From Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda:
[Freyja is the most famous of the goddesses. She has in heaven a dwelling which is called Fólkvangr, and when she rides to the battle, one half of the slain belong to her, and the other half to Óðinn... When she goes abroad, she drives in a wagon drawn by two cats.Further details on Viking cats from the Viking Answer Lady:
It might seem absurd to imagine a cart drawn by cats, until one realizes that Viking cats were not your standard Felis domesticus -- they were the Skogkatt (Norwegian, meaning literally "Forest Cat"), a wild breed native to the North... The Skogkatt is a large breed, known for their strong bones and muscular forms.Ailurophiles will find more interesting reading at the link. Via Finest Kind Clinic and Fishmarket.
Image credit: Alexander Murray's 1874 Manual of Mythology.
I won't follow the links now. I'll wait until Friday.
ReplyDeleteLurker111
Those cats could sure draw.
ReplyDeleteThis is my new favorite Norse diety.
ReplyDeleteThey're either very large Skogkatts, or she's a tiny girl, slightly larger than a Maine Coon :)
ReplyDeleteBTW, what was she doing with her share of the slain?