Freya
Freyja (Frea, Frija, Freya, Foige) (the lady) In Norse mythology, the only named Vanir goddess; goddess of youth, beauty, and sexual love; sister of the god Frey; married to Odur. Friday was sacred to the goddess and named after her. In northern mythology Freyja and Frigga are often confused for the same deity. Freyja, in some accounts, was married to Odur, and their daughter was called Hnossa. But Odur left Freyja in order to travel around the world. Since that time Freyja continually weeps, and her tears are drops of gold.
Freyja, according to the Prose Edda, rides into battlefields asserting “her right to one-half of the slain, the other half belonging to Odin.” Her most famous possession is her necklace, Brising (necklace of the dwarfs?), given her by the dwarfs. One day while Freyja was in the underground kingdom of the dwarfs, she saw them fashion a necklace. She asked the dwarfs to give it to her. They refused at first, but eventually gave it to the goddess on condition she have sexual intercourse with them. Brising was later worn by the god Thor when he impersonated the goddess in order to trick the giants.
The necklace was once stolen by the evil god Loki but recovered by Heimdall. Freyja, according to the Prose Edda, lends a very favourable ear to those who sue to her for assistance: “She is very fond of love ditties, and all lovers would do well to invoke her.” Often in the myths Freyja is accused of having sexual intercourse with many men and gods. The goddess is called a “she goat” that leaps after goats. The giantess Hyndla taunts the goddess by saying that “many have stolen under thy girdle.”
Freyja’s home is in Folkvang (field of folks), in which her hall, Sessrumnir (love, which supports the idea of the Vanir as a fertility cult), is located. Each day she leaves her mansion in a chariot drawn by two cats. Freyja is also called Mardoll (shining over the sea), Horn, Gefn, Syr, and Vanadjs.
Source:
Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow-Copyright © 2009 by Anthony S. Mercatante