Frey's Sword and Odin's Meadby Lyfing

Seeing as to how my last post was mostly about Skirnismal and Frey I would like to go on about Frey a little bit...

Lokaseena 42 says..

Loki said:“With gold thou boughtest Gymir's daughter,and sold the thurs thy sword;but when Muspell's sons through Myrkvith ridewhat weapon, wretch, wilt then wield?”

Hollander translation

Loki is talking about Ragnarok there, of course.

..but Skirnismal 24 says..

(Gerth said:)“Nor gold nor sword will gain it over meany wight's will to do;if Gymir, my father, did find thee here,fearless warrior, ye would fight to the death..”

Hollander translation

Nevertheless, for the sake of the following line of reasoning we will proceed as if he did give up this sword which at Ragnarok will be the death of him..

Now, Rydberg has sought to show that Gullveig-Heid, Aurboda, Angrboda, and Hyrrokin are the same, and that she is the mother of Gerd. Also, that the war between the Aesir and Vanir was caused by Frey demanding satisfaction for the murder of his mother-in-law. And, further, of greatest interest to the focus of this writing is that where the sword is hidden is the same as where Odin stole the prescious mead.

This can all be read in Teutonic Mythology 35.Gullveig-Heidr. Her Identity with Aurboda, Angrboda, Hyrrokin. The Myth concerning the Sword Guardian and Fjalar.

I will go ahead and outline basically what he was trying to say. As you may know he just presents one with poetry in Old Norse..so here it is in English..

To show that Aurboda is Gerd's mother Rydberg brings to attention Hyndluljod 30 ( or in my translation Voluspa hin skamma 3 )..

Frey wedded Gerth, who was Gymir's daughter,of etin-kin, with Aurbotha.Thewful Thjatsi to them was kin,

the skuling thurs; was Skathi his daughter.

Hollander translation

To identify Gullveig-Heid with Angrboda he brings up Hyndluljod 40-41 ( which in my translation is Voluspa hin skamma 13-14 )..

Gat Loki the Wolf with Angrbotha,and Sleipnir he bore to Swathilfari,but of all ill wights most awful by far is Byleist's brother's baleful offsping.

A half-burnt heart which he had found--it was a woman's-- ate wanton Loki:with child he grew from the guileful woman.Thence on earth all ogres sprung.

Hollander translation

He has it figured the half-burnt heart must be Gullveig's..

To equate Aurboda with Angrboda he cites Skirnismal 11..

“Say thou, shepherd, sitting on hill,who dost watch all ways:how win I the welcome of the winsome maidthrough the grim hounds of Gymir”

Hollander translation

..and Voluspa 44. In my translation it is 41, but I think 39-41 gives a clearer picture..

In the east sat the old one* in the Iron-Woods,bred there the bad brood of Fenrir,will one of these, worse than they all,the sun swallow, in seeming a wolf.

He feeds on the flesh of fallen men,with their blood sullies the seats of the gods:will grow swart the sunshine in summers thereafter,the weather, woe-bringing: do ye wit more, or how?

His harp striking, on hill there satgladsome Eggther, he who guards the ogress:o'er him gaily in the gallows treecrowed the fair red cock which is Fjalar hight.

*Probably the giantess Angrbotha, about whom see note 54.Note 54. Or Fenris-Wolf, a mythical wolf engendered by Loki with the giantess Angrbotha (translator's

note)

Hollander translation

Rydberg is known for stretching it a bit, and one would do well to read the aforementioned chapter, but if Aurboda has the sword and so does Angrboda, with Eggther meaning “sword-guardian”, then it is at least worth a thought..

So, where is the sword hidden and where did Odin steal the mead from..??

..enter Fjalar..

To quote Rydberg..

“What the heathen records tell us about Fjalar is the following..

(b) He is the same giant as the one called Suttung. The giant from whomOdin robs the skaldic mead, and whose devoted daughter Gunlad he causes bittersorrow, is called in Havamál sometimes Fjalar and sometimes Suttung (cp. 13, 14,104, 105).”

The heron of heedlessness hovers o'er the feast,and stealeth the minds of men.With that fowl's feathers fettered I waswhen I was Gunnloth's guest.

Drunk I became, dead drunk, forsooth,when I was with wise Fjalar,*that bout is best from which back fetcheseach man his mind full clear.

*Identical with Suttung (translator's note)

Havamal 13-14, Hollander translation

The old etin I sought-- now am I back;in good stead stood me my speech;for with many words my wish I wroughtin the hall of Suttungs' sons.

With an auger I there ate my way,through the rocks I made me room!Over and under were the etins' paths;thus dared I life and limbs.

Gunnloth gave me, her gold stool upon,a drought of the dear-bought mead;an ill reward I her after leftfor her faithful friendship

for her heavy heart.

Havamal 104-106, Hollander translation

..”(c) Fjalar is the son of the chief of the fire-giants, Surtr, and dwells in thesubterranean dales of the latter. A full account of this in No. 89. Here it will sufficeto point out that when Odin flies out of Fjalar’s dwelling with the skaldic mead, itis “from Surt’s deep dales” that he “flying bears” the precious drink (hinn er Surtsor sökkdölum farmagnudr fljúgandi bar, a strophe by Eyvind, quoted in theYounger Edda, p. 242), and that this drink while it remained with Fjalar was “thedrink of Surt’s race” (Sylgr Surts ættar, Fornms., iii. 3).”

Thus sang Eyvindr:

The mead which forthFrom Surtr's sunk dalesThe Strong-through-spellsSwift-flying bore.

Skáldskaparmál IX. Óðinsheiti ok Óðinskenningar

And, who comes swinging the sword at the time of doom for the gods..

Comes Surt from the South with the singer-of-twigs,the war god's sword like a sun doth shine;the tall hills totter, and trolls stagger,men fare to Hel, the Heaven rive.

Another woe awaiteth Hlin,when forth goes Othin to fight the Wolf,and the slayer of Beli* to battle with Surt:then Frigg's husband will fall lifeless.

*According to “Gylfaginning,” Chapter 36, the giant Beli's slayer is Frey. ( translator's note )

Voluspa 51-52 Hollander translation

So, the focus of this writing began with just what the Valknut may have been seen as, but it now just seems to be part of a pretty big picture of symbols. Now that, considering Skirnismal, it sure seems like it has to do with something of a “ring of flickering flame” over which a rider jumps to get the mead from a maiden, whatever could it mean if Frey traded his sword for a drought of that mead which in the end will be his doom..?? We know the Valknut is “the knot of the chosen slain” and that the Valkyries come and take those worthy to Valhalla to feast with Valfather and serve them mead as they prepare to accompany the Gods in the war with the Wolf. Interesting it is that Frey's mead cost him his life..?? Interesting it is how Valfather hung on the wind-swept tree..?? Interesting it is that Frey's sword is hidden until Ragnarok in the same place Odin drank his drought..?? Interesting it is that it is Surt who wields it, and interesting it is that Odin stole “the drink of Surt's race”..??