22 citations1 sources

The Poetic Edda on Freyr

The > Volume I > Notes

attestation: Freyr, called Beli's slayer, killed the giant Beli with his fist and belonged to the race of the Wanes as brother of Freyja

"Beli's slayer: the god Freyr, who killed the giant Beli with his fist; cf. Skirnismol, 16 and note. On Freyr, who belonged to the race of the Wanes, and was the brother of Freyja"
attestation: Freyr is described as the noblest of the gods, ruling over rain, sunshine, and the fruitfulness of the earth.

"Freyr is the noblest of the gods; he rules over rain and sunshine, and therewith the fruitfulness of the earth; it is well to call upon him for plenty and welfare, for he rules over wealth for mankind."
attestation: Freyr's gift of his sword to Skirnir proves fatal: at the last battle, Freyr is weaponless when Beli attacks and later when Surt slays him.

"Freyr's gift of his sword to Skirnir eventually proves fatal, for at the last battle, when Freyr is attacked by Beli, whom he kills bare-handed, and later when the fire-demon, Surt, slays him in turn, he is weaponless"
attestation: Freyr killed Beli bare-handed because he had given away his sword to Skirnir.

"when Freyr is attacked by Beli, whom he kills bare-handed"
attestation: Ingunar-Freyr may derive from Ingun, the unknown sister of Njorth who was Freyr's mother

"it may be the genitive of a woman's name, Ingun, the unknown sister of Njorth who was Freyr's mother"

attestation: Freyr is characterized by beauty in the verse.

"43. In days of old | did Ivaldi's sons Skithblathnir fashion fair, The best of ships | for the bright god Freyr, The noble son of Njorth."
attestation: Freyr is characterized by nobility in the verse.

"43. In days of old | did Ivaldi's sons Skithblathnir fashion fair, The best of ships | for the bright god Freyr, The noble son of Njorth."
attribution: Freyr delivers a speech in the verse.

"3. "Speak prithee, Freyr, | foremost of the gods, For now I fain would know; Why sittest thou here | in the wide halls, Days long, my prince, alone?"

Freyr spake:"

attestation: The stanza references rulership or authority involving Freyr.

"3. "Speak prithee, Freyr, | foremost of the gods, For now I fain would know; Why sittest thou here | in the wide halls, Days long, my prince, alone?"

Freyr spake:"

attestation: Freyr is characterized by youth in the verse.

"5. "Thy longings, methinks, | are not so large That thou mayst not tell them to me; Since in days of yore | we were young together, We two might each other trust."

Freyr spake:"

attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Freyr.

"8. "Then give me the horse | that goes through the dark And magic flickering flames; And the sword as well | that fights of itself Against the giants grim."

Freyr spake:"

attestation: Freyr is characterized by grimness in the verse.

"8. "Then give me the horse | that goes through the dark And magic flickering flames; And the sword as well | that fights of itself Against the giants grim."

Freyr spake:"

attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Freyr.

"8. "Then give me the horse | that goes through the dark And magic flickering flames; And the sword as well | that fights of itself Against the giants grim."

Freyr spake:"

attribution: Freyr delivers a speech in the verse.

"42. "Barri there is, | which we both know well, A forest fair and still; And nine nights hence | to the son of Njorth Will Gerth there grant delight."

Freyr spake:"

attestation: The stanza describes binding or imprisonment involving Freyr.

"37. "Of the heroes brave | is Freyr the best Here in the home of the gods; He harms not maids | nor the wives of men, And the bound from their fetters he frees."

Loki spake:"

attestation: Freyr is characterized by courage in the verse.

"37. "Of the heroes brave | is Freyr the best Here in the home of the gods; He harms not maids | nor the wives of men, And the bound from their fetters he frees."

Loki spake:"

attribution: Freyr delivers a speech in the verse.

"40. "Be silent, Tyr! | for a son with me Thy wife once chanced to win; Not a penny, methinks, | wast thou paid for the wrong, Nor wast righted an inch, poor wretch."

Freyr spake:"

relationship: Freyr is identified as the offspring of Gymir.

"32. Freyr's wife was Gerth, | the daughter of Gymir, Of the giants' brood, | and Aurbotha bore her; To these as well | was Thjazi kin, The dark-loving giant; | his daughter was Skathi."
relationship: The stanza references a wife of Freyr.

"32. Freyr's wife was Gerth, | the daughter of Gymir, Of the giants' brood, | and Aurbotha bore her; To these as well | was Thjazi kin, The dark-loving giant; | his daughter was Skathi."

attestation: Vows made at the king's cup during the Yule feast were particularly sacred, taken over a boar consecrated to Freyr

"The king's toast: vows made at the passing of the king's cup at the Yule feast were particularly sacred. Sacred boar: a boar consecrated to Freyr, an integral part of the Yule rites"

attestation: Freyr appears as the ancestor of the Volsungs in a late tradition, replacing Odin

"Freyr: if the phrase "the friend of Freyr" means anything more than "king" (cf. Rigsthula, 46 etc.), which I doubt, it has reference to the late tradition that Freyr, and not Othin, was the ancestor of the Volsungs"

attestation: Freyr is a god associated with fertility and prosperity

"Freyr, a god"