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Geri and Freki
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==Attestations== In the ''Poetic Edda'' poem ''[[Grímnismál]]'', the god [[Odin]] (disguised as ''[[List of names of Odin|Grímnir]]'') provides the young [[Agnarr Geirröðsson|Agnarr]] with information about Odin's companions. Agnarr is told that Odin feeds Geri and Freki while the god himself consumes only wine: <blockquote> {| | :<small>[[Benjamin Thorpe]] translation:</small> :Geri and Freki the war-wont sates, :the triumphant sire of hosts; :but on wine only the famed in arms, :Odin, ever lives.<ref name=THORPE21>Thorpe (1907:21).</ref> | :<small>[[Henry Adams Bellows (businessman)|Henry Adams Bellows]] translation:</small> :Freki and Geri does Heerfather feed, :The far-famed fighter of old: :But on wine alone does the weapon-decked god, :Othin, forever live.<ref name=BELLOWS92>Bellows (1923:92).</ref> | |} </blockquote> The pair is also alluded to via the [[kenning]] "[[List of names of Odin|Viðrir]]'s (Odin's) hounds" in ''[[Helgakviða Hundingsbana I]]'', verse 13, where it is related that they roam the field "greedy for the corpses of those who have fallen in battle".<ref>Lincoln views this activity as the reason behind their epithet "ravenous" or "greedy". See Lincoln (1991:99).</ref> <blockquote> {| | :<small>[[Benjamin Thorpe]] translation:</small> :The warriors went to the trysting place of swords, :which they had appointed at Logafiöll. :Broken was Frodi's peace between the foes: :Vidrir’s hounds went about the isle slaughter-greedy.<ref>Thorpe (1907:138).</ref> | :<small>[[Henry Adams Bellows (businessman)|Henry Adams Bellows]] translation:</small> :The warriors forth to the battle went, :The field they chose at Logafjoll; :Frothi's peace midst foes they broke, :Through the isle went hungrily Vithrir's hounds.<ref>Bellows (1936:295–296).</ref> | |} </blockquote> In the ''Prose Edda'' book ''[[Gylfaginning]]'' (chapter 38), the enthroned figure of [[High, Just-As-High, and Third|High]] explains that Odin gives all of the food on his table to his wolves Geri and Freki and that Odin requires no food, for wine is to him both meat and drink. High then quotes the above-mentioned stanza from the poem ''Grímnismál'' in support.<ref name=FAULKES33>Faulkes (1995:33).</ref> In chapter 75 of the ''Prose Edda'' book ''[[Skáldskaparmál]]'' a list of names for [[warg]]s and [[wolf|wolves]] is provided that includes both Geri and Freki.<ref name=FAULKES164>Faulkes (1995:64).</ref> In [[skald]]ic poetry ''Geri'' and ''Freki'' are used as common nouns for "wolf" in chapter 58 of ''Skáldskaparmál'' (quoted in works by the [[skald]]s [[Þjóðólfr of Hvinir]] and [[Egill Skallagrímsson]]) and ''Geri'' is again used as a common noun for "wolf" in chapter 64 of the ''Prose Edda'' book ''[[Háttatal]]''.<ref name=FAULKES135AND204>Faulkes (1995:135 and 204).</ref> Geri is referenced in [[kenning]]s for "blood" in chapter 58 of ''Skáldskaparmál'' ("Geri's ales" in a work by the skald [[Þórðr Sjáreksson]]) and in for "carrion" in chapter 60 ("Geri's morsel" in a work by the skald [[Einarr Skúlason]]).<ref name=FAULKES136AND138>Faulkes (1995:136 and 138).</ref> ''Freki'' is also used in a kenning for "carrion" ("Freki's meal") in a work by Þórðr Sjáreksson in chapter 58 of ''Skáldskaparmál''.<ref name=FAULKES136>Faulkes (1995:136).</ref>
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