Frey’s Courtship of Gerd

Author: Traditional Norse

Time Period: 1001 CE–1500 CE

Country or Culture: Norway; Western Europe

Genre: Legend

Overview

The legend of Frey’s courtship of Gerd first appears in the laySkírnismál, one of the oldest poems of the lays comprising the Elder Edda, also known as the Poetic Edda. The lyric poems in this collection of Old Norse lays, compiled and recorded in the thirteenth century but composed several centuries earlier, recount the stories of Norse gods and goddesses. The story of Frey’s and Gerd’s courtship is also preserved in the Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson, composed in thirteenth-century Iceland and drawing heavily from the Poetic Edda. Though the stories differ somewhat in construct, the major plot points are the same and weave a tale of love at first sight and courtship by proxy, as well as the sacrifices necessary in order to bring about an advantageous marriage.

Gerd said: “I never believed that I could be / so fond of Frey.”

Skirnir said: “I must not fail to find out one thing / before riding home from here: / how soon will you come to stay / with Njord’s strong son?”

Gerd said: “Both of us know a place called Barri, / peaceful and private; / let Njord’s son go there nine nights from now, / and Gerd will give him joy.”

Skírnismál

The narrative of Frey’s courtship of Gerd appears in the Poetic Edda lay entitled Skírnismál, which means “journey of Skírnir.” The story is a vibrant anecdote about the Norse deity Frey that reinforces some of his key attributes as a god of virility, sunshine, kingship, and fertility. Though Frey is not the most powerful or the best known of the Aesir (main pantheon of Norse gods), he remains one of the most popular—perhaps because he exhibits distinctly human characteristics such as pining for his love and pouting when he cannot have that which he desires. The tale also establishes the basis of his relationship with Gerd, a mortal woman.

The lay in which this tale is recorded has been attributed to helping establish a cult of Frey. Throughout the Middle Ages and onward, amulets of Frey have served as a powerful image of virility and fertility, and his image has appeared frequently in art and artifacts surviving since this period. Frey’s cult following persisted throughout the Middle Ages and has received renewed attention in recent decades among neopagans.

Though the poem itself offers little introduction to Frey—indeed, his vassal Skírnir does most of the talking and nearly all of the courting—the text of the narrative indicates that Frey’s reputation is far more vast that this short lay would suggest. That he receives so little introduction indicates that his character may have been so well known as to render unnecessary any significant introduction or character development within the lay itself. The brief but potent introduction to Frey is indicative of the sort of symbolism that colors this condensed narrative and provides such cultural relevance. The poem is only forty-five stanzas long but encompasses a wealth of images, emotions, and human characteristics. The lay lends itself well to an archetypal interpretation; readers may gain a deeper understanding of the narrative’s vividness by focusing on archetypes and symbols that have resonated with audiences throughout the centuries.

Summary

The story opens with a prose passage introducing Frey—he is the son of Njord, and from on high upon Hlidskjalf (Odin’s high throne), he surveys the world. From this vantage point, he spies a beautiful maiden, who is presumably the most beautiful woman in the world, given that Frey can see all before him. The maiden is of a noble family and is walking from one hall to another. Frey instantly falls in love with her.

Njord notices his son’s moodiness and calls Frey’s servant Skírnir to him, begging his assistance in courting this lovely maiden for Frey. Skírnir indicates that he is hesitant to speak with Frey, lest he arouse Frey’s ire. But, doing as he is bidden, Skírnir speaks with his master and flatters him to draw out a favorable response. Frey confesses to his sadness but does not readily admit to the cause. Again, Skírnir entreats him with flattery, and by reminding Frey of the bond of friendship they have shared since their childhoods, he is again able to draw a response from Frey. At last Frey hyperbolically confesses his love for this unknown maiden. His love, he tells Skírnir, is the greatest love there has ever been, and his maiden is the most beautiful. So great is his love that none of the Aesir (the Norse gods) or the elves want Frey to win her heart.

Skírnir, a man of action, comes up with a plan to bring this beautiful maiden to Frey. He tells Frey to lend him his horse and his sword so that he might reach this maiden. Frey repeats his words, telling him that he will give him the horse and the sword, but hinting that Skírnir might not be wise enough to wield the sword on his own. Undaunted, Skírnir rides Frey’s horse toward Jötunheim to face the giants among whom the maiden lives. Upon reaching Jötunheim, Skírnir finds savage dogs guarding a fence. He asks a nearby shepherd how to get past these dogs, but the shepherd simply mocks him and tells him that he will never be able to get to the daughter of Gymir. Skírnir declares that he will not be mocked as a coward and continues on his quest.

The maiden then makes her entrance into the story, and the reader learns that her name is Gerd. She is surprised by the racket outside her gate and learns from her handmaid that a man has come to see her. She extends her hospitality to him and welcomes him into her hall, though she suspects (but does not explain why) that this stranger will be her brother’s ruin. In her hall, Gerd questions Skírnir, trying to learn who he is, what his lineage might be, and how he has come to cross a ring of raging flames to reach her in her hall. Skírnir patiently explains that he is not an elf, nor of the Aesir, but that he has brought with him eleven golden apples with which to win her favor for Frey.

Apparently Gerd has heard of Frey before and is unimpressed—though whether the offer is too low or Frey’s reputation is too offensive, she does not say—and she vehemently refuses this offer. Skírnir entreats her again, this time with an offer of a magic ring that produces eight new rings each ninth night. But again Gerd refuses, casually mentioning that her father, Gymir, has wealth enough and she is not in need. Seeing that her love cannot be bought, Skírnir then changes tactic and shows off the sword he has brought from Frey, threatening to behead her with it if she does not agree. Still she refuses, saying that threat of pain will not make her change her mind.

So Skírnir changes tactic again, this time appealing to Gerd’s pride and vanity. Wielding the sword that will “fight by itself against any giant” (Terry st. 8), Skírnir tells Gerd that he will kill her father. An orphan, she will be forced to suffer anguish and torment such that she wishes she were in Hel (the nebulous Norse precursor to the later Christian hell). He then begins to hurl curses at her, telling her that she will be starved, cheerless, tormented, gaunt, pained, husbandless, and ultimately a shriveled old hag. To drive home his threats, he explains that he has found a wizard’s wand in the forest—presumably he will use this to bring these curses to fruition. He admonishes Gerd and tells her that Odin, Thor, and Frey all are angry with her and that she has awakened the gods’ wrath. Then he begins to call to the other giants, telling them that they are henceforth forbidden to marry this beautiful woman and that she shall have only the giant Hrimgrimnir for her husband in Hel, where she shall be compelled to drink goat urine for eternity.

Skírnir seems prepared to continue, but Gerd is finally swayed and stops him. Toasting his health with a cup of mead, she accedes and confesses her sudden and compelling fondness for Frey. Skírnir, satisfied, asks when she will come to stay with Frey. Gerd responds that both she and Frey know of a place called Barri, where they can meet nine nights later.

When Skírnir returns home, Frey has come outside to meet him. Such is his eagerness to learn of his maiden’s answer that he does not wait for Skírnir to get down from his horse before assaulting him with questions about the outcome of his visit. Skírnir responds in Gerd’s words, telling Frey that Gerd has agreed to meet him in Barri nine nights from then. Frey bemoans the waiting, saying that a single night is anguish, and two are longer still; he cannot think of waiting three nights—and there the story ends.

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