Freyr: The Norse God of Fertility and Peace

Freyr is a Norse god of fertility, prosperity, and the harvest. He is a member of the Vanir tribe of gods and is often depicted as a handsome and benevolent god. He is most famously known for his connection to fertility and agriculture, as he was believed to bring good harvests and abundance to the land. One of his most prominent symbols is the boar, and one of the well-known stories involving Freyr is his loss of the magical sword.

Who is Freyr?

Freyr is the Norse god of fertility and the harvest. Though this humbles the deity to an extent, providing protection over these two highly essential aspects of life was very much in Freyr’s hands.

Freyr was also associated with sunshine, a huge catalyst for good harvests. Alongside this, he represented prosperity, virility, fair weather, favorable breeze, and peace, all of which were essential to the Norse realm.

Basically, he was the guy behind the simple things in life due to his association with nature and the gearwheels of the universe. But don’t underestimate him; though he was initially from the Vanir tribe, he was accepted into the Aesir.

Freyr stood as one of the more well-known Germanic deities and Norse gods due to his impact on northern society and his eventual fate.

Was Freyr Aesir?

Before the current pantheon of gods existed (including your usual – Odin, Thor, Baldr), the world was ruled by ice giants known as the Jotunn. The first of the Jotunns was Ymir, who solidified his eternal rule as the first-ever CEO of all the beings in the world.

After a cow decided to lick the salt off some stones, the Jotunn’s rule was broken by the birth of three Aesirs: Vili, Ve, and the all-daddy himself: Odin. What followed was a gruesome war between the Aesir and the Jotunns. With Ymir’s death, the Jotunns fell, and the throne fell into the buttcheeks of the new Norse gods.

These gods were further divided into two tribes. One was, of course, the Aesir, and the other was Vanir. The Aesir depended on brute force to get what they wanted; a league of supernatural warriors slicing and dicing their way through their enemies to ensure peace.

On the other hand, the Vanir were a more peaceful bunch. Unlike the Aesir, the Vanir relied on using magic and more pacifist approaches to fighting their war. This reflected their somewhat grounded lifestyle, where they focused on strengthening their connection with nature instead of devoting their resources to conquests.

Freyr was a part of the Vanir. But after a particular incident he was traded off to the Aesir, where he blended in perfectly and cemented his place as the fertility god in Norse mythology.

Freyr’s Family

He was the offspring of Germanic deities, though one of his parents was unnamed. Freyr was the son of the sea god, Njörðr, who was also a well-known god in the Vanir. However, Njörðr was said to have engaged in an incestuous relationship (Zeus would’ve been proud) with his sister. This claim was thrown out by none other than Loki, so it should be taken with a grain of salt.

Though this specific sister was unnamed, she is nonetheless attested in Poetic Edda, a collection of old Norse-era poems. Njörðr is also identified with Nerthus, though their genders are different. Nerthus was an ancient Germanic deity associated with water.

Regardless Njörðr and the unnamed woman gave birth to Freyr and his sister, Freyja. Freyja, the Norse god of beauty and death, was Freyr’s sibling. Moreover, she was Freyr’s female counterpart and also his twin.

Upon his marriage with the giantess Gerðr, Freyr was blessed with a son named Fjölnir, who would go on to succeed him as king in the future.

Freyr and Freyja

Freyr and Freyja are best described as two parts of the same coin. Being twins, they both shared similar characteristics, which was well noted by the Vanir.

However, their life was soon due to change because of Freyja. Freyja had mastered a darker form of magic known as Seiðr. Her experience with Seiðr brought nothing but advantages to whoever redeemed her services.

Upon reaching Asgard (where the Aesir lived) in disguise, the Aesir immediately felt the powerful effects of Seiðr. Overcome by the sudden urge to control the magic, the Aesir funded the disguised Freyja’s work in hopes of increasing their own gold reserves.

However, their ambitions led them astray, and their greed plunged Asgard into chaos. Using the disguised Freyja as a scapegoat and pinning the blame on her, the Aesir attempted to kill her. But as Freyja was a master of magic, she was reborn from the ashes like a girl boss every time they killed her, which triggered the Aesir’s fight or flight response.

The Aesir vs. the Vanir

Their clash snowballed into a raging fight between the Aesir and the Vanir. Freyr and Freyja fought together as a dynamic duo, effectively pushing back the onslaught of Odin’s forces. Eventually, the tribes agreed to a truce where the two sides would interchange a couple of their gods as a sign of good gesture and tribute.

The Aesir sent out Mimir and Hoenir, while the Vanir sent out Freyr and Freyja. And that was how Freyr blended in with the Aesir with his own sister, soon becoming integral parts of the pantheon.

Though another brawl between the Aesir and the Vanir soon followed this, that is a story for another day. Just know that the story provides the context for why Mimir from “God of War” is simply a head.

Freyr Appearance

You would expect the fertility god of Norse mythology to have some dashing on-screen presence, and you would undoubtedly be correct.

Freyr is a god that flexes his testosterone levels like a man in his gym pump. Though he doesn’t drip with that gym wear, Freyr is depicted more humbly. He is described to be a handsome man with defined edges, including a chiseled body and facial structure.

Masculine and muscular, Freyr chooses to wear farming clothes rather than an armor, as it is his way of expressing ‘you are what you wear.’ Farming is more challenging than being at war as you would swing a sword to win a battle, but you would swing a scythe to feed a nation, reflecting Freyr perfectly.

Besides having a muscular body, Freyr is also seen in the frame possessing his magic sword and a golden boar. The boar was named “Gullinbursti,” which translates to “golden bristles” because it glowed in the dark.

Freyr was also said to have a mighty beard flowing from his chin which greatly complimented his chiselled body and signified his virility.

Freyr Symbols

Since Freyr was a god of somewhat subliminal things such as prosperity and virility, his symbols could be interpreted from a variety of things.

For example, the wind was one of his symbols because he had Skíðblaðnir, a divine ship that could produce its own wind to sail forward. The ship could even be pocketed at will by folding it.

Besides the ship Skíðblaðnir symbolizing fair wind in his stead, Freyr also symbolized sunshine and fair weather because he was the god of the latter. Due to Gullinbursti glowing in the dark being by his side and representing dawn, boars were also associated with Freyr and symbolized war and fertility.

An elk’s antlers can also be traced back to him as Freyr used the antler to fight with the Jotunn Beli in the absence of his sword. This represented his more pacifist side and showcased his true Vanir nature. Hence, antlers symbolized peace in regard to him.

Freyr and His Horses

In his spare time, Freyr spent time with his animals. He kept quite a lot of horses in his sanctuary in Trondheim. The relationship between Freyr and his horses can also be seen in texts such as Hrafnkel’s saga, written in other languages.

The most significant of his horses, though, was named “Blóðughófi,” which literally translates to “bloody hoof”; a pretty badass name for a horse. Blóðughófi is mentioned in the old Norse text “Kálfsvísa” as follows:

“Dagr rode Drösull,
And Dvalinn rode Módnir;
Hjálmthér, Háfeti;
Haki rode Fákr;
The Slayer of Beli
Rode Blódughófi,
And Skævadr was ridden
By the Ruler of Haddings”

Freyr is referred to here as “The Slayer of Beli,” which is an ode to his fight against the Jotunn Beli, where he emerges victorious.

Freyr’s Sword

Freyr and his sword are perhaps one of the most famous myths about him. Freyr’s sword was no kitchen knife, it was a sword embued with magic and struck fear into the enemies’ hearts before it was even brandished.

His sword was named “Sumarbrander,” translated from Old Norse into “summer sword.” This was aptly named as summer meant the onset of peace and a bountiful harvest after a treacherous winter.

However, the most remarkable quality about Sumarbrander was that it could actually fight on its own without a wielder. This proved highly effective in battle as Freyr could seamlessly cut through his enemies without moving a finger if he didn’t want to.

This overpowered nature of Sumarbrander could’ve also been why it was yoinked straight out of the hands of Freyr and into the hands of his sworn enemy in Ragnarok (more later).

But one thing is for sure, Freyr’s sword Sumarbrander is a significant symbol that ties straight back to him. It also brings us right to one of the most enchanting chapters of his life: Gerðr.

Gerðr and Freyr

Freyr Sees Gerðr

While lazing around the Yggdrasil (the world tree around which all the worlds orbit), Freyr experienced one of the most defining moments of his life: falling in love.

Freyr came across the mountain Jotunn, Gerðr. Norse mythology describes her as one of the most beautiful beings in all the world. Her beauty is highlighted in the Poetic Edda, where it is mentioned:

“And toward this house went a woman; when she raised her hands and opened the door before her, brightness gleamed from her hands, both over sky and sea, and all the worlds were illumined of her.”

Freyr decided to make her his. So he sent one of his subordinates, Skirnir, to Jötunheimr as his wingman to win Gerðr over. He made sure to stock Skirnir with gifts so Gerðr would have no choice but to fall for him just like he had for her.

However, Freyr also understood that Gerðr lived in Jötunheimr. Hence, preparations had to be made to ensure Skirnir got through the magical protection within the realm. So he geared Skirnir up with a divine horse and commanded him to win Gerðr over.

However, Skirnir had his own demands.

The Loss of Sumarbrander

As the task was dangerous, Skirnir demanded that Freyr hand Sumarbrander over to him so he could penetrate the magical protection of Jötunheimr. Reluctant but lovesick for Gerðr, Freyr gave up the ownership of his magic sword, unaware of the dire consequences that it would have in the future.

This is showcased, once again, in the Poetic Edda as follows:

“Then Skírnir answered thus: he would go on his errand, but Freyr should give him his own sword-which is so good that it fights of itself;- and Freyr did not refuse but gave it to him. Then Skírnir went forth and wooed the woman for him, and received her promise, and nine nights later she was to come to the place called Barrey, and then go to the bridal with Freyr.”

The Gift

Even though Freyr lost his beloved sword that day, he still had two magical objects remaining; his handy ship and the golden boar. On top of that, he had won the favor of Gerðr, who would soon become his wife and become pregnant with his son, Fjölnir.

To celebrate the wedding and the birth of Freyr and Gerðr’s new son, Odin gifted Freyr with Alfheimr, the land of the light elves, as a teething present. It was here that Freyr spent his days happily with the love of his life Gerðr.

However, since he had to sacrifice Sumarbrander, he never came across it again. Freyr had to tinker with random objects, utilizing them as makeshift weapons instead.

The Fight Against Beli

While Freyr did live his days out in Alfheim with little chaos, there was one exception.

Though it is uncertain why Freyr took on a fight against a literal Jotunn in his backyard, it might have been because the Jotunn had come to prey on his family and cause harm. This Jotunn was named Beli, and their fight was highlighted in the “Gylfaginning,” a 13th-century Prose Edda.

Due to the loss of Sumarbrander, Freyr found himself outmatched by the Jotunn. However, he luckily managed to gather himself and stab the giant with the antler of an elk. Freyr defeats Beli, and peace is restored.

However, it left him with scars and wondering how the sacrifice of Sumarbrander could affect him in the future.

Other Myths

The god of virility has been the subject of many small myths from a myriad of Nordic countries. However, one tale or two stands out the most besides the primary ones due to their close involvement with Freyr.

Loki Blames Freyr

In this myth, the legitimacy of Freyr’s birth is questioned by Loki. Loki is one of the most famous trickster gods of yore, so his hatching up a plan to plot the downfall of his fellow colleagues doesn’t seem out of place.

In the “Lokasenna,” a Prose Edda, Loki goes all out against the Vanir. In fact, Loki accuses them of engaging in incestuous relationships and directly challenges Freyr by stating he was born out of incest when his father had intercourse with his unnamed sister.

He even accuses Freyja of having an affair with her twin brother Freyr and denounces both. This angers the big papa god Tyr as he rumbles from his abode and comes to Freyr’s defense. He says:

“Frey is the best
out of all the exalted gods
in the Aesirs’ courts:
no maid he makes to weep,
no wife of man,
and from bonds loses all.”

Though that doesn’t entirely shut Loki up, it makes him stop temporarily.

Freyr and Alfheim

Alfheim was gifted to Freyr by Odin as a teething present for his son and as an ode to his wedding with Gerðr.

The “Grímnismál” subtly explains why Alfheim (the realm of the light elves) was chosen by the Aesir to be gifted to Freyr. If Alfheim could be ruled by a deity from the pantheon, a connection could be established between the gods and the light elves. The elves were extraordinarily obscure and were skilled in smithcraft.

However, the elves were also proficient in weaving magical fabric, which could be helpful for the gods if the need for it arose.

Basically, it was a study mission dispatched to Freyr by Odin. Alfheim being handed over to Freyr in the form of a present was highlighted in the “Grímnismál” as follows:

“Alfheim the gods to Freyr
gave in days of yore
for a tooth-gift.”

Freyr and Ragnarok

After all this, you might think Freyr has a happy ending. After all, he rules over Alfheim, has one of the most beautiful beings in the world as his wife, and is in good standing with all other gods.

Unfortunately, Freyr’s love comes back to bite him with dire consequences. As Ragnarok approaches, the end of the world is near. Ragnarok is when all the deities of Norse mythology meet their inevitable fate. Freyr is no exception.

The fact that he gave up his most valuable weapon and will no longer be in possession of it when the apocalypse arrives is a dire prospect. It is said that Freyr will fall to Surtr, the fire Jotunn when Ragnarok finally comes.

It is also thought that the weapon Surtr will use is Sumarbrander itself, which makes the tale all the more tragic.

Freyr will die battling Surtr due to the absence of Sumarbrander, and that one wrong choice he made years earlier will return to haunt him on his deathbed. After slaying Freyr, Surtr will engulf Midgard’s entirety with his flames, destroying the entire world.

Freyr in Other Countries

Freyr is a major god in Norse mythology, so it’s only natural that he is featured (by name or by a small story) in tales from countless countries.

Freyr has appeared all over northern Europe. There are subtle mentions of Freyr integrated within their mythological history from Sweden to Iceland, Denmark to Norway.

For example, Freyr appears in a massive chunk of Norwegian names: ranging from temples to farms to entire cities. Freyr also appears in the Danish “Gesta Danorum” as Frø, dubbed as the “Viceroy of the Gods.”

What Remains of Freyr

After the rise of Christianity in Europe, the stories of Norse gods faded into the pages of history. Though they might seem lost, flashes of Freyr’s memories spring up from time to time.

Freyr has also appeared in gold foils from the early Viking Age. In addition, Freyr was depicted in a statuette as an old bearded man sitting cross-legged with an erect phallus, signifying his virility. He was also seen in a tapestry alongside Thor and Odin.

Moreover, Freyr lives on through popular culture, where he has been recently immortalized in the popular video game “God of War: Ragnarok” (2022).

Though Freyr’s hearty personality has been watered down a bit and his backstory has been altered, the focal point of his character remains really strong in the game.

This inclusion will undoubtedly make him relevant again and bring him on par with the other gods in terms of popularity.

Conclusion

Freyr was a god who blessed the very land that the people were living on. They reared animals, cultivated crops, and created settlements, all so they could advance together as a society.

This meant winning the favor of Freyr because he was simply in charge of all of it. Because somewhere within all that period of chaos, one looked to the skies for bountiful harvests, the onset of fertility, and the promise of peace. And there he was, Freyr, smiling and looking right back at them.

References

https://web.archive.org/web/20090604221954/http://www.northvegr.org/lore/prose/049052.php

Davidson, H. R. Ellis (1990). Gods and Myths of Northern Europe

Adam of Bremen (edited by G. Waitz) (1876). Gesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesiae Pontificum. Berlin. Available online Translation of the section on the Temple at Uppsala available at The Temple at Old Uppsala: Adam of Bremen

Sundqvist, Olof (2020). “Freyr.” In The Pre-Christian Religions of the North: History and Structures, vol. 3, ch. 43, pp. 1195-1245. Ed. by Jens Peter Schjødt, John Lindow, and Andres Andrén. 4 vols. Turnhout: Brepols.

Dronke, Ursula (1997). The Poetic Edda: Mythological poems. Oxford University Press, USA.