Frey and Freyja
Who receives those who die in battle?
Frey and Freyja, the children of Njord, are both beautiful and powerful gods. Frey rules the rain and sunlight, and so also governs what the earth produces. People pray to him for good harvests and peace. He also decides whether people enjoy wealth.
*Grimnismal* tells how the gods gave Frey Alfheim long ago. It was a gift to celebrate his first tooth. Freyja lives in Folkvang, in heaven. There she decides who sits in each seat of the hall.
When Freyja goes to a battlefield, half of those who die in battle belong to her. The other half belong to Odin. When she travels, she sits in a chariot drawn by 2 cats. She is also a good goddess to pray to when seeking love. Freyja herself enjoys love poetry.
Sources for this story (2)Frey and Freyja
halfan val
hon kýss hverjan dag,
Each day she chooses half of those who die in battle.
“The Sayings of Grimnir” Stanza 14
“The Beguiling of Gylfi”Gylfaginning
“The Sayings of Grimnir”Grímnismál
Image details
Emil Doepler “Freyja by Emil Doepler” 1905 Public domain View original image
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