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Freya was a beautiful love and fertility goddess,
but she was also the goddess of war, struggle, magic and prophecy.
Her father was Niord. She had 8 sisters and one
brother.
Her husband's name is Od, and together they have
two daughters, Hnoss, and Gersimi. But Od left her and it was said
that Freya cried tears of red gold over this betrayal. Some say
Od really was Odin. Freya's brother Frey is said to be one of her
husbands.
Hnoss is very beatiful, just like her mother and
all things valuable and pretty are named after her. Her name means
treasure. Gersimi is Hnoss' sister, and her name means jewelry.
Freya travels in a wagon pulled by cats, and she
wears a famous necklace, Brisingamen. This was made by four goldsmiths
who were dwarves, and it is said that Freya slept one night with
each one of them in return for the precious necklace.
She doesn't just have cats, she also owns a male
pig, called Hildisvin. Apparently, he's some kind of warrior pig.
Frey is a fertility god. He is married to the
giantess Gerd. In their house there were two servants, Beila and
Byggvir, who are married. Gerd, too, is some kind of fertility deity.
Frey and his family live in Alfheim, the home of the elves. Frey
was also married to his sister.
Freya and their father Niord, belong to the Vanir,
a family or clan of gods who deal with riches, fertility and magic.
The light elves and the disir are friends of the Vanir.
Niord had a sister named Frigg or Frigga, the
goddess of marriage and maternity, and to some extent, love. She
doesn't work magic, but she foretells the future. Niord's other
sister was named Nerthus. Another fertility goddess, who traveled
in a wagon pulled by cows.
You might ask yourself what the connection is
between that Freya and this Freya. Nothing really, except for one
thing. Scandinavia is our home. Apart from that there isn't much
resemblance. But I think the old Freya was cool, so I use her name
for this site.
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