1993. To gain any insight into Fjorgynn’s character, then, we have to turn to another kind of source: comparative religion. He is often depicted in statues and rock carvings with an erect phallus. In Norway and Iceland, the usage is closest to the Old Norse, with fjord used for both a firth and for a long, narrow inlet. The importance of Freyr in Sweden is supported by the account of Adam of Bremen in describing three Gods at the temple of Uppsala, one of them being Freyr, who is called Frikko in this account, the other two being Wodan and Thor. Since “Jord” (Old Norse Jörð) is the Old Norse word for “Earth,” and since fjörgyn (as a common noun with a lowercase “f”) is commonly used in Old Norse poetry to signify “earth” in a general sense,[2] Jord and Fjorgyn seem to be identical or at least closely related. They originated in Vanaheim but now reside in Asgard after they traded themselves as spoils of the Aesir/Vanir war. Freyr – God of the World by The Crow’s Fjord, featuring the cycles of harvest, the sun, wind and rain, Ingwaz rune, Skidbladnir, an ox, horse and cart, boar and stag, as well as concentric circles often found in pre-Viking age rock carvings. Fjorgynn (Old Norse Fjörgynn) is male and Fjorgyn (Old Norse Fjörgyn) is female. The Elder Troth by KveldúlfR Hagan Gundarsson, Lesson 5, The Troth, 1996 Njord (pronounced “NYORD;” Old Norse Njörðr, whose meaning/etymology is unknown) is one of the principal gods of the Vanir tribe of deities. The original Old Man of the Sea Translated by Angela Hall. As part of the settlement, they agreed that she could have any of the gods she desired as her husband. NJORD Norse Sea God. If you reverse the sound shifts that eventually differentiated the Germanic, Baltic, and Sanskrit languages from the Proto-Indo-European language thousands of years ago, you end up with something like *Perkwunos. He’s also an honorary member of the Aesir gods, having been sent to them during the Aesir-Vanir War along with his son, Freyr, and his daughter, Freya. Our Troth: History and Lore, Vol.1, Ch 14, The Troth, Booksurge, 2006. He went over the waves, (his) chariot ran after, Since the Proto-Indo-European language and religion are unattested, there are no written documents that could explicitly confirm this, but the functional and linguistic similarities here are simply too close to be coincidences.[8]. Balder appears in the Norse myths as the victim of the machinations of the God Loki.His death kickstarts the advent of the war between the Gods and the Giants, the famous Ragnarök. Along with agriculture in general he is known to specifically have associations with the wild boar, stag, horse, and cattle, or oxen. References to him in Old Norse literature are even sparser than those to his female counterpart. She chose Njord by mistake, thinking him to be Baldur. Another possible meaning for the name, put forth by Lennart Elmevik (2003) is the Old Norse the meaning of the word, used as an adjective, to suggest fertility. It was common to sacrifice a boar at Yule for Freyr and many Heathens still do this at Yule. Hárbarðsljóð, stanza 56. Evidence for the worship of Freyr, comes from rock carvings in Ostergotland, Sweden that date to the bronze age. This view is supported in Snorri’s Edda: Freyr is the most glorious of the Æsir. All rights reserved. Volundarkvida, Fafnismal and Skirnísmál in The Poetic Edda, translated by Lee M. Hollander, University of Texas Press, 2008 While he was not especially strong, he was directly or indirectly responsible for the death of numerous Norse gods and goddesses, including providing the deadly mistletoe that killed Balder, making him a very powerful force. [2] Turville-Petre, E.O.G. [4] All of this indicates that Fjorgyn was extension of the “earth mother goddess” type that was so prevalent throughout the ancient Germanic (and wider Indo-European) world. In the Lokasenna, one of the poems in the Poetic Edda, the goddess Frigg is called Fjörgyns mær. 1964. Farmers often seek Freyr’s blessing for the vitality of their fields and livestock. He’s also an honorary member of the Aesir gods, having been sent to them during the Aesir-Vanir War along with his son, Freyr, and his daughter, Freya. While the etymology (linguistic origin) of the words “Fjorgyn” and “Fjorgynn” is unknown, many scholars have proposed that the former could be related to Old English fruh, Old High German furuh, and Latin porca, all of which mean “furrow” or “ridge.”[3] This in turn suggests a connection to an Old English prayer to an Erce, eorþan modor (“Erce, mother of earth”), which was recited when the plow cut the first furrow of the growing season, and milk, honey, flour, and water were poured into the soil. So this passage tells us nothing about Fjorgynn except that he slept with Frigg. Njord was particularly associated with wealth, fertility, the sea, and seafaring in the Vikings’ religion. Ingvi Freyr is thought to be the divine ancestor of the old Swedish royal family, the Ynglinar, as told in the Ynglinga Saga. There are also many areas of overlap between those deities and the Hindu storm god Parjanya. Unfortunately, that’s about all that the surviving sources tell us about Njord. Unfortunately, those two throwaway mentions are Fjorgynn’s only appearances in Old Norse literature. [1] Snorri Sturluson. The Poetic Edda. Here we have a replication of a deep-seated concept rather than a set of storybook-like discrete deities. The thunder god of the Slavs and Balts of Eastern Europe, who was called Perun (“Striker”) or Perkunas, was essentially identical to Thor in his attributes and role within the Slavic and Baltic pantheons and mythologies. © Daniel McCoy 2012-2019. In the Proto-Indo-European religion, *Perkwunos was likely a prominent god of the sky, storm, and rain. [5] The Poetic Edda. We're not around right now. [5] This phrase can be literally translated as “Fjorgynn’s maiden,” which could mean either “Fjorgynn’s daughter” or “Fjorgynn’s mistress.” The medieval Icelandic historian Snorri Sturluson claimed that Frigg was Fjorgynn’s daughter,[6] but Snorri can’t be taken at face value. They play no active part in the surviving mythological tales. Freyr was gifted a ship called Skidbladnir by dwarves. Here I use them to represent Freyr himself, as well as wind and movement of the earth. Looking for more great information on Norse mythology and religion? Freyr is son of Njord and brother of Freyja. Despite this paucity of literary descriptions, though, other forms of evidence show us that he was once a very widely-worshiped god amongst the Norse.[4]. All rights reserved. In the Old English Rune Poem referencing the rune Ingwaz, it is suggested that Ing is a king and a hero: Ing was first among the East Danes, There are many stories of Freyr, including his wooing of the giantess Gerd, wherein he trades his sword in order to marry her. The name Freyr is commonly believed to mean ‘Lord‘ as in ‘Lord and Lady,’ which is often how Freyr and his sister Freyja are perceived. Then the warriors named the hero thusly. © Daniel McCoy 2012-2019. Skáldskaparmál, chapter 19. Lokasenna, stanza 26. Unfortunately, those two throwaway mentions are Fjorgynn’s only appearances in Old Norse literature. Freyr, the Norse God of nature, sexuality, peace and prosperity is known by several names – Ing, Ingvi, Ingvi Freyr, Frea, Fro Ing, Frey, Freyr, Lord, and God of the World. Freyr was also given a boar by dwarves, named Gullinbursti, which was made from a pigskin in their hearth. She guards the apples that keep the Norse gods youthful. Therefore, everything that we know about them has to be cobbled together from passing references and the study of comparative religion. [1][2] A saying among the Norse peoples held especially wealthy people to be “as rich as Njord.”[3]. The passage in the Lokasenna has Loki taunting Frigg over her infidelity and promiscuity, and in that context, mær can hardly mean anything but “mistress.”. Fjorgyn is sometimes said to be the mother of Thor. Who Were the Indo-Europeans and Why Do They Matter. The Prose Edda. Freyr – God of the World by The Crow’s Fjord, featuring the cycles of harvest, the sun, wind and rain, Ingwaz rune, Skidbladnir, an ox, horse and cart, boar and stag, as well as concentric circles often found in pre-Viking age rock carvings.
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