frey 31
Gotland, Sweden, runestone depicting Thor, Odin, and Frey (Photo by Berig/Used under a Creative Commons
license)
Historically, the worship of Frey was widespread
and persistent, especially among the people of Swe-
den. Around the year 1200, there was a magnificent
statue of Frey (called there Fricco, the Lover) along-
side the two other great gods Odin and Thor in
Uppsala, Sweden.
Frey and Gerda One myth has it that Frey
dared to climb onto Odin’s high seat, Hlidskjalf,
where no one but the great god and sometimes his
wife, Frigg, were allowed to sit. From this vantage
point Odin could see all the Nine Worlds.
Frey looked about him, and his gaze was trans-
fixed by a dazzling vision. He saw Gerda, the fair
daughter of the giant Gymir. As she opened the
gates to her palace, her shapely arms shone with
such radiance that the Earth and the sky around her
shimmered.
Frey left Odin’s palace feeling sad and desolate.
He knew that because Gerda was a Jotun, a daughter
of one of the hated enemy, and he, Frey, was Lord
of the Elves, he could never win her. Besides, it was
said that her heart was as frozen as a seed in the hard
winter earth.
Frey was so unhappy that he could not eat, sleep,
or speak. Everyone was troubled for him. Trees lost
their leaves, and flowers faded. All nature mourned
for Frey. At last Frey’s father, Njord, sent Skirnir to
speak to his son.
Skirnir was Frey’s friend and trusted servant. It
did not take him long to find out what troubled Frey.
Skirnir said he would woo the maiden for Frey if Frey
would lend him Blodighofi, the wondrous horse that
could leap through fire unharmed, and Frey’s magic
sword.
Frey agreed, and Skirnir set off to Jotunheim, the
land of the giants. When he came to a wall of fire,
Blodighofi leaped with Skirnir through the flames.
They both came out unscathed.
Outside Gymir’s hall, huge hounds set up a
fearsome barking, howling like the winds of winter.