Special Sub-Topic: The Necklace of the Brisings Click Here To Play: The Necklace of the Brisings

As night approaches and the sky is green and grey, Freya leaves what location and heads towards the Bifrost?

Sessrumnir. According to the tale, Freya leaves her hall, Sessrumnir (Rich in Seats) and heads towards the Bifrost. Freya left her cats sleeping by a hearth and her chariot undisturbed. Unknowingly, Freya is being followed by Loki, the Shape Changer. Valhalla is Odin's hall, Sindri is the hall with a red-gold roof that will be created after the Ragnarok, and Lyr is Menglad's hall in Jotunheim.

As Freya crossed the Bifrost into Midgard, where did she go?

a cavern. After crossing the rainbow bridge, Freya crossed a plain, a winding river, a glacier, and boulders until she came to a path leading into a cavern. From there she followed the path until she came upon a smithy within the cave inhabitated by four dwarves.

What are the names of the four creatures Freya encounters?

Alfrigg, Berling, Dvalin, and Grerr. The four creatures Freya encounters are the dwarves: Alfrigg, Berling, Dvalin, and Grerr. Aegir is the God of the Sea and is married to Ran. Baugi is the brother of the giant Suttung. Day is the son of Night and he rides his horse Skinfaxi around the world. Galar is one of the dwarves who murdered Kvasir to make the mead of poetry. Agnar is the king of the Goths. Bergelmir is the only giant that escaped the flood caused by Ymir's body. Durin is the second commanding dwarf. Ganglati is the manservant of Loki's daughter, Hel. Ask is the name of the first man created from a tree. Bestla, a giantess, is the mother of Odin and his brothers. Draupnir is a gold ring belonging to Odin that produces eight rings every nine nights. Gefion is a fertility goddess associated with the plough.

What does the Necklace of Brisings look like?

a fluid choker of gold with woven patterns. The Necklace of Brisings is a choker created by the dwarves that has woven patterns. Freya desired this piece of jewelry above all others.

What form of payment was demanded of Freya for the necklace?

Freya must sleep with each of the dwarves. The only form of payment that the dwarves would accept is for Freya to remain with them for four nights while she slept with each dwarf. Freya immensely hated the dwarves, but her longing for the necklace overpowered her hatred. So, Freya spent four nights with the dwarves and the necklace became hers. Little did she know that Loki was watching the entire time.

Upon hearing of Freya's quest, Odin ordered what god to steal the necklace from her?

Loki. Odin, who lusted after Freya, was so angry that he ordered Loki to steal the necklace from Freya. Loki told the Allfather that it would be impossible for him to steal the necklace from Freya's hall, but Odin didn't care and told Loki he was never to show his face again until he had retrieved the necklace.

What forms did the thief take to enter and steal the Necklace of Brisings from Freya?

a fly and a flea. Loki turned into a fly in order to penetrate Freya's hall, Sessrumnir. The Shape Changer found an opening the size of a needle's eye. Then he turned into a flea, bit Freya on the cheek so she would turn over, and stole the necklace from her. Loki returned to Odin with the necklace.

Upon discovering the theft of the necklace, Freya demands Odin return it to her keeping, but Odin tells Freya she must do what to regain possession of the necklace?

All of these (Stir up war among men, Make two kings in Midgard kill each other in battle and rise from the dead and fight again, Stir up hatred among men). Odin informed Freya that the only way he would give the Necklace of Brisings back, is if Freya stirred up hatred, war, and caused two kings to kill each other and rise to fight each other again. Only then when she completed these tasks would she get the necklace back. Freya agreed to Odin's demands.

What poem preserves a majority of the "Necklace of the Brisings"?

Husdrapa. The scaldic poem, "Husdrapa" by Ulf Uggason, is the earliest reference to the "Necklace of Brisings". According to the author of Laxdaela Saga, "Husdrapa" was first recited at a wedding feast in 978 a.d.

In what poem is the second version of the "Necklace of the Brisings" found?

Sorla Thattr. Another version of the "Necklace of the Brisings" can be found in the short story "Sorla Thattr". In this version, the gods are humans and the only way for the continual death and fighting of the two kings to end is if a Christian man be pure of heart and destroy both kings in a battle.