THE CHOOSER
OF THE
SLAIN
SLAIN
Freya,
although considered a fertility goddess, is not a goddess of rebirth;
Instead she is a goddess of war and thus considered a goddess of death.
Freya goes to battle with men. She is seen, not only as their equal,
but also as one of the greatest fighters in Norse Mythology.
To the left is an image of Freya (as Barbie!!) going to war with her battle
ax. War is something most fertility goddess
do not attempt. They usually represent the mother or the flighty mistress. In this respect, Freya can be compared to the Greek Athene.(However, Athene is a virgin
goddess and sex is one of Freya's favorite past-times!)
Freya not only assists men in battle, but she also assists their souls after death. She chooses half of the dead from the battle field to "serve" in her heavenly hall. Undoubtedly, she picks the bravest and the most desirable souls to serve her court. This duty has given Freya the title "Chooser of the Slain."
The Valkryie assist Freya in battle and in her gathering of men. The Valkryie were originally beautiful women with the wings (and possibly the feet) of birds. (See background images to left).
Freya herself had "wings," which are often referred to as a cloak of feathers, since she often loaned her wings to the trickster god Loki.
Freya rules as the queen of these bird women.The Norse did not see these women as evil or hideous creatures, however they were feared for their ferocious behavior in battle.
The Valkryie are identical to the Greek harpies. Below is a helmet from the 16th century depicting a harpy.
The use of this helmet shows how the Valkryies were respected & often revered by warriors, even centuries after the height of mythology.
In later times however, the Valkryie and the Harpies were seen as evil demons. A reason for this change in viewpoint, may be based in the rise of the patriarchy. However, there is no record of Freya, although a Valkryie herself, ever being considered an evil demon in Norse Mythology. Other cultures however, have taken her duties as a goddess of death & war, and her love of sexuality, to mean that she is representitive of the evils of women.
See how Freya is inaccurately depicted as Aphrodite
Freya goes to battle with men. She is seen, not only as their equal,
but also as one of the greatest fighters in Norse Mythology.
To the left is an image of Freya (as Barbie!!) going to war with her battle
ax. War is something most fertility goddess
do not attempt. They usually represent the mother or the flighty mistress. In this respect, Freya can be compared to the Greek Athene.(However, Athene is a virgin
goddess and sex is one of Freya's favorite past-times!) Freya not only assists men in battle, but she also assists their souls after death. She chooses half of the dead from the battle field to "serve" in her heavenly hall. Undoubtedly, she picks the bravest and the most desirable souls to serve her court. This duty has given Freya the title "Chooser of the Slain."
The Valkryie assist Freya in battle and in her gathering of men. The Valkryie were originally beautiful women with the wings (and possibly the feet) of birds. (See background images to left).
Freya herself had "wings," which are often referred to as a cloak of feathers, since she often loaned her wings to the trickster god Loki.
Freya rules as the queen of these bird women.The Norse did not see these women as evil or hideous creatures, however they were feared for their ferocious behavior in battle.
The Valkryie are identical to the Greek harpies. Below is a helmet from the 16th century depicting a harpy. The use of this helmet shows how the Valkryies were respected & often revered by warriors, even centuries after the height of mythology.
In later times however, the Valkryie and the Harpies were seen as evil demons. A reason for this change in viewpoint, may be based in the rise of the patriarchy. However, there is no record of Freya, although a Valkryie herself, ever being considered an evil demon in Norse Mythology. Other cultures however, have taken her duties as a goddess of death & war, and her love of sexuality, to mean that she is representitive of the evils of women.