Editing Freyja (section)

==Attestations==

===''Poetic Edda''===
In the ''[[Poetic Edda]]'', Freyja is mentioned or appears in the poems ''[[Völuspá]]'', ''[[Grímnismál]]'', ''[[Lokasenna]]'', ''[[Þrymskviða]]'', ''[[Oddrúnargrátr]]'', and ''[[Hyndluljóð]]''.

''Völuspá'' contains a stanza that mentions Freyja, referring to her as "Óð's girl"; Freyja being the wife of her husband, [[Óðr]]. The stanza recounts that Freyja was once promised to an unnamed builder, later revealed to be a [[jötunn]] and subsequently killed by [[Thor]] (recounted in detail in ''Gylfaginning'' chapter 42; see ''Prose Edda'' section below).{{sfnp|Larrington|1999|p=7}} In the poem ''[[Grímnismál]]'', Odin (disguised as ''[[List of names of Odin|Grímnir]]'') tells the young [[Agnarr Geirröðsson|Agnar]] that every day Freyja allots seats to half of those that are slain in her hall [[Fólkvangr]], while Odin owns the other half.{{sfnp|Larrington|1999|p=53}}

[[File:Lokasenna by Lorenz Frølich.jpg|thumb|upright|Freyja and Loki [[Flyting|flyte]] in an illustration (1895) by Lorenz Frølich.]]

In the poem ''[[Lokasenna]]'', where [[Loki]] accuses nearly every female in attendance of promiscuity or unfaithfulness, an aggressive exchange occurs between Loki and Freyja. The introduction to the poem notes that among other gods and goddesses, Freyja attends a celebration held by [[Ægir]]. In verse, after Loki has [[Flyting|flyted]] with the goddess [[Frigg]], Freyja interjects, telling Loki that he is insane for dredging up his terrible deeds, and that Frigg knows the [[wyrd|fate of everyone]], though she does not tell it. Loki tells her to be silent, and says that he knows all about her—that Freyja is not lacking in blame, for each of the gods and [[elf|elves]] in the hall have been her lover. Freyja objects. She says that Loki is lying, that he is just looking to blather about misdeeds, and since the gods and goddesses are furious at him, he can expect to go home defeated. Loki tells Freyja to be silent, calls her a malicious witch, and conjures a scenario where Freyja was once astride her brother when all of the gods, laughing, surprised the two. Njörðr interjects—he says that a woman having a lover other than her husband is harmless, and he points out that Loki has borne children, and calls Loki a pervert. The poem continues in turn.{{sfnp|Larrington|1999|pp=84,90}}

The poem ''Þrymskviða'' features Loki borrowing Freyja's cloak of feathers and Thor dressing up as Freyja to fool the lusty [[jötunn]] [[Þrymr]]. In the poem, Thor wakes up to find that his powerful hammer, [[Mjöllnir]], is missing. Thor tells Loki of his missing hammer, and the two go to the beautiful court of Freyja. Thor asks Freyja if she will lend him her cloak of feathers, so that he may try to find his hammer. Freyja agrees:
<blockquote>
{|
|
:<small>[[Benjamin Thorpe]] translation:</small>
:That I would give thee, although of gold it were,
:and trust it to thee, though it were of silver.{{sfnp|Thorpe|1866|p=62}}
|
:<small>[[Henry Adams Bellows (businessman)|Henry Adams Bellows]] translation:</small>
:Thine should it be though it of silver bright,
:And I would give it though 'twere of gold.{{sfnp|Bellows|1923|p=175}}
|
|}
</blockquote>
[[File:Ah, what a lovely maid it is! by Elmer Boyd Smith.jpg|thumb|upright|While Freyja's cats look on, the god [[Thor]] is unhappily dressed as Freyja in ''Ah, what a lovely maid it is!'' (1902) by [[Elmer Boyd Smith]].]]
Loki flies away in the whirring feather cloak, arriving in the land of [[Jötunheimr]]. He spies [[Þrymr]] sitting on top of a [[tumulus|mound]]. Þrymr reveals that he has hidden Thor's hammer deep within the earth and that no one will ever know where the hammer is unless Freyja is brought to him as his wife. Loki flies back, the cloak whistling, and returns to the courts of the gods. Loki tells Thor of Þrymr's conditions.{{sfnp|Larrington|1999|p=98}}

The two go to see the beautiful Freyja. The first thing that Thor says to Freyja is that she should dress herself and put on a bride's [[headgear|head-dress]], for they shall drive to Jötunheimr. At that, Freyja is furious—the halls of the gods shake, she snorts in anger, and from the goddess the necklace [[Brísingamen]] falls. Indignant, Freyja responds:
<blockquote>
{|
|
:<small>Benjamin Thorpe translation:</small>
:Know of me to be of women the lewdest,
:if with thee I drive to Jötunheim.{{sfnp|Thorpe|1866|p=64}}
|
:<small>Henry Adams Bellows translation:</small>
:Most lustful indeed should I look to all
:If I journeyed with thee to the giants' home.{{sfnp|Bellows|1923|p=177}}
|
|}
</blockquote>
The gods and goddesses assemble at a [[thing (assembly)|thing]] and debate how to solve the problem. The god [[Heimdallr]] proposes to dress Thor up as a bride, complete with bridal dress, head-dress, jingling keys, jewelry, and the famous Brísingamen. Thor objects but is hushed by Loki, reminding him that the new owners of the hammer will soon be settling in the land of the gods if the hammer is not returned. Thor is dressed as planned and Loki is dressed as his maid. Thor and Loki go to Jötunheimr.{{sfnp|Larrington|1999|pp=99–100}}

In the meantime, Thrym tells his servants to prepare for the arrival of the daughter of [[Njörðr]]. When "Freyja" arrives in the morning, Thrym is taken aback by her behavior; her immense appetite for food and [[mead]] is far more than what he expected, and when Thrym goes in for a kiss beneath "Freyja's" veil, he finds "her" eyes to be terrifying, and he jumps down the hall. The disguised Loki makes excuses for the bride's odd behavior, claiming that she simply has not eaten or slept for eight days. In the end, the disguises successfully fool the jötnar and, upon sight of it, Thor regains his hammer by force.{{sfnp|Larrington|1999|pp=100–101}}

In the poem ''[[Oddrúnargrátr]]'', [[Oddrún]] helps [[Borgny]] give birth to twins. In thanks, Borgny invokes [[vættir]], Frigg, Freyja, and other unspecified deities.{{sfnp|Larrington|1999|p=206}}

[[File:Hyndla og Freia by Frølich.jpg|thumb|Reclining atop her boar Hildisvíni, Freyja visits Hyndla in an illustration (1895) by [[Lorenz Frølich]].]]
[[File:Freia Gestures to Hyndla by Frølich.jpg|thumb|upright|Nuzzled by her boar Hildisvíni, Freyja gestures to a jötunn in an illustration (1895) by [[Lorenz Frølich]].]]

Freyja is a main character in the poem ''[[Hyndluljóð]]'', where she assists her faithful servant [[Óttar (mythology)|Óttar]] in finding information about his ancestry so that he may claim his inheritance. In doing so, Freyja turns Óttar into her boar, Hildisvíni, and, by means of flattery and threats of death by fire, Freyja successfully pries the information that Óttar needs from the jötunn [[Hyndla]]. Freyja speaks throughout the poem, and at one point praises Óttar for constructing a [[hörgr]] (an altar of stones) and frequently making [[blót]] (sacrifices) to her:
<blockquote>
{|
|-style="vertical-align: top;"
|
:<small>Benjamin Thorpe translation:</small>
:An [[hörgr|offer-stead]] to me he raised,
:with stones constructed;
:now is the stone
:as glass become.
:With the blood of oxen
:he newly sprinkled it.
:Ottar ever trusted the [[Áss|Asyniur]].{{sfnp|Thorpe|1866|p=108}}
|
:<small>Henry Adams Bellows translation:</small>
:For me a [[hörgr|shrine of stones]] he made,
:And now to glass the rock has grown;
:Oft with the blood of beasts was it red;
:In the goddesses ever did Ottar trust.{{sfnp|Bellows|1923|p=221}}
|
|}
</blockquote>

===''Prose Edda''===
Freyja appears in the ''[[Prose Edda]]'' books ''[[Gylfaginning]]'' and ''[[Skáldskaparmál]]''. In chapter 24 of ''Gylfaginning'', the enthroned figure of [[High, Just-As-High, and Third|High]] says that after the god [[Njörðr]] split with the goddess [[Skaði]], he had two beautiful and mighty children (no partner is mentioned); a son, [[Freyr]], and a daughter, Freyja. Freyr is "the most glorious" of the gods, and Freyja "the most glorious" of the goddesses. Freyja has a dwelling in the heavens, [[Fólkvangr]], and that whenever Freyja "rides into battle she gets half the slain, and the other half to Odin [...]". In support, High quotes the ''Grímnismál'' stanza mentioned in the ''Poetic Edda'' section above.{{sfnp|Faulkes|1987|p=24}}

High adds that Freyja has a large, beautiful hall called [[Sessrúmnir]], and that when Freyja travels she sits in a chariot and drives two cats, and that Freyja is "the most approachable one for people to pray to, and from her name is derived the honorific title whereby noble ladies are called ''fruvor'' [noble ladies]". High adds that Freyja has a particular fondness for love songs, and that "it is good to pray to her concerning love affairs".{{sfnp|Faulkes|1987|p=24}}

In chapter 29, High recounts the names and features of various goddesses, including Freyja. Regarding Freyja, High says that, next to Frigg, Freyja is highest in rank among them and that she owns the necklace Brísingamen. Freyja is married to [[Óðr]], who goes on long travels, and the two have a very fair daughter by the name of [[Hnoss]]. While Óðr is absent, Freyja stays behind and in her sorrow she weeps tears of red gold. High notes that Freyja has many names, and explains that this is because Freyja adopted them when looking for Óðr and traveling "among strange peoples". These names include ''Gefn'', ''Hörn'', ''Mardöll'', ''Sýr'', and ''Vanadís''.{{sfnp|Faulkes|1987|pp=29–30}}

Freyja plays a part in the events leading to the birth of [[Sleipnir]], the eight-legged horse. In chapter 42, High recounts that, soon after the gods built the hall [[Valhalla]], a builder (unnamed) came to them and offered to build for them in three seasons a fortification so solid that no [[jötunn]] would be able to come in over from [[Midgard]]. In exchange, the builder wants Freyja for his bride, and the [[Sól (Sun)|sun]] and the [[Máni|moon]]. After some debate the gods agree, but with added conditions. In time, just as he is about to complete his work, it is revealed that the builder is, in fact, himself a jötunn, and he is killed by Thor. In the meantime, Loki, in the form of a mare, has been impregnated by the jötunn's horse, [[Svaðilfari]], and so gives birth to Sleipnir. In support, High quotes the ''[[Völuspá]]'' stanza that mentions Freyja.{{sfnp|Faulkes|1987|pp=35–36}} In chapter 49, High recalls the funeral of [[Baldr]] and says that Freyja attended the funeral and there drove her cat-chariot, the final reference to the goddess in ''Gylfaginning''.{{sfnp|Faulkes|1987|p=50}}

[[File:Freya and Heimdall by Blommer.jpg|thumb|upright|''Heimdallr returns the necklace Brísingamen to Freyja'' (1846) by [[Nils Blommér]]]]

At the beginning of the book ''[[Skáldskaparmál]]'', Freyja is mentioned among eight goddesses attending a banquet held for Ægir.{{sfnp|Faulkes|1987|p=59}} Chapter 56 details the abduction of the goddess [[Iðunn]] by the jötunn [[Þjazi]] in the form of an eagle. Terrified at the prospect of death and torture due to his involvement in the abduction of Iðunn, Loki asks if he may use Freyja's "falcon shape" to fly north to [[Jötunheimr]] and retrieve the missing goddess. Freyja allows it, and using her "falcon shape" and a furious chase by eagle-Þjazi, Loki successfully returns her.{{sfnp|Faulkes|1987|p=60}}

In chapter 6, a means of referring to Njörðr is provided that refers to Frejya ("father of Freyr and Freyja"). In chapter 7, a means of referring to Freyr is provided that refers to the goddess ("brother of Freyja"). In chapter 8, ways of referring to the god [[Heimdallr]] are provided, including "Loki's enemy, recoverer of Freyja's necklace", inferring a myth involving Heimdallr recovering Freyja's necklace from Loki.{{sfnp|Faulkes|1987|pp=75–76}}

In chapter 17, the jötunn [[Hrungnir]] finds himself in Asgard, the realm of the gods, and becomes very drunk. Hrungnir boasts that he will move Valhalla to Jötunheimr, bury Asgard, and kill all of the gods—with the exception of the goddesses Freyja and Sif, who he says he will take home with him. Freyja is the only one of them that dares to bring him more to drink. Hrungnir says that he will drink all of their ale. After a while, the gods grow bored of Hrungnir's antics and invoke the name of Thor. Thor immediately enters the hall, hammer raised. Thor is furious and demands to know who is responsible for letting a jötunn in to Asgard, who guaranteed Hrungnir safety, and why Freyja "should be serving him drink as if at the [[Æsir]]'s banquet".{{sfnp|Faulkes|1987|p=68}}

In chapter 18, verses from the 10th century [[skald]]'s composition ''[[Þórsdrápa]]'' are quoted. A [[kenning]] used in the poem refers to Freyja.{{sfnp|Faulkes|1987|p=85}} In chapter 20, poetic ways to refer to Freyja are provided; "daughter of Njörðr", "sister of Freyr", "wife of Óðr", "mother of Hnoss", "possessor of the fallen slain and of Sessrumnir and tom-cats", possessor of Brísingamen, "Van-deity", Vanadís, and "fair-tear deity".{{sfnp|Faulkes|1987|p=86}} In chapter 32, poetic ways to refer to gold are provided, including "Freyja's weeping" and "rain or shower [...] from Freyja's eyes".{{sfnp|Faulkes|1987|p=95}}

Chapter 33 tells that once the gods journeyed to visit Ægir, one of whom was Freyja.{{sfnp|Faulkes|1987|p=95}}  In chapter 49, a quote from a work by the skald [[Einarr Skúlason]] employs the kenning "Óðr's bedfellow's eye-rain", which refers to Freyja and means "gold".{{sfnp|Faulkes|1987|p=119}}

Chapter 36 explains again that gold can be referring to as Freyja's weeping due to her red gold tears. In support, works by the skalds [[Skúli Þórsteinsson]] and Einarr Skúlason are cited that use "Freyja's tears" or "Freyja's weepings" to represent "gold". The chapter features additional quotes from poetry by Einarr Skúlason that references the goddess and her child Hnoss.{{sfnp|Faulkes|1987|p=98}} Freyja receives a final mention in the ''Prose Edda'' in chapter 75, where a list of goddesses is provided that includes Freyja.{{sfnp|Faulkes|1987|p=157}}

===''Heimskringla''===
[[File:Freya_(1901)_by_Anders_Zorn.jpg|thumb|upright|''Freya'' (1901) by [[Anders Zorn]]]]
The ''[[Heimskringla]]'' book ''[[Ynglinga saga]]'' provides a [[euhemerism|euhemerized]] account of the origin of the gods, including Freyja. In chapter 4, Freyja is introduced as a member of the Vanir, the sister of Freyr, and the daughter of Njörðr and his sister (whose name is not provided). After the [[Æsir–Vanir War]] ends in a stalemate, Odin appoints Freyr and Njörðr as priests over sacrifices. Freyja becomes the priestess of sacrificial offerings and it was she who introduced the practice of [[seiðr]] to the Æsir, previously only practiced by the Vanir.{{sfnp|Hollander|2007|p=8}}

In chapter 10, Freyja's brother Freyr dies, and Freyja is the last survivor among the Æsir and Vanir. Freyja keeps up the sacrifices and becomes famous. The saga explains that, due to Freyja's fame, all women of rank become known by her name—''frúvor'' ("ladies"), a woman who is the mistress of her property is referred to as ''freyja'', and ''húsfreyja'' ("lady of the house") for a woman who owns an estate.{{sfnp|Hollander|2007|p=14}}

The chapter adds that not only was Freyja very clever, but that she and her husband [[Óðr]] had two immensely beautiful daughters, [[Gersemi]] and [[Hnoss]], "who gave their names to our most precious possessions".{{sfnp|Hollander|2007|p=14}}

===Other===
Freyja is mentioned in the [[saga]]s ''[[Egils saga]]'', ''[[Njáls saga]]'', ''[[Hálfs saga ok Hálfsrekka]]'', and in ''[[Sörla þáttr]]''.

;''Egils saga''
In ''[[Egils saga]]'', when [[Egill Skallagrímsson]] refuses to eat, his daughter Þorgerðr (here anglicized as "Thorgerd") says she will go without food and thus starve to death, and in doing so will meet the goddess Freyja:
<blockquote>
Thorgerd replied in a loud voice, "I have had no evening meal, nor will I do so until I join Freyja. I know no better course of action than my father's. I do not want to live after my father and brother are dead."{{sfnp|Scudder|2001|p=151}}
</blockquote>

;''Hálfs saga ok Hálfsrekka''
In the first chapter of the 14th century [[legendary saga]] ''Hálfs saga ok Hálfsrekka'', King Alrek has two wives, Geirhild and Signy, and cannot keep them both. He tells the two women that he would keep whichever of them that brews the better ale for him by the time he has returned home in the summer. The two compete and during the brewing process Signy prays to Freyja and Geirhild to Hött ("hood"), a man she had met earlier (earlier in the saga revealed to be Odin in disguise). Hött answers her prayer and spits on her yeast. Signy's brew wins the contest.{{sfnp|Tunstall|2005}}

[[File:Freyja in the dwarfs' cave.jpg|thumb|upright|''Freyja in the Dwarf's Cave'' (1891) by {{Interlanguage link|Louis Huard|fr}}]]

;''Sörla þáttr''
In ''[[Sörla þáttr]]'', a short, late 14th century narrative from a later and extended version of the ''[[Flateyjarbók|Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar]]'' found in the ''[[Flateyjarbók]]'' manuscript, a euhemerized account of the gods is provided. In the account, Freyja is described as having been a concubine of Odin, who bartered sex to four dwarfs for a golden necklace. In the work, the [[Æsir]] once lived in a city called [[Asgard]], located in a region called "Asialand or Asiahome". Odin was the king of the realm, and made [[Njörðr]] and [[Freyr]] temple priests. Freyja was the daughter of Njörðr, and was Odin's concubine. Odin deeply loved Freyja, and she was "the fairest of woman of that day". Freyja had a beautiful [[Boudoir|bower]], and when the door was shut no one could enter without Freyja's permission.{{sfnp|Morris|Morris|1911|p=127}}

Chapter 1 records that one day Freyja passed by an open stone where [[dwarf (Germanic mythology)|dwarfs]] lived. Four dwarfs were smithying a golden necklace, and it was nearly done. Looking at the necklace, the dwarfs thought Freyja to be most fair, and she the necklace. Freyja offered to buy the collar from them with silver and gold and other items of value. The dwarfs said that they had no lack of money, and that for the necklace the only thing she could offer them would be a night with each of them. "Whether she liked it better or worse", Freyja agreed to the conditions, and so spent a night with each of the four dwarfs. The conditions were fulfilled and the necklace was hers. Freyja went home to her bower as if nothing happened.{{sfnp|Morris|Morris|1911|p=128}}

As related in chapter 2, Loki, under the service of Odin, found out about Freyja's actions and told Odin. Odin told Loki to get the necklace and bring it to him. Loki said that since no one could enter Freyja's bower against her will, this would not be an easy task, yet Odin told him not to come back until he had found a way to get the necklace. Howling, Loki turned away and went to Freyja's bower but found it locked, and that he could not enter. So Loki transformed himself into a fly, and after having trouble finding even the tiniest of entrances, he managed to find a tiny hole at the gable-top, yet even here he had to squeeze through to enter.{{sfnp|Morris|Morris|1911|p=128}}

Having made his way into Freyja's chambers, Loki looked around to be sure that no one was awake, and found that Freyja was asleep. He landed on her bed and noticed that she was wearing the necklace, the clasp turned downward. Loki turned into a [[flea]] and jumped onto Freyja's cheek and there bit her. Freyja stirred, turning about, and then fell asleep again. Loki removed his flea's shape and undid her collar, opened the bower, and returned to Odin.{{sfnp|Morris|Morris|1911|pp=128–129}}

The next morning Freyja woke and saw that the doors to her bower were open, yet unbroken, and that her precious necklace was gone. Freyja had an idea of who was responsible. She got dressed and went to Odin. She told Odin of the malice he had allowed against her and of the theft of her necklace, and that he should give her back her jewelry.{{sfnp|Morris|Morris|1911|p=129}}

Odin said that, given how she obtained it, she would never get it back. That is, with one exception: she could have it back if she could make two kings, themselves ruling twenty kings each, battle one another, and cast a spell so that each time one of their numbers falls in battle, they will again spring up and fight again. And that this must go on eternally, unless a [[Christianity|Christian]] man of a particular stature goes into the battle and smites them, only then will they stay dead. Freyja agreed.{{sfnp|Morris|Morris|1911|p=129}}