The Viking Age. Volume 1 (of 2): The early history, manners, and customs of the ancestors of the English-speaking nationsDu Chaillu, Paul B. (Paul Belloni)
History
The Viking Age. Volume 1 (of 2): The early history, manners, and customs of the ancestors of the English-speaking nations
“In his days the peace of Fródi[99] (King in Denmark) began; then there
were good seasons in every land. The Swedes attributed that to Frey. He
was worshipped more than other gods, because in his days the people of
the land became wealthier than before, on account of the peace and the
good seasons. His wife was called Gerd, daughter of Gýmir;[100] their
son was Fjölnir. Another name of Frey was Yngvi; this name was long
afterwards used among his kin as a name of honour, and his kinsmen were
afterwards called Ynglingar. Frey fell sick; when he was near death they
took counsel and allowed few men to see him; they made a large mound
ready for him with a door and three holes. When Frey was dead they
carried him secretly into the mound and told the Swedes that he was
alive, and kept him there for three winters. They poured all the taxes
into the mound, the gold through one hole, the silver through another,
and the brass pennings through the third. Then peace and good seasons
continued” (Ynglinga, c. 12).
“When all the Svíar knew that Frey was dead, and peace and good seasons
continued, they believed it would last while Frey was in Svithjód, and
would not burn him, and called him the god of the world (veraldar god),
and sacrificed ever since chiefly to him for good seasons and peace”
(Ynglinga, c. 13).
After the death of Frey, Freyja, the daughter of Njörd, became the
priestess, and offered the sacrifices.
“Freyja upheld the sacrifices, for she alone of the godar was then
living, and she became so renowned that all high-born women are called
_fruvor_.[101] Thus every woman is the freyja of her property, and she
who has a household is hús-freyja[102] (housewife). Freyja was rather
many-minded (fickle); her husband was Ód; her daughters were Hnoss
(costly thing) and Gersemi (precious thing); they were very beautiful,
and the costliest things are called by their names” (Ynglinga, c. 13).
According to the Ynglinga, Yngvi Frey was the son of Njörd, and Fjölnir
the son of Yngvi Frey. Fjölnir ruled over the Swedish and Upsala domain,
and died in Zeeland. A strong friendship existed between him and Fródi
the grandson of Skjöld, the son of Odin, and it was the custom of these
two chiefs to visit each other.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account