mengaðra

Mengaðra is a term that appears in Old Norse literature, most notably in the Poetic Edda. It is often translated as "the adorned one" or "the adorned goddess" and is a kenning or poetic epithet for the goddess Freyja. Freyja herself is a prominent figure in Norse mythology, associated with love, beauty, fertility, sex, war, and death. She is also depicted as a sorceress, skilled in seidr magic.

The epithet mengaðra emphasizes Freyja's connection to jewelry and adornment, reflecting her role as a goddess of beauty and her famed necklace, Brísingamen, which was considered one of the most precious artifacts. The use of kennings like mengaðra was a common feature of Old Norse poetry, adding layers of meaning and imagery to the verses. While mengaðra directly refers to her adornments, it implicitly points to her divine status, her beauty, and her importance within the Norse pantheon.

The appearance of this epithet in various poems underscores Freyja's multifaceted nature and her enduring significance in the surviving Eddic tradition. It serves as a poetic descriptor that encapsulates aspects of her character and divine attributes, allowing poets to evoke her presence through evocative language.