Frigg and Freyja 

Your denial of being Indiana Jones makes me feel like you're really Indiana Jones

*Looks at Cowboy hat* *Looks at his interest in guns* *Looks at job description* “I’m not Indiana Jones” Mmmmhhhh?

Snorri's description of Freyja traveling under many names as she searches for Óðr is weirdly reminiscent of far more ancient myths concerning the Egyptian goddess Isis (who adopts many names as she searches for Osiris, betrayed and sealed away in a sarcophagus by Set). As with Freyja, special attention is drawn to her tears. Instead of crying tears of gold (a reference to Baltic amber, most likely), Isis' tears result in the annual flooding of the Nile. In both cases, these tears stood in for something of huge cultural and economic import.

What? You are not Indiana Jones? So, then, are you Colorado Jones ;-)

Sounds like Odin, was living two lives and took a lot of business trips lol

Who else has this channel on notification? I want us to be friends forever!

"The picture that people often get is that you're Indiana Jones". Well the way you dress surely doesn't help with dismissing that idea xd.

What, no Edda 3? I'll stop sleeping outside the bookstore then.

Thinking of a unique name for our first daughter was painstaking- then I thought of Freya but didn't think the other half would go for it.. She DID! Freya Rose has a nice ring to it (she originally wanted to name her Rosalie)

Could the split into two distinct godessess be explained by there having at some point been two or more tribes or people whos oral traditions evolve from the same roots, one of them to use the name Frigg and the other Freyja? And eventually through wars, alliances or by scholars those oral traditions were merged into the later belief that Frigg and Freyja are two godessess?

Mr Crawford is increasingly becoming my favorite person😂

Thank you for posting these lectures! You have become my main source for Norse mythology with the added bonus of hearing the language spoken in it's context. So very helpful!

I had a dream the other night that I was a giant warrior goddess, I’ve never heard the name Frig before, only Freya but I was called Frig in my dream. Which is why I clicked on this video, now I’m going to have to binge watch this whole channel.... Not saying by any means my dream has any validity at all, I also had a dream last week that Leonardo DiCaprio was bitten on the shoulder by a chimpanzee. 🤷‍♀️ Thanks for sharing your knowledge, I could listen to you read poems for hours...

Awaiting my copies of your books, "The Poetic Edda" and "The Sagas..." Looking forward to your "Prose Edda" translation. Thank you for these videos!

We're choosing a name for our newly adopted dog. Freya came to mind as something that "sounds nice and has mythological significance." And here I am, down the rabbit hole. Thank you for the education! I know nothing about Norse mythology and am appreciating how complex following the historical evolution of storylines must be. And, having more context on the name origin of "Freya/Freyja/Freja" to see if it's appropriate to name our pet. She has drifted through many homes before ours with several different names, so I appreciate that parallel :)

Not really the main focus of the video, but an idea I had regarding Folkvangr: Freyja and Óðinn could be like team captains picking teams for the day's training/battles, like a game of basketball in middle-school, but probably more violent.

it would make more sense to me that as husband and wife tend to mirror one another's interests to a degree hence the attraction that Freya was Odin's wife each taking their own half of the battle slain and then she hosts at Valhall as would be her right as the wife of the man whose Hall is owned.

I’ve always been in the camp that they’re both one and the same. Your lecture here just solidifies that for me. Love your content!

I grew up on the island of Frei in Norway - which I'm guessing could have originally been named after Freyr. Anyway, this is not far from another island called Frøya which is the modern Norwegian name for Freyja.

Good way to start the day.

It could also be possible, from my limited understanding of general mythology, that since Freyja and Frigg are considered to be members of their respective clan/family of gods, that to differentiate their presence in the two families her name was split or she was given a new name. This would also explain odinn and odr as he would also become a member of both clans/families. This wouldn't be too dissimilar to how Kore the goddess of spring became known as Persephone, queen of the underworld, and would be referred to by either name depending on which role she was in at the time, though now we just know her as Persephone. This would also explain the presence of both Freyja and Frigg in stories like when Loki insults the gods, as Kore and Persephone are considered to be two separate beings.

I have long held they are the same goddess (or possibly different aspects), thank you for an enlightening presentation.

Looks like frjá would be the origin of the Faroese verb "at fríggja", which can mean anything from "to make out" to "to make love" or even "to f*ck". Very context based but not usually seen as a swear word. But yes, that also has to do with the name of the day: the issue being that in the name of the day, the vowel is long í as opposed to Frigg which has a short vowel. Another example which points rather to fríggja- coming frjá, is that we see this sound change in another word: the word fé has the genitive form fjár, in Faroese these are fæ and fíggjar (this latter been spun off as a prefix meaning financial, so fíggjarlóg (finance law) means budget). But this sound change isn't consistent either since the adjective frjáls becomes frælsur in Faroese. - And as a native speaker, I would love your 40 minute lesson to see your take on Faroese. :)

This was a pleasure to watch. One of your best ever. It was a delight to do through these hypotheses that may never be settled while being comforted by clear warnings about the lack of data and the high uncertainty of findings, without discounting the wonder of speculation.

Watching for the insights and the funny moments when your hat nearly flies away

What a beautiful place in the background absolutely stunning

I have a personal theory that Freyja, who came to Asgard as a Vanir hostage, then marries Odin to cement the alliance of Aesir and Vanir, and Frigg is her married name. Was just a thought I had, but could explain the process of the development of the understanding of her as two separate goddesses

At 22:47 -- yes. "Friday" in Romanian (a Romance language) is "Vineri," etymologically related to "Veneris dies," the day of the goddess Venus.

Thank you for this. I have tried to do research on these two goddesses. But thankfully you already did that and indeed it seems they were one, then split.

Thanks Dr. Crawford, a detailed analysis that seems to throw a revealing light also on the complexity of Norse way of seeing gender roles through mythology. It's really fascinating observing how, for a hyper-masculine society, the attributions of these figures are quite articulate. Well, "Indiana Jones lifestyle" is sure dreamt by many, but I have to say that academic life is not that bad when takes place in locations that are impressive like your Colorado.

*Jackson Crawford and the Quest to Stop the Nazis From Stealing Mjolnir*

Coming along years later, I have a question, should you ever see it. I find your argument about the splitting of Frigg/Freya to be convincing, and it certainly answers a lot of questions I had about the goddesses of Norse mythology. My question is, how much consensus is there in your discipline on this topic? You mention disagreeing with people on this topic, and I guess I'm curious about how many people (of appropriate credentials/understanding of the topic) are you disagreeing with? While I'm posting, let me also say that I have been really enjoying your videos since I discovered them. I hope for the sake of students in formal/credentialed instruction that you find a way back to their classroom. As someone who just likes to see good information spread, I hope that you continue to share your knowledge in this public forum as well. Great job!

Thank you so much for your channel and knowledge! .. I’ve been so incredibly drawn to both Frigg and Freyja.. and your channel has helped me connect with my ancestral beliefs 🥰🙏🏻

Love your videos. Love your relaxed demeanor. Love your "Hwether" pronunciation. It seems a more original pronunciation with the hard H.

Yep. Just as confused as I was before. But also, learnt extra bits of information, thank you!

Thank you.

This is awesome! My most recent Deity Discussion video was on Frigg. Really love the exceptional detail put in here, as usual!

I partially blame modern media for some of the confusion I have between the two. Especially in cases where "Frigg" is written out of stories or settings involving the Norse Pantheon and Freyja's character gets Frigg's stories along with her own.

Thank you Mr. Crawford, I greatly appreciate your knowledge of the old Norse lore.

Great food for thought. You have so much solid knowledge and I love the analogy between the old history and a shipwreck. I'm really glad you're an every day scholar and not out there swinging a whip 'killing communists'. Don't think you're suited for that, dusty scrolls fits you better. Cheers from Norway

I have been wondering if Friday was Frejas day, Friggs day or Frejs day... But if Frej and Freja are lord and lady of love, then Friday being loves day is simply the day of the love twins?

Thank you Dr Crawford. Just got into Norse Mythology & the Runes. Looking forward to viewing your other videos.

In the recent God of War game, Mimir claims that Odin refers to Freyja as Frigg because Frigg means Beloved. Supposedly he does this to mask Freyja’s (a Vanir woman) accomplishments as those of an Aesir woman.

I'm not a scholar in your dept., but I've always believed them to be the same goddess. Perhaps, Freya, as a goddess of "love and beauty," might have represented the younger Frigg (perhaps the matron phase of Freya), with a more "stable" Odhr or Odinn, but the shipwreck still remains, and who knows if we'll ever know for sure.

As always, great video! Loved your approach to this topic.

Love your videos! Thank you so much💙

Excellent! Will use this in my Norwegian-class and History-class (how to work with sources). Greetings from Norway! I am the author of Sylvskipi btw.

Professor Crawford, Jacob Grimm identified Svipdag from the eddaic poems Fjölsvinnsmál and Grógaldr as Freya's husband, so did Viktor Rydberg. What do you think about their take on this? And another great video as usual. Cheers from Brazil.

Thanks for the music. It reminded me of Firefly. Great lecture by the way.

Howdy from Wisconsin! It’s marvelous to see how your channel has evolved, Dr. Crawford (although I confess some nostalgia for the original whiteboard lectures). Your video mentions similarities between Norse, Proto Germanic, and Sanskrit. It got me thinking: weren’t all of these people originally descended from the Proto-Indo-Europeans? It makes sense that they would influence the evolution of language and spirituality- as the origin point of so many diverse cultural groups. Would it be fair to say that the words Frijjo/Frigg/Priyya are cognates? They are, to my ear, almost mutually intelligible. Furthermore, as language and culture are forever interwoven, I would be even more interested to hear your thoughts on the Aesir-Asura correspondence! Either way- THANK YOU for continuing to produce such thought provoking content. Looking forward to the next time I can sit down and noodle to one of your videos :)

A great video as always. Thanks for your effort and great work, it's awesome to have such a detailed and precise source such as you, it really motivates me to study even further! All the best to you

I've read some sources that states that Frigg is Njord's sister, and the aunt of Freya and Frey.

Your videos are the best. Thank you for them. But some times, like in this video, the sound is a bit low.

Thanks for giving me the logistic evidence that supports my own interpretation of the ancient lore. I also use Óđin's reaction to Freyja's acquisition of the Brisingamen to be rather indicative of their relationship. However, I do know a dedicant of the Vanir who maintains that these goddesses are unique individuals. Perhaps over the years since the linguistic split, the spiritual energy of worshipers has given these names their own agency.

This is awesome! Just found your channel and this was such a good lesson.

Got them books, will read in few weeks on my 14h flight.

Omg just reading your translation of the poetic edda!! So awesome:)

Wassail! Thank you Prof - your work is invaluable to us who are attempting to reconstruct and reinvent the spiritual traditions of our ancestors. Just downloaded your Havamal... And I can't WAIT to begin - my holiday reading here in Summery South Africa! :)

Oh, wow, that shipwreck metaphor makes a lot of sense.

I’m currently on the stance that Frigg/Freya are the same goddess under different names.

I love your videos I use them to help teach my children and other norse pagans that come to me for guidance

Very interesting. Thank you for sharing this with us. Lead here through a series of Synchronicities. From Colorado myself 😁

What is known about the afterlife of those chosen by Freyja?

Kudos, this was very enlightening.

I love the pronunciation in this video!

Very informative and helpful. Thanks

Thank you for all that you do!

Wow I love how you explain this. Thank you.

I would recommend reading the History of the Lombards ( There are both Icelandic, Norwegian, Danish and Swedish translations of the book). There is an important part in the history of the Lombards which shows an important, if not, pivotal role of Women and Goddess.

Jackson Crawford- love the talks. Connecting my son to his Norwegian past through some of your work. Thank you. Curious- I grew up in England and the term ‘frig’ or ‘to frig’ does indeed mean lady love but more lady self-love. Might there be some connection? Is there a similar linking say in the Hebredeas or Scandinavia as well? If overt connections to the goddess is there in in Friday, then perhaps ‘to frig’ is a left over ribald humor or just understanding of the human act with the goddess? It is natural that when many stories fade what leaves understanding last is something connected to sex.

I personally think Frigg and Freya were originally the same, and that Frigg's kinda... second name - (Like Odin & Allfather is the same. Or the other way around).

Much more interesting could be the association with Freyr and the Njörd-Nerthus family. Since the evidence seems to indicate that the these gods were exclusively worshipped in the north, Scandinavia, Northern Germany and England, the merging of Odin's wife with Nerthus-Njörds daughter could have been one major factor in the split into two goddesses in this region. And indeed Freyja shares characteristics with both Odin and Freyr.

Yay now I'm even more co fused :D

Great video. I see a lot of this same kind of confusion even worse with the Morrigú And her various and many at least 9 component goddesses. I truly wish to be someone out there, and I don't mean to be Brown nosing, with your level of communication skills and expertise working on the insular Celtic material.

Perfect time of year for this video xP

Dude, the only thing I find more frustrating than the incomplete archive of Norse mythology is a pair of working gloves in which the stitching at the ends of the fingers fall apart after 2 days. Those gloves are ballers. BRAND? LINK?

Very informative, thank you.

God of War addresses this issue in a really interesting way. In the game, Freya and Frigg were the same person, but Frigg was a “pet name” Odin called Freya. Eventually, as things turned sour between them, Odin began attributing anything worthy Freya accomplished to Frigg, so people began thinking Frigg was a different person

My personal opinion is that the different names is a sign of initiation. People's mind's often change so much after initiation that they essentially becomes different people. Think of a woman before and after childbirth or the man before and after battle or any ordeal really. Freyja became Frigg after her and Odin (Odin the Seeker and Frigg the mystery) make their son Baldr. Essentially showing that once the seeker and the mystery finally are able to really get together they not only change themselves but create something new...Enlightenment (Balur).

I have a theory that Freyjas association with war is just Romans or Greeks misinterpreting Freyja as Minerva/Athena, would I be wrong to say that? Cuz I also understand that Freyja is associated with the Valkyrie

I'm not convinced they were ever the same goddess originally. Their names ARE etymologically completely different. However, given the closeness of the names i think its very possible, even somewhat likely, that the two goddesses were often confused and conflated wherever the name Freyja overtook her possible other name, whatever that may have been.

So if Freya is equated to Frigga, then her marriage to Odin makes Freyr a brother-in-law to the Allfather?

thank yew jackson. enjoyed

So, I know you said you didn't wanna have that 40 minute conversation on Faroese pronunciations... but, can you, at some point maybe? Edit: I don't know why I forgot to say this! I love your work, thanks so much Dr. Crawford.

In Dutch the wordt for friday is vrijdag. The word we have in Dutch for making love is vrijen. In folklore we call the white berries of the misseltoe freya's tears, I guess it's related to the death of Baldr. I heard Freya is related to the Linden tree, do you have more info on that?

With the notion that folkvangr is valhol, it makes me wonder if freya “choosing the seats” and each getting half means she’s the one who basically decides which are hers and which are his by where they sit. I also wonder if “choosing” the dead refers to after they’re already dead or before,.

For someone who doesn't speak French, your pronunciation of "Vendredi" was pretty damn close. You accented the last syllable, which is a common misconception among English speakers as to how French applies stress. It's sentence-level, not lexical. But still, your articulations of the sounds (the nasalized vowel in the first syllable only finalizing just as the "d" in the second syllable starts (which is largely unavoidable since they share the same place of articulation), for example) were spot on. Bien fait, mon ami!

is that your dueling pose in the thumbnail or what? looks like you're about to draw on someone

The way I interpret it , is as a polygynous relationship. Freya was for "business",namely to seal the peace between the Aesir and Vanir. Doesn't mean there wasn't some spark of interest,simply means it was an arrangement. Helps to explain their separate halls receiving the slain. Frigg would be for love (with occasional women,such as Jord and Skadi). The arranged marriage would also mirror what happened between kings and queens of different lands.

Peter Madsen's (Danish cartoonist that did the Valhalla comics) take on the Frigg, Freyja and Óðin, Óðr confusion is pretty funny.

Where in the sagas is it mentioned about Frigg being associated with weaving? Does anyone have leads?

"Colorado Crawford and the Bókmenntasetur of Hörmungar" ..when will it be on the History Channel? Aloha Doc, a me nā mahalo nui īa ʻoe! :) 🤙

Great, now I want that forty-minute Faroese lesson.

I swear this guy is Odin teaching me through a glass screen

As Hellenistic Pagans (Greek) believe that the three goddesses Selene, Artemis, and Hecate resemble phases of the Moon and the stages of a woman's life as Maiden, Mother, Crone. They hold different facets of the mythology with some aligning properties as they are all patrons of the moon. But where their myths tell, they are never in the same story and do not have similar personalities or temperaments, yet exist simultaneously. Freyja, often attributed to the representation of young womanhood, is of the Vanir. A tribe of gods from another realm in/on Yggdrasil than the gods of Asgard. Frigg, attributed to mothers and marriage, is assumed to be of the Asgardian tribe by the mystery of her origin and marriage to Odinn. Seeing how they exist simultaneously is many sagas and the Eddas themselves, many Norse Pagans hold the belief that the two are separate yet similar goddesses who are seeming with a kinship as they have similar roles within their cultures. That is to say, that Ođr could be the Vanir counterpart of Odinn with less notoriety in his role. That said, I'm no expert, Dr. Crawford definitely knows more of the real world side of this. I'm just like many Norse Pagans trying to put the pieces of Dr. Crawford's titled "shipwreck" together. The spirituality and archaeology definitely could fit together and possibly give the full narrative of the history and stories that both parties crave.

OK, so this is probably one of the most badass men in all of existence

I don't find the days of week argument at all convincing. By that same logic, people of that time felt Jupiter, leader of gods, was more equivalent to Thor than Odin, and that Odin was more like Mercury, the trickster, than Loki. Could we not equally hypothesize that Freya and Frigga were originally two very distinct goddesses who became less distinct / confused with one another as the stories became retold by non-believers? I'm thinking of modern retellings where writers combine women from old stories into single characters to reduce the number of females.

“Fie on you”. My saxon neighbour always goes ‘foi foi foi’… Oh I just realized it’s like Dutch ‘foei’.

Freyja is my future daughters name. Now I just need to find a future husband to fulfill this prophecy 😬

Hi Jackson. Can you help me where is the best place to learn old norse? I live in Denmark and dont have the possability to come to your place. But do you have some kind of online schooling?