VIKING GOD FREYR STIRRUP MOUNT 11th-12th century AD A flat-section bronze plaque with Y-shaped reinforcing strip to the reverse, formed as a male in decorated tunic sitting cross-legged with his hands in his lap probably touching his genitals; pierced beneath the shoulders with usage wear from a cord or strap; angled flange to the lower edge; possibly the god Freyr. 11 grams, 42mm (1 1/2"). Fine condition. [No Reserve] Provenance From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. Literature See Williams, D. Late Saxon Stirrup-Strap Mounts, York, 1997. Footnotes The position of the two holes and the flange to the lower edge are typical features of Anglo-Scandinavian stirrup mounts of the 11th century AD (Williams, 1997). The present piece is atypical of this artefact class due to the thinness of the flange and the presence of the reinforcing strip. However, the overall similarity to several types of stirrup mount is striking. Freyr, together with his twin sister Freyja, was one of the most important Viking gods of prosperity, peace, fertility and the sun. Adam of Bremen wrote in his Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum that he was worshipped together with Thor and Woden (Odin) in the famous temple at Uppsala and that he was fashioned with an immense phallus. Also, libations were made to this image when a marriage was performed, probably to ensure the prosperity of the newly-wed couple. In later Icelandic sources, the best know myth is his marriage with the beautiful giantess Gerdr, who was wooed for him by his servant Skirnir. However, Freyr gave his sword to Skirnir in exchange for undertaking this mission, which turned out to be a crucial decision because without it he would lose his life in battle against the fire-giant Surtr. Apart from sword, Freyr also owned the magical ship Skidbladnir and the boar Gullinbursti, both made by dwarves. In the late Icelandic tale Ögmundar tháttr dytts there is a mention of Freyr's statue being carried in a wagon around Sweden accompanied by a young priestess; this indicates that the local people believed that Frey was alive and would need to have a sexual relationship with his wife.
VIKING GOD FREYR STIRRUP MOUNT 11th-12th century AD A flat-section bronze plaque with Y-shaped reinforcing strip to the reverse, formed as a male in decorated tunic sitting cross-legged with his hands in his lap probably touching his genitals; pierced beneath the shoulders with usage wear from a cord or strap; angled flange to the lower edge; possibly the god Freyr. 11 grams, 42mm (1 1/2"). Fine condition. [No Reserve] Provenance From an old Munich collection; acquired on the German art market before 2000. Literature See Williams, D. Late Saxon Stirrup-Strap Mounts, York, 1997. Footnotes The position of the two holes and the flange to the lower edge are typical features of Anglo-Scandinavian stirrup mounts of the 11th century AD (Williams, 1997). The present piece is atypical of this artefact class due to the thinness of the flange and the presence of the reinforcing strip. However, the overall similarity to several types of stirrup mount is striking. Freyr, together with his twin sister Freyja, was one of the most important Viking gods of prosperity, peace, fertility and the sun. Adam of Bremen wrote in his Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum that he was worshipped together with Thor and Woden (Odin) in the famous temple at Uppsala and that he was fashioned with an immense phallus. Also, libations were made to this image when a marriage was performed, probably to ensure the prosperity of the newly-wed couple. In later Icelandic sources, the best know myth is his marriage with the beautiful giantess Gerdr, who was wooed for him by his servant Skirnir. However, Freyr gave his sword to Skirnir in exchange for undertaking this mission, which turned out to be a crucial decision because without it he would lose his life in battle against the fire-giant Surtr. Apart from sword, Freyr also owned the magical ship Skidbladnir and the boar Gullinbursti, both made by dwarves. In the late Icelandic tale Ögmundar tháttr dytts there is a mention of Freyr's statue being carried in a wagon around Sweden accompanied by a young priestess; this indicates that the local people believed that Frey was alive and would need to have a sexual relationship with his wife.
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