Frigg - The Goddess Queen

Frigg was the wife of Odin. She was the queen of Asgard.

She is also known as Frigga.

Frigg was the goddess of marriage and fertility.
She was as a goddess exceptionally important to married women.

Frigg knew everything, but revealed little.

Her name means the “beloved one”.

Frigg has given her name to Friday.

The Vikings called Venus "Frigg's Star".

Fensalir

The home of Frigg was named Fensalir. The name means “marsh hall”.  Viking women often worshiped Frigg close to the wet marsh lands.  

Frigg had many maids. She was especially attached to her maid named Fulla.
Fulla knew all the secrets of Frigg, because Frigg confided everything to her.

She also was the guardian of boxes and shoes belonging to Frigg.

Fulla could be recognized by her long beautiful hair which flowed freely and she wore a gold headband.

Balder and Hod

Frigg and Odin were the parents of Balder and Hod. It seems Frigg loved Balder more than anyone. Hod was blind and not as close to his mother as Balder was.

Balder was described as a very good looking man. He was extremely kind. The home of Balder was named Breidablik.
 
Nothing bad could ever happen in Breidablik. Delling, the god of Dawn, guarded this flawless home.

Balder was married to Nanna. She loved her husband dearly. Nanna was considered to be the most faithful wife of all.

Nanna and Balder had a son named Forseti.  

Forseti was the god of justice.

Forseti lived in a house named Glitnir. The name means shining, it had gold pillars and a roof made of pure silver.

Court could be held at Glitnir where Forseti ruled.

Frigg was terrified that something bad would happen to Balder. Thus she made all living thing promise never to hurt Balder in any way or form.

The only living species not to have made this promise was the mistletoe. Frigg had not bothered to ask the mistletoe because she did not consider that plant to be a threat. It seemed so small and innocent.

 
The Death of Balder - Son of Frigg

Loki, the despiteful god, overheard Frigg speaking of the mistletoe. He immediately went to fetch the plant and made an arrow from the mistletoe.

Meanwhile all the gods were playing a game of shooting arrows at Balder. They all thought this was hilarious. No matter how many times Balder was shot, he never got hurt.

The only one who was not participating in the game was Hod. Hod was blind.

Loki went over to Hod and asked him why he did not join in the game. Hod naturally replied the obvious reason, reminding Loki that he was blind.

Loki offered to help Hod. He gave Hod the arrow he had made from the mistletoe and then he held his arms to show him where to aim.


The arrow hit his brother in the heart. Balder fell dead to the ground.

Frigg mourning the death of her beloved son

Frigg was devastated.
She would from that day on cry tears of gold, mourning the death of her beloved son.

Nanna died of a broken heart.

Odin is also filled with grief.
He places his precious gold ring named Draupnir in the boat where the bodies of Nanna and Balder lay. This is the ring that reproduces eight new rings every ninth day.

Odin whispers to his son Balder and takes farewell.
 
They set the boat on fire and bid their farewells. Balder and Nanna were sent on their way to Hel. Hel was the ruler of the Underworld.

All the gods and goddesses of Asgard mourn the death of Nanna and Balder. Frigg wants nothing more than to get her beloved son back. Odin and Frigg knew they had to try to bring Balder back to life.

Hermod Rides to the Underworld: Hel

They turn to Hermod for help. He is the brave messenger god and son of Odin. Hermod is asked if he would make an attempt to visit Hel in the Underworld and ask that Balder be returned to Asgard.

Hermod agrees to take on this mission. Odin lets him borrow Sleipnir. Sleipnir is the eight-legged horse. Hermod rides for nine days before he reached the gates of Hel’s world of the dead. With mighty force the horse jumps over the gates.

Once inside he finds Hel, the ruler of the dead. He also meets with Balder and Nanna. Hermod begs Hel to let them return to the living. Hel finally agrees with one condition.

Every living being must cry for Balder.

Hermod agrees to these terms. Before he leaves, Balder gave him Draupnir and requests Hermod to return the gold ring to Odin.
 
Nanna gave him some beautiful linen and asks if he would give the linen to Frigg. She also gave him some finger rings to give to Fulla.

Taking the gifts with him, Hermod returns to Asgard with the news.

In every corner, every living being is now crying for Balder. They all have hopes of his safe return to the land of the living.

That is everyone except one old woman named Thokk.
 

When Hermod asks her to cry for Balder, she simply replied that whoever belongs to Hel is hers to keep. As it turned out the old woman who had refused to shed tears for Balder, was Loki in disguise.

As a result Nanna and Balder had to stay in the Underworld.

Frigg continued to cry tears of gold.