Fenja

Family: Jötuns · Role: maid-servant · First appears: Younger Edda · Poetical Diction · Menja and Fenja

At Svithjod, Frode bought Fenja and Menja as maid-servants and had them grind gold, peace, and his happiness at his mill. In the Grottesong, they say they were bound and taken prisoner, and reproach Frode for buying them without understanding their strength.

Later, Mysing took Fenja, Menja, and the mill Grotte with him and ordered them to grind salt. In the Grottesong, the two women describe Ide and Orner as their friends and fosterers, recall helping Guthorm the Good in battle, and warn Frode that a host is coming to burn his dwelling. As they turned the mill, it broke in two.

Relationship record

Life events

• Frode bought Fenja and Menja as maid-servants.(Younger Edda · Poetical Diction · Menja and Fenja · 📍 Svithjod)
  • With: Frode Menja
  • “King Frode sent messengers to Svithjod, to the king whose name was Fjolner, and bought there two maid-servants, whose names were Fenja and Menja.”
• Frode ordered Fenja and Menja to grind gold, peace, and his happiness.(Younger Edda · Poetical Diction · Menja and Fenja)
  • With: Frode Hengekjapt Menja
  • “King Frode had the maid-servants led to the mill, and requested them to grind for him gold and peace, and Frode’s happiness.”
• Mysing took Grotte, Fenja, and Menja, and ordered them to grind salt.(Younger Edda · Poetical Diction · Menja and Fenja)
  • With: Mysing Menja
  • “Mysing took with him Grotte, and also Fenja and Menja, and bade them grind salt”
• Frode bought Fenja and Menja and forced them to grind at his mill.(Younger Edda · Poetical Diction · The Grottesong)
  • With: Menja Frode
  • “Frode! you were not Wary enough,-- You friend of men,-- When maids you bought!”
• Fenja and Menja were bound and taken prisoner.(Younger Edda · Poetical Diction · The Grottesong)
  • With: Menja
  • “Then bound we were And taken prisoners.”
• Fenja and Menja gave help to Guthorm in battle.(Younger Edda · Poetical Diction · The Grottesong · 📍 Svithjod’s land)
  • With: Menja Guthorm the Good
  • “To Guthorm the Good Help we gave.”
• Fenja and Menja warned Frode that a host was approaching to burn his dwelling.(Younger Edda · Poetical Diction · The Grottesong)
  • With: Menja Frode
  • “A host hither Hastily approaches To burn the king’s Lofty dwelling.”
• The mill broke in two as Fenja and Menja turned it.(Younger Edda · Poetical Diction · The Grottesong)
  • With: Menja
  • “Then fell the mill,-- In twain was broken The heavy stone.”

Younger Edda · Poetical Diction · Menja and Fenja

• employer: Frode “King Frode sent messengers to Svithjod, to the king whose name was Fjolner, and bought there two maid-servants, whose names were Fenja and Menja.”
• employer: Mysing “Mysing took with him Grotte, and also Fenja and Menja, and bade them grind salt, and in the middle of the night they asked Mysing whether he did not have salt enough.”

Younger Edda · Poetical Diction · The Grottesong

• guardian: Ide “And Ide and Orner, Our friends, and The mountain-giants’ brothers, Who fostered us two.”
• guardian: Orner “And Ide and Orner, Our friends, and The mountain-giants’ brothers, Who fostered us two.”
• friends with Ide “And Ide and Orner, Our friends, and The mountain-giants’ brothers, Who fostered us two.”
• friends with Orner “And Ide and Orner, Our friends, and The mountain-giants’ brothers, Who fostered us two.”
• employer: Frode “There must the mighty Maidens toil For King Frode, Fridleif’s son.”
• protégé: Guthorm the Good “To Guthorm the Good Help we gave.”

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Extracted from the original text of The Eddas. Made with Rho MD.