Freyr

Freyr was lord of Álfheimr, the world of the elves, given to him as a teething gift. Snorri says he “rules over the rain and the shining of the sun, and through them over the produce of the earth.” He was the son of Njord and the brother of Freyja, part of the Vanir delegation that came to live among the Æsir after the first war.

The Sword

Freyr fell in love with the giantess Gerðr after seeing her from Odin’s high seat. He sent his servant Skírnir to court her. Skírnir demanded the magical sword as payment for the errand. Freyr gave it up. The sword could fight on its own, a weapon of incomparable value. Gerðr accepted the courtship after Skírnir threatened her with a runic curse. Freyr gained a wife and lost the weapon he would need at the end of the world.

Uppsala

Adam of Bremen, writing around 1075, described the Temple of Uppsala in Sweden. Three idols stood inside: Thor in the center, Odin on one side, and “Fricco” (Freyr) on the other. Adam described Freyr’s image as having “an immense phallus.” Sacrifices were made to Freyr for marriage and fertility. The Ynglinga saga, written by Snorri, makes Freyr the ancestor of the Swedish royal dynasty. The kings of Sweden descended from the god of good harvests.

Ragnarök

At the final battle, Freyr will face Surtr, the fire giant who carries a flaming sword. Freyr will have no weapon. He will fight with a stag’s antler, or his bare hands, depending on the source. He will lose. The god who gave away his sword for love will die unarmed because of it.

Sources

Bibliography. The same list is held in the article’s frontmatter for the citation tools that read it programmatically.

• Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda / Gylfaginning (c. 1220)
• Skírnismál (Poetic Edda): Freyr’s courtship of Gerðr
• Adam of Bremen, Gesta Hammaburgensis (c. 1075): Freyr at the Temple of Uppsala
• Ynglinga saga: Freyr as ancestor of the Swedish Yngling dynasty