Frigg -Friia- Frea – Nerthus – Mother Earth
The life-producing, fruit-bearing earth’s female representative among the powers, the goddess Frigg, has, as I shall demonstrate below, mythological prerequisites that go back to the Proto-Indo-European era; but, as a pronounced epic personality, she belongs to the same period that gave rise to Njörd, Frey, and Freyja. In order not to perpetuate an error that lies
The Face of Earth
In Germanic sources, Mother Earth holds a prominent position. The evidence (as compiled in the previous chapters) is overwhelming. She is present from the beginning of the record. In Germania, chapter 2, Tacitus informs us that the Germanic tribes in common claim descent from an earth-born god. In chapter 40, he says that no less
The Face of Earth
The Face of the Earth This is a link to Erica Timm’s map of the Distribution of the Frau Holle legends published in German in 2003. After reviewing all of the evidence, she concludes (along with Jacob Grimm and others) that these figures are a faded memory of Odin’s wife Frigg, who represents Mother Nature.
Pagans persecuting Christians
In the latter half of the fourth century, the Church historian Sozomen (c. 400–450 AD), writing of the dangers that beset Ulphilas [Wulfias] among the heathen Goths, recounts how Athanaric, chieftain of the Thervingians, appointed Winguric (Wingureiks), a goði, to eradicate the Christian faith from the land. He placed a xoanon (wooden idol) in an
Erce, Erce, Erce! : A Low German Earth Mother
Erce, Erce, Erce! : A Low German Earth MotherThe Mother of the Gods and Men Tacitus begins his account by telling of the Langobardi (Lombards), a tribe distinguished by their boldness in battle, who despite their small number, retained their independence in the midst of mighty neighbors made up of seven tribes, including the Anglii,
The merry wives of Asgard: Odin and his women
Excerpts from the book Odin’s Wife by William P. Reaves Odin is said to have at least two wives, Baldur’s mother, Frigg, and Thor’s mother, Jörd, as well as giantess concubines such as Gunnlöd and Rind. In this regard, he is compared to other Western Sky-Fathers of Indo-European descent, coupled with an Earth Mother figure.
Birth
We have seen the origin of the cosmos and of the Gods as told in the Odinic creation story. That the elements examined must be external simply derives from observations of the natural universe, even to the furthest reaches of outer space. No matter where you look these elements persist and continue to play a
The other side of the Godhead, Heaven and Earth : Nerthus, Frigga-Frea
Tacitus says that seven northern nations worship Mother Earth, who is named Nerthus . Among the tribes that he says worship Nerthus are the Longobardi (Lombards). In the History of the Lombards by Paul the Deacon c. 750, the now Christian Lombards have a legend among them, “a silly fable told by told men” about
Witching the Plough on Plough Monday
Original Title: “ WITCHING THE PLOUGH ON PLOUGH MONDAYThe First Monday after Twelfth-Day Costumed Christmas traditions are quite common throughout northern Europe, as well as in England and Scandinavia. In some regions, Holda, Percht and Bercht play a prominent part in them. Indeed, vivid visual descriptions of her may allude to a popular portrayal, perhaps
Frigga
Odin’s wife and mother of the Aesir—Thor, Baldur, and Hodur with him; she also gave birth to Frey, Freya, Blik, Blid, Frid, Eir, Hlif, Hlifthrasa, Thjodvarta, and Bjart with her brother, Njord. Such a close union is allowed among the Vanir (but not the Aesir), and we would see this as an aspect of divinity
