Frigg’s immediate family tree is: her husband is Odin, her father is Fjörgyn (in most accounts), and her sons are Baldr, Höðr, and (in some sources) Hermóðr. She is also the stepmother of Thor, Víðarr, and Váli, and the foster-mother of the hero Sigi in one tradition. The details shift between texts, so below is a full breakdown of her attested relatives and the sources that name them.
Who Is Frigg in Norse Mythology?
Frigg (also spelled Frigga) is a major goddess in Norse mythology, classified among the Æsir. She is the wife of Odin, the chief of the gods, and is associated with marriage, foresight, childbirth, and domestic life. She lives in the hall Fensalir (“hall of the mists” or “sea hall”) and is described as the only goddess besides Odin who can see fate, though she rarely reveals what she knows. In the Prose Edda (written by Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century), she is called the highest of the goddesses after Freyja, and the two are sometimes confused in later sources.
Frigg’s Parents and Origins
Frigg’s parentage is not consistently recorded. The most commonly cited father is Fjörgyn, a figure whose name appears in the Poetic Edda poem Völuspá as a giant (jötunn) and in Lokasenna as the father of Frigg. However, the name Fjörgyn is also used in Völuspá as a kenning for the earth (Jörð), and some scholars argue that Frigg’s father may be the same as the earth-goddess Jörð, which would make Frigg’s parentage ambiguous. In the Gesta Danorum (12th century), the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus calls Frigg the daughter of “Frigg” herself, but that is a confused, euhemerized account. No surviving source names her mother.
Frigg’s Husband and Marriage to Odin
Frigg is married to Odin, the all-father of the gods. Their marriage is attested in the Prose Edda (Gylfaginning) and in the Poetic Edda poem Lokasenna, where Loki taunts Frigg for her infidelity with Odin’s brothers (Vili and Vé, according to a story in the Prose Edda). The marriage is also central to the story of Baldr’s death: Frigg extracts an oath from all things not to harm Baldr, but the mistletoe is exempt because it seemed too young. In some traditions, Odin and Frigg are seen as a divine pair representing sky and earth, but this is a modern interpretation, not a medieval one.
Frigg’s Children: Baldr, Höðr, and Others
Frigg’s most famous son is Baldr (also Baldr, Balder), the beautiful and beloved god. His death at the hands of his blind brother Höðr, tricked by Loki, is a central myth. Höðr is also Frigg’s son in the Prose Edda and in Völuspá. A third son, Hermóðr, is named in the Prose Edda as Odin’s son, and some later sagas (like the Ynglinga saga) imply he is also Frigg’s son, though the Prose Edda does not explicitly state his mother. In the Ynglinga saga, Odin and Frigg have a son named “Baldr” and another named “Höðr,” but no other children are listed. Some modern sources add a daughter, “Fulla,” but Fulla is actually Frigg’s handmaiden, not her daughter.
Frigg’s Stepchildren and Foster-Children
Because Odin had many children by other mothers, Frigg is the stepmother of:
- Thor – son of Odin and Jörð (the earth goddess). Thor is never called Frigg’s son, but he is her husband’s son.
- Víðarr – son of Odin and the giantess Gríðr; he avenges Odin at Ragnarök.
- Váli – son of Odin and Rindr (a giantess); he avenges Baldr’s death.
- Týr – in some sources, son of Odin (though in others he is the son of the giant Hymir), so he is sometimes counted as Frigg’s stepson.
- Bragi – the god of poetry, sometimes said to be Odin’s son, but his mother is not named.
In the Ynglinga saga, Frigg and Odin foster a human prince named Sigi, who becomes the ancestor of the Volsung family. This is a rare example of Frigg acting as a foster-mother, a role that was common among Norse nobility.
Frigg’s Handmaidens and Attendants
Frigg is often depicted with a retinue of goddesses who serve her. In the Prose Edda, Snorri lists her attendants:
- Fulla – her handmaiden, who carries Frigg’s box and is trusted with her secrets.
- Sjöfn – a goddess who turns people’s hearts to love.
- Lofn – a goddess who arranges marriages, even those previously forbidden.
- Vár – a goddess who hears oaths and punishes those who break them.
- Vör – a goddess of awareness and caution.
- Snotra – a goddess of wisdom and courteous behavior.
- Gna – a goddess who rides a horse named Hófvarpnir and runs errands for Frigg.
These figures are not Frigg’s relatives, but they appear in her household and are sometimes mistaken for her daughters in modern retellings.
Common Misconceptions About Frigg’s Family
A frequent confusion is between Frigg and Freyja. They are distinct goddesses: Frigg is Odin’s wife; Freyja is a Vanir goddess, daughter of Njörðr and sister of Freyr. In the Prose Edda, Snorri says that Frigg and Freyja are often confused because their names are similar, but they are not the same. Another misconception is that Frigg is the mother of Thor. She is not; Thor’s mother is Jörð, the earth goddess. Some modern pagan traditions treat Frigg and Jörð as aspects of the same earth-goddess, but that is a modern synthesis, not attested in medieval sources.
Frigg in the Baldr Myth: Family Dynamics
The most detailed family story involving Frigg is the death of Baldr. According to the Prose Edda, Frigg made every thing on earth swear not to harm Baldr, except the mistletoe, which she overlooked because it seemed too young. Loki then made a dart from mistletoe and tricked Höðr, Baldr’s blind brother, into throwing it, killing Baldr. When the gods tried to bring Baldr back from Hel, Hermóðr rode to Hel and negotiated his release on the condition that all things weep for him. Only a giantess named Þökk refused, and Baldr remained dead. Þökk is generally believed to be Loki in disguise. This story shows Frigg’s role as a mother, her attempt to protect her son, and the tragic consequences of her oversight.
Frigg’s Family in the Ragnarök Cycle
At Ragnarök, the world’s end, Frigg’s family is devastated. Odin is killed by the wolf Fenrir, and Víðarr avenges him. Baldr, who is dead, does not return until after the world is reborn, when he and Höðr are reconciled and come back to live in the new world. Frigg’s fate at Ragnarök is not described in any surviving source; she simply disappears from the narrative. Some modern retellings have her mourning Odin, but that is not attested.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Frigg the mother of Thor?
No. Thor’s mother is Jörð, the earth goddess, as stated in the Prose Edda and Völuspá. Frigg is Thor’s stepmother because she is married to his father Odin.
Who is Frigg’s father?
In the Poetic Edda poem Lokasenna, Frigg is called the daughter of Fjörgyn. Fjörgyn is also a name for the earth in Völuspá, so some scholars think Frigg’s father may be the earth itself, but the texts are ambiguous.
Did Frigg have any daughters?
No surviving source names a daughter of Frigg. Her handmaidens, such as Fulla and Gna, are sometimes mistaken for daughters, but they are not related to her in any text.
Is Frigg the same as Freyja?
No. Frigg is Odin’s wife and an Æsir goddess; Freyja is a Vanir goddess, daughter of Njörðr. Snorri Sturluson notes that they are often confused, but they are distinct figures.
What happened to Frigg after Ragnarök?
No source describes Frigg’s fate at Ragnarök. She is not mentioned in the aftermath, so it is unknown whether she survives or perishes.
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