Freyr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Freyr |
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| God of fertility, peace, sacral kingship, prosperity, virility, sunshine, pleasure, fair weather, and the harvest | |
| Member of the Vanir | |
Seated on Odin's throne Hliðskjálf, the god Freyr sits in contemplation in an illustration (1908) by Frederic Lawrence
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| Abode | Álfheimr |
| Symbols | sword, boar, ship, horse |
| Personal information | |
| Spouse | Gerðr |
| Offspring | Fjölnir |
| Parents | Njörðr and his sister |
| Siblings | Freyja |
Freyr (which means 'Lord' in Old Norse) is an important god in Norse mythology. He is often called Frey. Freyr is linked to kingship, peace, good weather, and making things grow (fertility).
Freyr was especially important in Sweden. People there saw him as an ancestor of their royal family. He was known as "the most famous of the Æsir gods." People honored him for good harvests and peace.
In old stories from the Icelandic books Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, Freyr is part of the Vanir group of gods. He is the son of the god Njörðr and his sister. He is also the twin brother of the goddess Freyja.
When Freyr was a baby, the gods gave him Álfheimr, the home of the Elves, as a special gift. He has some amazing magical items. He rides a shining boar named Gullinbursti, which was made by dwarves. He also owns the ship Skíðblaðnir. This ship always has a good wind to sail and can be folded up small enough to fit in a pouch! Freyr also had special horses at his holy place in Trondheim, Norway. His helpers are Skírnir, Byggvir, and Beyla.
The most famous story about Freyr tells how he fell in love with a giantess named Gerðr. She eventually became his wife. But to win her, Freyr had to give away his magical sword. This sword could fight on its own if its owner was wise. Even without his sword, Freyr defeated a giant named Beli using an antler.
Today, some people who follow the Heathenry movement still honor Freyr. This is a modern way of practicing old Germanic beliefs.
Freyr's Love Story
The Prose Edda tells the only long story about Freyr. It is about how he got married.
One day, Freyr sat on Hlidskjálf, which was Odin's special throne. From there, he could see all the worlds. When he looked north, he saw a beautiful house. A woman walked towards it. When she opened the door, a bright light shone from her hands. This light lit up the sky, the sea, and all the worlds!
This woman was Gerðr, a very beautiful giantess. Freyr immediately fell in love with her. He became very sad and quiet. After a while, he finally talked to his helper, Skírnir. Freyr told Skírnir that he loved this beautiful woman and felt he would die if he could not have her. He asked Skírnir to go and ask her to marry him.
Skírnir agreed to help Freyr. But he asked Freyr for his special sword. This sword was so powerful it could fight by itself! Freyr agreed and gave Skírnir the sword. Skírnir went to Gerðr and convinced her to marry Freyr. She promised to meet Freyr nine nights later at a place called Barrey for their wedding.
The Lost Sword
Giving away his sword had big consequences for Freyr. The Prose Edda says that Freyr had to fight the giant Beli without his sword. He used an antler to defeat Beli.
However, the biggest problem will happen at Ragnarök. This is the Norse story of the end of the world. Freyr is fated to fight the fire-giant Surtr. Because Freyr no longer has his magical sword, he will be defeated by Surtr.
See also
In Spanish: Frey para niños
Images for kids
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The Rällinge statuette, believed to show Freyr, from the Viking Age.
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Yngvi-Freyr building the Temple at Uppsala in this early 19th-century artwork by Hugo Hamilton.
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"In Freyr's Temple near Uppsala" (1882) by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine.
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A part of the Skog Church Tapestry that might show Odin, Thor, and Freyr.
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A small piece of gold foil that may show Gerðr and Freyr.
