Norse Goddesses: Mythology and Meanings of the Viking Deities
Characters of Norse mythology have permeated popular culture. Take the Marvelverse, for instance. The mythology of these gods and goddesses is more widely known today across the world than ever before.
Their mystic powers, form, and tales of victory and defeat are all testament to the battle-hardy and visionary cultures of 9th–11th century Scandinavia that brought about the notorious Viking age of exploration.
And one of the best aspects of Viking mythology is the degree of empowerment and authority women had when such a thing was uncommon. Let’s take a look at some of the most powerful Norse Goddesses and their significance.
#1. Freya
Image source: Pinterest
Freya is among the most distinguished Norse Goddesses in Viking mythology. She was often depicted in Norse poems as some kind of “party girl” of the Aesir.
The Vikings worshipped and admired Freya for her beauty, elegance, passion, fine material possessions, and her zest for seeking new thrills. Her personality struck a reflective chord with men and continues to do so today.
Freya is one of the most proficient practitioners of a form of Norse Magic called Seidr. Her powers allow her to control others’ desires, health, and prosperity, and by doing so, change the course of a person’s fate. Her knowledge and powers have no equal in the Norse world.
#2. Frigg
Image source: Pinterest
Frigg, also known as Friia, is the wife of Odin, the All-Father, with whom she has two wons, Hod and Balder. She is also stepmother to Thor, Tyr, Heimdall, Vidar, Höder, Bragi, Vali, and Hermod. Friggs is the goddess of motherhood and marriage and the Queen of Asgard. She strongly advocates motherly duties and responsibilities to the household and family.
Despite her leading status in Norse mythology, much about the extent of her power remains unknown. Some poems depict her as the weeping mother, while others portray her as a symbol of beauty, sexuality, love, wisdom, and prophecy.
Like Freya, she too practices Seidr and is quite adept at using it. It’s believed that the term “Friday” may be Frigg’s namesake.
#3. Gefion
Image source: Pinterest
Gefion is the goddess of agriculture and plowing. She symbolizes purity, fertility, abundance, and prosperity. It is believed the Gefion once snuck into the realm of humans, or Midgard, and traveled through Sweden under the guise of a homeless woman.
It was during her travels that she met and spent time with King Gylfi who granted her resources for farming. She summoned her four sons and transformed them into oxen to do all the plowing.
#4. Idun
Image source: Pinterest
Idun, also spelled as Iduna or Idunn, is the goddess of spring and rejuvenation and the wife of Bragi, the god of poetry. Idun keeps hold of the magic apples of immortality that the gods regularly consume to maintain their eternal youth.
Norse poetry tells a story about Idun and Loki that drove the entire world of the gods into chaos. Loki, the god of mischief, along with Thiassi, the giant, kidnapped Idun and took both her and all the apples to the realm of the giants.
This resulted in zero harvest of new immortality apples, and once the gods started to age, Loki had no choice but to set her free.
#5. Sif
Image source: Pinterest
Sif is the wife of Thor, the god of war and lightning. She hasn’t been mentioned frequently in the old Norse literature; however, what archaeologists do know is that she is the goddess of grain and fertility. Sif is also a shield maiden of Asgard and defended her realm against the likes of gods like Loki, Mangog, and Surtr.
There’s an indication that she had some kind of role to play in the creation of Thor’s famous hammer. She has one son with Thor, Ullr, who is deemed the god of archery, skiing, and one-on-one combat.
#6. Sigyn
Image source: Pinterest
Sigyn was Loki’s faithful wife who stood by him when the other gods tried him for the murder of Baldur. She even caught deadly snake venom that was dripping onto Loki’s face from his blind spot when he was captured and detained by the other gods.
Based on her name and role in mythology, it is believed Sigyn represents loyalty, devotion, and victory. Unfortunately, due to the low survivability of all the original Norse transcripts over time, little more is known about Sigyn apart from her support of Loki for all his plots.
#7. Eir
Image source: Pinterest
In Norse mythology, Eir is regarded as the goddess of healing and medical skills. She is also one of Frigg’s chosen handmaids. Eir is also a Valkyrie — a group of maidens hand-picked by Odin to serve directly beneath him.
It is believed that Valkyries are the ones who decide who lives or dies in battle. If the Valkyries deem someone worthy of an honorable death, Odin may ask them to summon the warriors to Valhalla. Eir, however, is different because she often healed warriors to help them fight longer.
#8. Fulla, Gna & Hlin
Image source: Wikiwand.com
Fulla, Gna, and Hlin are handmaidens to the Queen of Asgard Frigg. They are renowned shield maidens in their own right, and each of them represents an important virtue all maidens must share.
Hlin is the goddess of protection and solace. Gna is Frigg’s messenger and carries her words throughout all the nine realms. Fulla is the goddess of abundance, a celestial virgin, and takes care of Friggs’ important belongings as well as her deepest secrets.
#9. Ilmr
Image source: ffxiv.eorzeacollection.com
Ilmr is a Norse goddess listed in the Skaldic Kennings, although details about her origin and nature are unclear to this day. Her name is all that archeologists and historians have on her. The popular theory is that she’s a Valkyrie but what she represents or what her unique abilities are is open to debate.
#10. Hel
Image source: Pinterest
Hel is a giantess/goddess who rules over the underworld where the unworthy dead go. A fitting name for someone who manages hell, Hel is the daughter of Loki and the giantess Angrboda.
Hel is described in the literature as having a greedy, cruel, and narcissistic personality. In Old Norse poetry, as well as the earliest pieces of scholarship, Hel is depicted as someone completely indifferent to both the living and the dead.
#11. Other Norse Goddesses
Image source: Pinterest
According to History Lists, there are at least 43 known Norse goddesses, and there may be more. But as mentioned earlier, a lot of original Norse transcripts have been lost over time. What is evident, however, is that not all goddesses were made equal. They operate within a certain hierarchy, with Friggs considered to be the most powerful.
A Few Parting Words
Apart from the virtues of female empowerment that Norse goddesses brought to the people of Viking heritage, they also endowed many people with wisdom that guided them on one of the greatest missions of global exploration of all time.
The Vikings settled all the way from the coast of North America to the icy plains of Iceland, the United Kingdom, France, and Russia. They even explored the Mediterranean, all with the help of simple wooden rowboats. Although some of these powerful deities may have been forgotten, their impact is still evident.
