Freyja

Lady of the Vanir: love, gold, battle and seeing-magic

Freyja, 'the Lady', is a leading goddess of the Vanir in Old Norse religion, daughter of Njörðr and sister of Freyr. The medieval Icelandic poems and Snorri's Edda know her as goddess of love, beauty, fertility and gold, and also of war, death and seiðr, a magic for seeing and shaping the future. In the old poems she bargains, grieves and rages, and she receives half of those slain in battle in her field, Fólkvangr.

Today she is honoured by many Heathens and in Ásatrú. These are living religions with no central authority, so practice and holiday dates vary from group to group. Heathen calendars name her among those honoured at Dísablót, at a spring blót, at midsummer and in the Yule season.

Shop Freyja See the gallery

How to recognise Freyja

Cat-drawn chariotShe travels in a chariot pulled by two cats, and Snorri has her drive it to Baldr's funeral.
BrísingamenHer best-known ornament is the necklace Brísingamen, which Loki stole and Heimdallr recovered; the sources do not describe its form, so look for a prominent gold necklace.
Falcon-feather cloakA feathered mantle (fjaðrhamr or valshamr) lets its wearer take bird form, and she lends it to Loki in Þrymskviða.
Golden boar HildisvíniThe golden-bristled 'battle-boar', made by the dwarfs Dáinn and Nabbi, appears in Hyndluljóð, where she rides it; the poem hints it is really her protégé Óttar in disguise.
Golden tearsHer tears for her absent husband Óðr are said to turn to gold, and later folklore links amber to her.
Seated woman between two catsA Viking Age metal fitting shows a seated woman holding handfuls of her hair between two curly-tailed cats, which The Troth's resource calls almost certainly Freyja.
Composed bearingShe is shown as warrior, magic-worker and lover, calm and self-possessed, never a victim; in Þrymskviða her fury refuses the giant's demand for her hand.

Names and titles

Lady of the VanirVanadís, a title for Freyja as the Vanir's lady
Lady of FólkvangrShe rules the heavenly field where half the battle-slain go
Cats at the ReinsSnorri has her drive a chariot drawn by two cats
Lender of the Falcon CloakShe lends her feather cloak to Loki so he can search for Thor's hammer
Golden Tears for ÓðrHer tears for her absent husband are said to become gold