Norse Mythology: The History of the Norse Pantheon and the Most Famous Myths by Charles River Editors & Andrew Scott

Author:Charles River Editors & Andrew Scott [Scott, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Charles River Editors
Published: 2018-05-20T07:00:00+00:00

Freyr’s Impact on Sweden and Elsewhere

A Gotland runestone believed to depict Odin, Thor, and Freyr

In Norse myth, Odin’s Æsir had a great war with another divine family, the Vanir. When peace was made, hostages were exchanged and marriage vows were made to ensure the gods never went to war with each other again. In the Ynglinga Saga, the Vanir are transformed into the "people of Vanaland", but the war plays out in much the same way, featuring the same characters portrayed as mortals so as to not offend contemporary Christian sensibilities.[146] One of these denizens of Vanaland is Frey, son of Njord, who became sovereign when Odin died. Sturlson suggests the Swedes believed Odin did not die but simply traveled back to "ancient Asgaard". This led to their belief in Odin as a god.

Freyr appears as a great warrior and prosperous ruler in the Ynglinga Saga, as this prosperity and greatness were his main attributes from a very early, pre-Christian tradition, firmly rooted not in Asia or Asaland but in northern Europe and Sweden in particular. “Frey took the kingdom after Njord, and was called drot by the Swedes, and they paid taxes to him. He was, like his father, fortunate in friends and in good seasons. Frey built a great temple at Upsal, made it his chief seat, and gave it all his taxes, his land, and goods. Then began the Upsal domains, which have remained ever since. Then began in his days the peace of Fróði; and then there were good seasons, in all the land, which the Swedes ascribed to Frey, so that he was more worshipped than the other gods, as the people became much richer in his days by reason of the peace and good seasons. His wife was called Gerðr, daughter of Gymis, and their son was called Fjölnir. Frey was called by another name, Yngvi; and this name Yngvi was considered long after in his race as a name of honour, so that his descendants have since been called Ynglinger. Frey fell into a sickness; and as his illness took the upper hand, his men took the plan of letting few approach him. In the meantime they raised a great mound, in which they placed a door with three holes in it. Now, when Frey died they bore him secretly into the mound, but told the Swedes he was alive; and they kept watch over him for three years. They brought all the taxes into the mound, and through the one hole they put in the gold, through the other the silver, and through the third the copper money that was paid. Peace and good seasons continued.”[147]

The above quote comes from the euhemeristic Ynglinga Saga. It tells the story of Freyr’s terrestrial beginnings, but within those lines lie an interesting history of the god. Firstly, the connection Freyr had with Sweden in particular is undisputed. Many sacrifices to Freyr are recorded in the literature and it appears he was especially popular in East Sweden, since there are numerous cult place-names connected with him.

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