Frigg

Queen of the Norse Gods

Information about Frigg comes from the Poetic Edda, the Prose Edda and wider Germanic traditions. Her name is related to words concerning love and beloved people, and Friday probably preserves her name through Old English Frig. She should not automatically be treated as another spelling of Freyja. The two goddesses share some features, and scholars debate their earlier relationship, but Norse texts present them as separate figures with different homes, husbands and stories. Frigg and Odin are parents of Baldr. In Snorri’s account, Baldr dreams that his life is in danger. Frigg travels through the world and takes oaths from fire, water, metals, stones, animals, plants, diseases and other things that they will not harm him. Once the promises are made, the gods amuse themselves by throwing weapons at Baldr because everything turns aside.

Loki visits Frigg disguised as a woman and asks whether absolutely everything has sworn. Frigg admits that she thought a young shoot of mistletoe was too small to demand an oath from. Loki takes the plant and guides the blind god Hodr in throwing it at Baldr. The mistletoe passes through him and kills him. Frigg’s enormous effort nearly succeeds, but the one overlooked thing becomes fatal. Frigg immediately asks who will ride to Hel and offer a ransom for Baldr’s return. Hermod accepts and rides Odin’s horse Sleipnir into the underworld. Hel agrees to release Baldr if every being weeps for him. Nearly all do, but a figure called Thokk refuses. Snorri suggests this may be Loki in disguise, and Baldr remains among the dead until after Ragnarök.

Frigg receives gifts sent back from Baldr’s wife Nanna, who has also died. The poem Voluspa calls Baldr’s death Frigg’s first great grief and Odin’s future death her second. This reveals the emotional cost of knowing fate. Frigg is not shown as powerless, however. In the prose introduction to Grimnismal, she and Odin favour different foster sons. Frigg outmanoeuvres Odin by sending a false warning that leads King Geirrod to treat a disguised guest badly. The guest is Odin, and Geirrod’s failure brings disaster. Frigg is attended by figures such as Fulla and Gna in Snorri’s list of goddesses. Fulla keeps Frigg’s box and footwear and knows her secrets.

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