Freya and Frigga

[michel]

We have two distinct listings for the Asgardians Freya and Frigga, but aren't they the same character? The wiki thinks so, what do you think?

[StrayLamb]

In the Marvel Universe the two names do seem to be used interchangeably for the same character, namely the wife of Odin and step-mother of Thor, despite sometimes being drawn as a blonde and sometimes as a brunette. I guess goddesses can use hair dye, too.

An opportunity here to mention that Freya is listed as being in M/FAN 36. She's not, that's a priestess of Freya.

[michel]

OK, I'll see to merge the two listings. She's called Freyja Freyrdottir by Odin in MT2 4, so what about FREYJA/FREYJA FREYRDOTTIR/FREYA/FRIGGA ?

[Michael]

The problem with Freya and Frigga being the same character is that Thor 320-322 treats them as separate characters. The villain's plan involves tricking "the waterfall maiden Freya" into thinking that Odin is dead so he can steal her tears and meanwhile, Odin is worried about being seen as unfaithful to Frigga. (Although, admittedly, Frigga never actually appears.)

[michel]

The Freya in T 321-FB has nothing to do with Thor's step-mother, so I don't think it's a problem.

[loki]

There is a different Freya, though it's understandable why confusion arises. A few years back Marvel writers started referring to Frigga as Freya/Freyja, despite there being a goddess already called Freya. MSH2 15/3 has a story where the giant Thrym demand Freya as his bride. Freya objects, but on the grounds that she doesn't want to be bartered like a piece of property; if this Freya was Frigga under another name, you'd think she'd bring up that she's already married. Fandral says they should consider the demand; do we really think there are any circumstances he'd suggest considering trading Odin's wife to a giant?

So we've got Frigga, who sometimes calls herself Freya/Freyja, and we've got a separate Freya.

[Midnighter]

Ok, this clears the matter. Although I don't know if we should trust what loki says about Asgard...

[michel]

There is a different Freya, though it's understandable why confusion arises. A few years back Marvel writers started referring to Frigga as Freya/Freyja, despite there being a goddess already called Freya. MSH2 15/3 has a story where the giant Thrym demand Freya as his bride. Freya objects, but on the grounds that she doesn't want to be bartered like a piece of property; if this Freya was Frigga under another name, you'd think she'd bring up that she's already married. Fandral says they should consider the demand; do we really think there are any circumstances he'd suggest considering trading Odin's wife to a giant?

Actually, this tale is retold in MT 12.1, in which Volstagg says "Thrymr, king of frost, had ransom in mind. The hammer for the hand of Freyja, Thor's own mother."

So we've got Frigga, who sometimes calls herself Freya/Freyja, and we've got a separate Freya.

Yes, but that would be Freya, the waterfall maiden from T 321-FB.

[loki]

There is a different Freya, though it's understandable why confusion arises. A few years back Marvel writers started referring to Frigga as Freya/Freyja, despite there being a goddess already called Freya. MSH2 15/3 has a story where the giant Thrym demand Freya as his bride. Freya objects, but on the grounds that she doesn't want to be bartered like a piece of property; if this Freya was Frigga under another name, you'd think she'd bring up that she's already married. Fandral says they should consider the demand; do we really think there are any circumstances he'd suggest considering trading Odin's wife to a giant?

Actually, this tale is retold in MT 12.1, in which Volstagg says "Thrymr, king of frost, had ransom in mind. The hammer for the hand of Freyja, Thor's own mother."

Hmm. Having now checked both issues I guess many of the discrepancies between the two versions can be put down to Volstagg being a damned unreliable narrator (not a stretch - we've seen explicit proof of this in other stories, including MSH2 15/2), which would explain why Thrymr looks totally different in each version. Since MSH2 15/2 was a direct account and MT 12.1 the version narrated by Volstagg, the "true" account is probably MSH2 15/2. However, even allowing for Volstagg being an unreliable narrator, I can't imagine he'd get a detail as important as which Freya was involved wrong, especially as he's recounting it to Sif who was also present and would have corrected him. So, despite it being really bizarre that no one in the original telling brought up Freya being Odin's wife as a valid reason for turning Thrymr down, I concede it does look like it's been retconned to her being the one in that story.

[michel]

The merging is quite easy...

FREYJA/FREYJA FREYRDOTTIR/FREYA/FRIGGA
T:MAN
T@ 11-FB
T3 10-FB
T:H&E 3-FB
T:SOA 7
T:SOA 9
T 274-FB
M/FAN 37
T 294-FB
T 295-FB
T 296-FB
T@ 14/4
T:G 1-FB-FB
M/GN 15
T@ 12
M/S-H3 5
T 479-FB
{JIM 92}
T 274
T 275
T 276
T 277
T 289
T 301-FB-BTS
T 301
T 302
T 311/2
T 307/2
T@ 10
T 324/2
T 336/2
T 344
T 349
T 350
T 351
T 352
T 353
T 354
T 355
T 357
T 359
T 360
T 361
T 364
T 371
T 375
T 376
IMPMSUMV 2/4
T 479
TSTRK 17/2
SS3 111
JIM 509-FB
JIM 504
JIM 505
JIM 506
JIM 507
JIM 508
JIM 509
JIM 510
JIM 511
JIM 512
JIM 513
T2 26
T2 41
FI 7.2-FB
JIM 631
FI:FLSS 6
FI:FLSS 12
JIM 632
JIM 633
JIM 636
MT 8
MT 9
MT 10
MT 11
MT 12
MT 13
MT 16
MT 17
JIM 639
JIM 641
MT 18
JIM 642
MT 19
JIM 644
MT 21
MT 22
T:GOT 3-VO
GOTG3 2-FB
GOTG3 3
JIM 652
FLSSDEF 2
FLSSDEF 3
MT2 1
MT2 3
MT2 4
MT2 5

...except for FREYA's pre-JIM 92 appearances. Where would you put them?

MT 18-FB
MT 19-FB
M/FAN 36
M/S-H3 15/3

And FREYA becomes

FREYA
T 321-FB

[wolframbane]

Freya is supposedly the sister of Frey, but in the comics she is listed as Idunn. I am not sure if this clarifies things or confuses them more.

[StrayLamb]

Freya is supposedly the sister of Frey, but in the comics she is listed as Idunn. I am not sure if this clarifies things or confuses them more.

I think that's from the Ynglinga Saga, but in the MU she's consistently been shown as Freyr's daughter. Also just to muddy the waters further, Freya is more of a title (Old Norse for "Lady") than a name. Frigg (Old Germanic for "Beloved") may more properly be considered as one of her names.