2.4.6 The Goddesses
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This article is from the Nordic countries FAQ, by Antti Lahelma and Johan Olofsson, with numerous contributions by others.
2.4.6 The Goddesses
There were also certain mighty goddesses. Frigg was the wife of Odin,
and like him knew the future of gods and men. Freyja was Freyr's twin
sister, and the most renowned of all the goddesses; she helped in
affairs of love and had some power over the dead. She drove in a
chariot drawn by cats. Freyja was said to have husband called Od, who
left her to weep tears of red gold at his disappearance. Skadi, the
wife of Njord, came from the mountains to marry the sea god. The
marriage was not a success, because neither was willing to live away
from home, and in the end Skadi went back to the hills, where she went
on skis and hunted with the bow. Bragi's wife was Idun, who had one
important part to play: she guarded the apples of immortality, on
which the gods feasted in order to keep their perpetual youth. Other
goddesses are little more than names. Thor's wife, Skif, had wonderful
golden hair. Balder's wife was Nanna, and Loki's Sigyn, while Gna and
Fulla are mentioned as servants of Frigg. There is also Gefion, to
whom unmarried girls went after death.
... do you want to know more?
The Luleå University has a web-site with more information at
<http://www.luth.se/luth/present/sweden/history/viking_level.html>.
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