Geri and Freki

In Norse mythology, Geri and Freki are two wolves that are said to follow the god Odin. Their names mean roughly "Greed" and "Glutton," and they appear in old poems and stories from long ago. These stories were written down in the 13th century by a man named Snorri Sturluson in something called the Prose Edda, as well as in an older collection of poems known as the Poetic Edda.

People have noticed that Geri and Freki are similar to figures in other mythologies, like those from Greek, Roman, and Vedic traditions. They might also be linked to old ideas about special warrior groups called "wolf-warrior bands" or the Úlfhéðnar. These wolves are important symbols in the stories about Odin and his adventures.

Etymology

The names Geri and Freki have special meanings in old languages. Geri means "the greedy one" or "the ravenous one". It comes from an old word that means "greedy", used in many old languages like Burgundian, Old Norse, and Old High German.

Freki also comes from an old word meaning "greedy" or "desirous". In Old Norse, it can mean "brazen" or "enterprising", and also having a big appetite. These names show that Geri and Freki are known for being very hungry.

Attestations

In the Poetic Edda poem Grímnismál, the god Odin, disguised as Grímnir, tells the young Agnarr about Odin's companions. Agnarr learns that Odin feeds two wolves named Geri and Freki, while Odin himself only drinks wine.

The wolves are also mentioned in other poems and stories, where they are described as wandering battlefields, eager for food. In the Prose Edda, it is explained that Odin gives all the food from his table to Geri and Freki, and that wine is enough for Odin to feel satisfied. The names Geri and Freki were also used by ancient poets to simply mean "wolf".

Archaeological record

If a picture on the Böksta Runestone shows a rider who might be the god Odin, then it also shows Geri and Freki joining in a hunt for an elk.

Theories

Freki is also a name used for the giant wolf Fenrir in an old poem called Völuspá. Some people find it interesting that Odin feeds one Freki at his table, while another Freki—Fenrir—is part of a big battle in stories about the end of the world, called Ragnarök.

Historians think Geri and Freki might be connected to old stories and names from Germanic peoples that involve wolves. They also see links between these wolves and gods from other cultures, like the Greek Apollo and figures from Vedic and Roman myths.

One scientist, Bernd Heinrich, suggests that Geri and Freki, along with Odin and his ravens Huginn and Muninn, represent a natural partnership seen in the world. Just like in nature where animals work together, Odin’s ravens give him information, and his wolves provide food, making a strong team.