Odin figurine from Lejre, re-identified?
A friend forwarded me the link to this post. Apparently, two months ago someone found a silver figurine of a person seated on a high seat surrounded by raven-and-wolf trappings and identified the piece as Odin…until someone else pointed out that the figure is wearing a dress and a necklace–in other words, obviously female. A new ID of Freyja has been suggested, though for the record, my vote is that it depicts Frigga instead. Grimnisal specifically states that She was the only one allowed to sit at Hlidsjalf besides Odin Himself–and if this is Her, how exciting, since there are so few images associated with Her, either ancient or modern.
(Yes, I know, in Skirnismal Freyr sits at Hlidskjalf–but He isn’t “officially” allowed to, even in the context of that lay, and positing Freyr would fly in the face of the conclusion that the figure is female. I know the theory that this is Odin-in-drag will have its proponents too, but I’m sorry, I refuse to believe that the definition of ergi is that stupidly simplistic. And Freyja is never mentioned, ever, as sitting in Odin’s high seat, which is what the raven-and-wolf trappings make pretty clear this is.)
Of course, it could just be depicting a regular human seidrhkona. In that case though, this is clearly an Odin’s seidhrkona…which is just as exciting, from my point of view.
November 15, 2009 at 2:26 pm
In my opinion we should let the female attire trump the ownership of the high seat, and interpret the figure as a goddess. Or we will end up in a situation where all human figures are men, dressed either in male or female attire.
Also, remember that the Medieval versions of the mythology are most likely just a sample of the innumerable versions floating around and constantly mutating during the period of oral tradition.
November 15, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I completely agree on it being a Goddess or female figure, not Odin in drag. I just think it’s more likely Frigga or a woman associated with Odin, than Freyja. And yes, good point about the different versions out there (most of which we haven’t discovered yet, and maybe never will.
Thank you for making the post.
November 15, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Heh, it’s definitely not Frey. All of the statues of Him depict, um… well… you know. :3 Let’s just say “He’s not female” and leave it at that.
I personally think it might be Freya (since She is associated with seidhr and is noted for having a necklace), with Frigga as a likely close second, but although the Odin-in-drag jokes were fun the first dozen times I really don’t think it’s Him.
In any case, I want one… lol…
November 15, 2009 at 8:47 pm
I don’t recall where at the moment, but I have seen the point made elsewhere that Freyja might not be the /only/ Goddess associated with necklaces, just as Frigga is not the /only Goddess associated with spinning. There are certain themes that seem to overlap a lot where the Northern Goddesses are concerned.
Regardless, definitely not Odin in drag, though I know there’s a contingent that will like that idea. And I want one too.
November 15, 2009 at 10:51 pm
True, and there’s the ravens and wolves which are explicitly connected with Odin, so it’s got to be a Goddess (or seidhrkona) directly connected with Him.
I readily admit being biased in Freya’s favor but I would also be thrilled if there was more imagery of Frigga who does not get enough love.
-Siggy
November 16, 2009 at 4:16 pm
[...] first it’s thought to be Odin… until someone noted that the figure is wearing a DRESS. Valgrind noticed that the only person allowed to sit in Odin’s high seat, Hildskjalf, is Frigga. [...]