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Frigg vs. Freyja: Why two Norse goddesses get confused
Do you have a serious case of deity dyslexia? The Norse goddesses Frigg and Freyja may have alliteration and gender in common, but each holds a distinctive and unique place in Norse mythology. We look at why these two deities have a serious case of mistaken identity.10 months ago — Culture and religion -
Brísingamen: The lost necklace of Freyja
The goddess Freyja, associated with beauty, fertility, love, magic, and war, is known to possess Brísingamen, a magical necklace of unparalleled beauty. How Freyja gained, and then lost, this necklace is a classic story of lust, sex, and metamorphosis.11 months ago — Culture and religion -
Feathers and fire: Freyja's cloak in Norse myth
With a cloak that allowed a magical transformation into a bird and enabled flight across the nine realms of the Norse cosmos, Freyja was surely the best-dressed deity in Norse mythology.1 year ago — Culture and religion -
Beyond Valhalla: Forgotten halls of the Norse afterlife
Whilst Valhalla was the desired location for many warriors in Viking societies, there were several other mythical halls where the not-so-brave could while away eternity.1 year ago — Culture and religion -
The horse, the builder, and the trickster: How Asgard got its walls
Blue-collared construction work meets mythological fantasy in this ripping and raunchy tale from the Norse sagas.1 year ago — Culture and religion -
What Snorri Sturluson didn't like and left out of the Norse sagas
Why did the 13th-century Icelandic poet, politician, and saga spinner extraordinaire leave some sagas out of his famous compilations?1 year ago — Culture and religion -
Freyr: Norse god of fertility, prosperity, and peace
Freyr, the Norse god of fertility, evolved from earlier fertility deities in the Viking tradition. This once-powerful figure deserves some of the historical spotlight to shine on him.1 year ago — Culture and religion -
Who was Freyja's husband Óðr?
This mysterious figure appears only briefly in the rich tapestry of Norse sagas. Not a prominent or well-known figure, he was said to be a long-absent husband to the Norse goddess Freyja.1 year ago — Culture and religion -
From Freyja to Idunn: The legendary goddesses of Norse mythology
Though Viking societies were embedded with a patriarchal structure and a testosterone-fueled warrior ethos, the feminine ideal was worshiped through a series of Norse deities – goddesses that were celebrated as much in Norse literature as spirituality.1 year ago — Culture and religion -
Raiders of the heart: Love in the Viking Age
One often overlooked aspect of Viking societies is their concept of love. Contrary to the popular portrayal of Vikings as merciless barbarians obsessed with death and destruction, their understanding and expressions of love played a significant role in their culture.2 years ago — Culture and religion
