The Routledge Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses , Devil and Demons
(Old Norse=mistress, lady) North German goddess of love and fertility; one of her functions is to assist women in childbirth. Her attributes are the necklace called Brisingamen (brisa=to shine, glitter; possibly a solar symbol), a falcon cloak, and a chariot drawn by cats. She rides on the boar with golden bristles, Hildeswin. As a daughter of → Njörd she belongs to the race of the → Vanir; in due course, however, she joins the Aesir (→ As) and becomes the wife of Od (variant of → Odin).
When she loses him she weeps golden tears for him. On occasion, she becomes indistinguishable from → Frigg. Cf. also → Gefjon.
This is the complete article, containing 110 words
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