Who is Frigg?
Frigg is a Goddess from Germanic mythology. She is the wife of Odin and mother to Hodur and Baldur, a ruling member of the Aesir tribe, and the queen of all Norse deities. Frigg lived in a boggy watery realm called Fensalir and owned a set of falcon feathers which Loki used to shapeshift. Frigg is a strong maternal Goddess, as shown in both the Gylfaginning (part of the prose edda) where she went to great lengths to protect and resurrect her son Baldur; and the Grimnismol (aka the “Ballad of Grimnir”) when she fostered Agnar.
Frigg’s story from the Gylfaginning
One night, both herself and her son Baldur were awoken from a nightmare foretelling Baldur’s death. This was confirmed as a prophecy after Odin travelled to Hel, the realm of the dead, and resurrected a völva (practitioner of magic) to decipher the dreams. Frigg was so devastated at this news she made every living and inert thing in creation promise never to harm her beloved son. The trickster Loki disguised himself as a woman and asked Frigg if all things had sworn the oath, she admitted that she had not demanded an oath from the humble mistletoe. Loki then rushed off to fashion a spear from mistletoe and, seeing the gods make sport of Baldur’s invulnerability, handed the blind God Hodur (Baldur’s twin) the spear. Hodur struck Baldur with the spear, who was mortally wounded by it. Overcome with sorrow Frigg asked for a volunteer to travel to Hel and beg for Baldur’s release; Hermod obliged. Hel agreed to do this, but only on the condition that all things wept for Baldur. Hermod reported the news and the Aesir sent messengers throughout all the known world. Humans, animals, trees, rocks, all things wept; all except a giantess called Thökk. Thökk was actually Loki in disguise and no matter how much Frigg pleaded, his actions condemned Baldur to remain in Hel forever.
Frigg’s story from the Grimnisol
Agnar and his brother Geirröth, were the sons of king Hrauthung. A storm cut short their fishing trip and they washed ashore to be found by a peasant farmer and his wife. The farmer fostered Geirröth while the wife fostered Agnar. It turned out that the farmer and wife were actually Odin and Frigg! Geirröth returned to his kingdom only to be crowned king due to the death of his father, but he was often cruel to guests. Odin was full of praise for the now king he had fostered but would slander Agnar. Frigg was having none of this and told Odin of the cruel ways of Geirröth. Odin did not believe this and went to visit in disguise to prove it was lies. Frigg sent a maiden ahead with a message that the king would soon be visited by a wizard out to bewitch him. When Odin arrived at the king’s court he gave the name Grimnir but nothing more, so Geirröth had him tortured for 8 nights, between two fires. Frigg won the wager.
Other information of note
Interestingly the word Friday means Frigg’s day.
Frigg and Freyja may have originated from the same deity, accounting for their many similarities.
She was considered a sky Goddess who wove the clouds.
Frigg, in old Norse, means beloved.
Although married, she did not live with her husband Odin.
She was attended at her palace by handmaidens, who were also Goddesses.
She was seen as Odin’s equal, being the only other person allowed to sit on his throne.
Frigg is definitely a Goddess to draw strength from when you need to be an advocate for your child, as shown when she became a foster mum. She is also a Goddess for grieving parents to draw strength from just as she lost her son.
Spinning wheel and spindle