Freya And Her Lovely Husband Odr, God Of Summer Sun And Passion In Norse Mythology

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Freya married Odr (Odur), a symbol of the summer sun and a symbol of passion. She loved Odr very much, and the couple had two daughters, Hnoss and Gersemi.

These maidens (whose names meant "jewel") were so beautiful that all things lovely and precious were called by their names.

The god Odur leaves Freya. (1882), Carl Emil Doepler 'The Elder' via Wikipedia 

While Odr remained happily at her side, Freya was smiling and joyful, but it was not for long. Her marriage with Odr was not without its problems.

She often wondered: Was he wearing her company, or was it something else?

Did he know that Freya betrayed him by spending four days and nights with the dwarves to get the Brisingamen Necklace?

Both Odin And Loki Knew About Freya’s Betrayal Of Odr

Freya was not entirely alone with the dwarves. Outside, there was Loki, the god, and trickster, who saw what she had done. Loki knew she betrayed her lovely husband Odr.

While the goddess was on her way home to Asgard, with the necklace fastened around her neck, Loki returned faster and went straight to Odin to tell him of Freya's betrayal. Odin informed her husband Odr, who did not want to believe it.

“I’ll only believe this lie if Loki can bring me the necklace to examine for myself,” Odr said.

"Get that necklace for me," ordered Odin. He was angry and sad, and his one eye was burning. "Until you get it, let me never see your face again," he said to Loki.

They decided that the shameful necklace would be brought before the nighttime.

Stealing Of The Brisingamen Necklace

It was not easy to get inside Freya’s great hall Sessrumnir (Room of Seats), so Loki had to change himself into a fly. After making sure that Freya's daughters and serving maids were asleep, he flew to Freya's bedside, but the sleeping goddess was wearing the necklace, and its clasp lay under her neck; it was out of sight and, out of reach.

So Loki – the shapeshifter - changed his shape again, this time becoming a flea. He stung Freya’s cheek, so the sleeping goddess immediately turned onto her side. The necklace's clasp was visible, so Loki released the hold and smoothly drew the chain from Freyja's neck.

He left the hall and made sure that no one saw him.

Morning came, and Freya noticed her Brisingamen necklace was gone, and so was her lovely husband Odr.

Crying, she sent a servant to bring Odr to her so she could confess her wrongs and beg his forgiveness. It was too late, Odr had left Asgard.

Most unhappy, she went to Odin.

“I’m so sorry for my actions. You must tell me where Odr is so I can go find him and beg his forgiveness.” Odin shook his head and told her what Odr had said to him before he left.

“He has decided to leave Asgard and wander throughout Midgard. I don’t have the power to stop or call him back,” Odin said.

Freya answered through her tears, “Then I’ll follow after him, and I won’t rest or be happy until I’ve found him and begged his forgiveness.”

“As you wish,” Odin said. All in Asgard will grant you forgiveness for the foolishness you have placed in a silly golden chain.

He added: “So you’ll never forget your shame it will be your punishment to wear Brisingamen, and never remove it until you have found Odr and received his forgiveness.”

He gave her the necklace, and she fastened it around her neck.

Freya Tries To Find Her Husband Odr

Back in her hall, she began to make all necessary preparations to leave Asgard.  It was no time to lament the absence of Odr but to begin her search for him.

Freya Seeking her Husband (1852) by Nils Blommér. Credit: Nationalmuseum.se

She had to conceal herself under many names while searching for Odr. She was absent from Asgard for a long time, especially her brother Freyr blamed Odin for sending her out. Odin could recall Freya, but he did not want to do it. He had his reasons.

Through Freya and her painful experiences, Odin wanted to teach the people of Midgard all the mysterious ways of love, passion, happiness, and pain.

Eventually, she reached the sunny and warm part of the world and found Odr resting under the flowering evergreen and flowering myrtle trees known to have an attractive, pleasant smell. Did the flowering myrtle's friendly atmosphere help Freya regain Odr and his love for her? His love to Freya was restored and she was happy again.

Perhaps, therefore, Northern brides, at present as in the distant past, wear myrtle in preference to the traditional orange wreath popular in other parts of the world.

Together again, Freya and her husband Odr returned home to continue their lives in happiness and to see Mother Nature happy with them.

Updated on July 17, 2022

 Written by – A. Sutherland  - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

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