Themes in Old Norse Mythological Art
The Fair Face of Freyr

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Adam of Bremen, Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum  IV, 26:   "Now we shall say a few words about the superstitions of the Swedes. That folk has a very famous temple called Uppsala, situated not far from the city of Sigtuna and Björkö. In this temple, entirely decked out in gold, the people worship the statues of three gods in such wise that the mightiest of them, Thor, occupies a throne in the middle of the chamber; Wotan and Frikko have places on either side. The significance of these gods is as follows: Thor, they say, presides over the air, which governs the thunder and lightning, the winds and rains, fair weather and crops. The other, Wotan -that is, the Furious--carries on war and imparts to man strength against his enemies. The third is Frikko, who bestows peace and pleasure on mortals. His likeness, too, they fashion with an immense phallus."    

Freyr Idol
Broddenbjerg, Jutland (535-520 BC)

Freyr

Rällinge, Sweden
Snorri's Edda, Gylfaginning 24: "Njördr in Nóatún begot afterward two children: the son was called Freyr, and the daughter Freyja; they were fair of face and mighty. Freyr is the most renowned of the Æsir; he rules over the rain and the shining of the sun, and therewithal the fruit of the earth; and it is good to call on him for fruitful seasons and peace. He governs also the prosperity of men."

Odin, Thor and Freyr
Skog Church Tapesty 12th Century
 


Freyr (center)
1555 Olaus Magnus

  


1680 Edda Oblongata
 


1691 Trogillus Arnkiel
(After Olaus Magnus)
  


Freyr (top right)
1810 Di Dei Della Mitologia Norrena


Freyr (center right)
1822 N. H. Sjöberg


1831 Amelia Schoppe
 



1845 Lorenz Frølich/ Th. Lundbye
 


The Gods of Uppsala: Freyr, Odin and Thor
1848 Wilhelm Kaulbach




1852 Robert Müller
Neues Museum, Berlin

 

Freyr (far left), The Edda Frieze
1856 William Engelhardt
 

 

Freyr
1865 Ludwig Pietsch 

 


Froh
1876 Carl Emil Doepler, Sr.





Freyr and Skirnir
1876 Carl Emil Doepler, Sr.







Freyr, Stained Glass Design
1881 Sir Edward Cooley Burne-Jones



Freyr faces Surt
1882


Surtr and Freyr
1885 Lorenz Frølich
 


Freyr exchanges his sword for Gerd
1885 Lorenz Frølich


Freyr and Gerd
1885 Lorenz Frølich

 


1884 Johannes Gehrts

  

1900 Sarah Bradish
(After Gehrts)



1901 Alexander Zick
 

Freyr Sits in Odin's Seat
1903 E. E. Speight

 


Freyr and Odin
1903 Gustav Dore


1905 Carl Emil Doepler, Jr.
 


Freyr
1908 A.V.
Author: Katarina Dahlström


Freyr Sitting on Odin's Seat
1909 Maria Klugh


Skidbladnir



Freyr receives Gullinbursti
1920 Donn T. Crane




Freyr and Freyja
1920 Donn T. Crane





Freyr and his Chariot
1930 Charles E. Brock


Freyr and the Elves

 

Freyr and his sister Freyja
1930 Charles E. Brock



Freyr on Hlidskjalf
1930 Katherine Pyle



Freyr sees Gerd
1968 Edgar D'Aulaire
    
  

Freyr
1978 Giovanni Casselli
   



Freyr
2012 Erik Evensen


2014 Howard David Johnson
DavidHowardJohnson.com


2014 Howard David Johnson
HowardDavidJohnson.com

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