Kitty's Corner

Freja and Frigg (Odin's wife) are the two principal goddesses in Norse religion. Freja is portrayed as a goddess of love , beauty, and fertility. She is blonde, blue-eyed and beautiful, and is described as the fairest of all goddesses, and people prayed to her for happiness in love. She was also associated with war, battle, death, magic, prophecy, and wealth.

Freja is the daughter of the sea god Njord and sister of Freyr.

Both Odin and Freja took an interest in the heroic dead, dividing the slain between them at the end of every battle. Odin's share went to live in Valhalla, while Freja's lived in her hall, Sessrumnir. Odin's warriors were "the offensive", or those who dedicate their life to fighting. Freyja’s warriors were "the defensive", or those who only fought to protect their families, clans or goods.

Freja rides on a chariot drawn by a pair of large cats. These cats are called Gib-cats and they are often thought to be Norwegian forest cats. Cats are sacred to Freja, just as wolves are to Odin. Freja flies over the earth, sprinkling morning dew and summer sunlight behind her. She shakes spring flowers from her golden hair and weeps tears which turns to gold or to amber at sea.

It is possible that Freja's lost husband Odur, or Od, of whom nothing is known but his name, was in fact Odin. For she was the goddess of lust as well as love, a suitable partner for Odin who was the father of battles.

She was said to be a sorceress who could fly in a falcon's skin and some traditions state that on her arrival in Asgard she taught the gods the spells and charms of the Vanir (the group of Gods and Goddesses that is older than those of the Aesir).

Freja's greatest treasure was the Brisings' necklace. The Brisingamen necklace was crafted by four dwarfs with such artistry that it glittered like a constellation of stars in the night sky. Around Freja's lovely neck it became an emblem of the fruits of the heavens and earth. She in her turn, produced treasures for the earth whenever she cried and Freja wept profusely, especially during her search for her lost husband, Odur. It is said that she obtained the necklace by sleeping with the 4 dwarfs.

The brisingamen necklace was stolen once. Freja enlisted the help of Heimdall to help her search for it. Eventually they found the thief, who turned out to be Loki who had transformed himself into a seal. Heimdall turned into a seal as well and fought Loki. After a lengthy battle at Singasteinn, Heimdall won and returned Brísingamen to Freja. The rivalry of Loki and Heimdallr for Brísingamen is a very important event, as they are destined to fight again and slay each other at the end of Ragnarok.