GEFJUN (GEFJON): GIVER OF GIFTS, FRIGGA HANDMAID

At her hall of Fensalir, Frigga, the Norse All-Mother, has twelve Handmaidens (Note 1) or ladies-in-waiting to attend to Her. Not much is known about who these Handmaidens were since the Lore is scanty about Norse Goddesses in general. Much of what is known today is by Group Verified Gnosis.

 

Gefjun (Gefjon) briefly:

As an Ancestor of the Kings of Norway and Denmark, Gefjon plowed Zealand into existence. Since She holds power the land and sea, Gefjon is the Giver of Gifts. In addition, all unmarried women go to her hall when they die.

 

In the Prose Edda, Snorri Sturluson writes, “Gefjun, who is a maid, and those who die maids become her hand-maidens.” Out of this Goddess’ many accomplishments, Snorri focuses on her care for maids (virgins), as the most important. Even though, Gefjun has four sons and is an Ancestor of the Kings of Denmark and Norway, She is considered to be a maid. This is because She is thought to be unmarried. But that is confusing since Snorri writes in the Ynglinga Saga that Gefjun married Skjold, Odin’s son and started the line of Danish Kings. Whether Gefjun is a maid or not highlights how complex this Goddess is. What is important is that She cares for the maids who come to her Hall.

 

The Sagas tell of the diverse attributes of Gefjun. In the Gylfaginning, the Goddess ploughs land into being. She is given the task by King Gylfi of Sweden to plough as much land as She could in one day and one night. Before Gefjun attempts that task, She has four sons with a Jotun. Then, She turns her sons into oxen, and ploughs Zealand from Sweden. (Zealand is now a part of Denmark.)

 

From the Gylfaginning:

“Gefjun dragged from Gylfi,

gladly the land beyond value.

Denmark’s increase,

steam rising from the swift-footed bulls.

The oxen bore eight

moons of the forehead and four heads,

hauling as they went in front of

the grassy isle’s wide fissure.”

 

In the Lokasenna, Loki bitterly rebukes the Gods for injustices done to Him. Gefjun tries to mediate between Him and the rest of Them. She counsels the other Gods,

“Why will ye, Æsir twain, here within,

strive with reproachful words?

Loki perceives not that he is deluded,

and is urged on by fate.”

 

Loki then interrupts Her with a rejoinder. He tells the sordid story of how Gefjun slept with a boy for jewelry. Shocked at Loki’s brashness, Odin scolds Him,

 

“Mad art thou, Loki, and little of wit,

The wrath of Gefjun to rouse;

For the fate that is set for all she sees.

Even as I, methinks.”

 

The All Father is warning Loki not to be so insane as to accuse Gefjun of anything. Odin explains that She knows the destinies of everyone as well as He does. Gefjun’s powers expand beyond being the Keeper of Maids and Creator of Land.

 

Finally, in the “Tale of the Penis,” the maid of the home swears by a penis of a stallion. A part of her oath is swearing by Gefjun. (This is in keeping with the Goddess watching over maids.) Gefjun is concerned with young women and their fertility. (Note 2) This Goddess seeks to husband that fertility in appropriate ways.

 

The Oath:

“I swear by Gefjun

and the other gods

that against my will

do I touch this red proboscis.

May giantesses

accept this holy object,

but now, slave of my parents,

grab hold of Völsi.”

 

A complex Goddess, Gefjun is independent in her actions, She may be an Handmaid of Frigga, but She has adventures elsewhere. This Goddess is concerned with the fertility of the land and young women. Moreover, her power encompasses the respect of Odin.

 

Notes:

Note 1. Saga (seer), Eir (healer), Gefjun (unmarried girls), Fulla (plenty), Sjofn (love), Lofn (forbidden love), Var (oaths), Vor (wisdom), Syn (truth), Hlin (protector), Snorta (diplomacy), Gna (travelers).

 

Note 2. The oath could be thought of as containing fertility.