the winter months in the Norse lands, where there are long periods of darkness.

Freyr



Drawing from a small bronze figure wearing a pointed cap, thought to represent the fertility deity Freyr, found at Rallinge, Sodermanland, Sweden.
Click on image for full size (19K JPEG)
According to Norse mythology, Freyr was closely linked with the Sun. He was the god of peace and fertility. His parents were the sea god Njord and the giantess Skadi. On a journey to the underworld, he saw and fell in love with the giantess Gerd.

He sent his servant, Skirnir, on a journey to convince Gerd to marry him. He also gave him a magic sword to use. Skirnir, however, could not convince Gerd to marry his master. It wasn't until he threatened her with the magic sword that Gerd agreed to meet Freyr in a grove of trees to become his bride.

Skirnir's journey into the underworld is symbolic of the winter months in the Norse lands, where there are long periods of darkness.

Freyr



Drawing from a small bronze figure wearing a pointed cap, thought to represent the fertility deity Freyr, found at Rallinge, Sodermanland, Sweden.
Click on image for full size (19K JPEG)
According to Norse mythology, Freyr was closely linked with the Sun. He was the god of peace and fertility. His parents were the sea god Njord and the giantess Skadi. He was part of the Vanir family which was at war with the family Aesir.

Once, Freyr climbed into Odin's throne, from which he could see into all worlds, and saw a beautiful maiden in the underworld. She was a giantess and her name was Gerd. She had such white arms that their brightness spread into the air and the sea. At first sight, Freyr fell in love with Gerd and sent his servant Skirnir to woo Gerd for him.

After a long journey and many adventures, Skirnir finally reached the underworld with the help of Odin's magic sword. Unfortunately, Gerd refused the precious gifts sent by Freyr. Skirnir was then forced to threaten Gerd with his magic sword in order to convince her to meet Freyr in a grove and become his bride.

The journey of Skirnir, whose name means Bright One, to bring about the marriage of Freyr with Gerd, is said to represent the journey of the Sun over the sky and down into the underworld.


Last modified March 27, 1997 by the Windows Team

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