Question about Norse mythology

[Storm]

Is Frigga just an alternate spelling of Freyja, or an entirely different member of the Aesir?

I ask because I always assumed the former, but some time ago I read a book that listed Freyja among the "major Gods and Goddesses" and Frigga among the minor.

I wasn't exactly impressed with the book, but that's something that's bugged me ever since.

 

[Feathers in Hair]

There are so many different spellings! (I actually use 'Freya' as my username on another site.) I believe that Frigga is Odin's wife- a 'mother' archetype whereas the other is more of a 'maiden' one.

 

[Mike182]

There are so many different spellings! (I actually use 'Freya' as my username on another site.) I believe that Frigga is Odin's wife- a 'mother' archetype whereas the other is more of a 'maiden' one.

is that different archtypes of the same Goddess?

sorry Meg, i know very little about Norse mythology either

 

[wizanda]

Considering can find that the Norse mythologies are that of Pollish government or some country along them lines……. as in the separation of those countries is where rumours spread from and when the Vikings travelled, they took those stories of government along with them, these became God legends...yet found it really remarkable that so many names tally, as at the time was checking where our monarchy had been stolen.
So investigate around there, might turn up more clues to original names.
Use to love playing Valhalla on the ZX spectrum at 4/5 and so when saw the names it rang bells, yet was on the other research at the time and so didn’t investigate further.

 

[Makhsihed]

Frigga and Freyja are different entities, though some people have fused the two.

Freyja's a maiden archetype? Well, I suppose, if "maidens" are allowed to be sluts... I mean, seriously, she slept with four dwarves to get jewelry.

Frigg is the highest goddess of the Aesir; Freyja is the highest goddess of the Vanir. Some argue that they're the same; some argue that they're different. Perhaps they were separate and were later fused into one in later periods. It's unclear and debated.

 

[Feathers in Hair]

*nods* They're brother and sister, according to most of the books I've read. (As well as a bit more, hehehe.)

Freyja's a maiden archetype? Well, I suppose, if "maidens" are allowed to be sluts... I mean, seriously, she slept with four dwarves to get jewelry.

Well, ya gotta admit, it's pretty awesome jewelry! I meant maiden in the sense of 'women whole unto themselves'- not that this means mother and matriarch aren't whole unto themselves, just that their identity tends to be more tied in with their relationships to others.

 

[bflydad]

Personally, I see Frigga as the Goddess of the home, she is responsible for making the home a sanctuary and holy place and for ensuring all "home work" is treated as hoyl acts. However, she is also the only Goddess who is able to trick Odin (the All Father) so she should not be underestimated.

Feathers, I had never thought of Freya as the maiden, "woman complete unto herself" but I completely agree with you. She also gets 1/2 of all of the dead (and I think she gets first dibs) so she is definitely a warrior and I see her as representing women in the professional world that combative, take no prisoners world. She is also the harvest/fertility goddess along with her brother Freyr. I have never heard of anything sexual between the two of them (especially since they have other spouses) but considering the harvest/fertility angle I suppose it is possible.

 

[gnostic]

You can visit my site (Timeless Myths), Storm. This section is on Norse Mythology.

On Freyja see Vanir page.

On Frigg, see Aesir.

 

[Makhsihed]

She is also the harvest/fertility goddess along with her brother Freyr. I have never heard of anything sexual between the two of them (especially since they have other spouses) but considering the harvest/fertility angle I suppose it is possible.

In the Lokasenna, one of the mythological poems of the Poetic Edda (and mostly made up of Loki insulting the other gods and spilling their secrets), Loki says that Freyja and Freyr slept together. I think that's the main source for the idea of something sexual between Freyja and Freyr. Whether it's true or not is uncertain, what with Loki not being the most trustworthy of sources, but it's a possibility.