Mitologi Norse penuh dengan kisah-kisah menarik dan rumit yang menampilkan kekayaan permadani para dewa, dewi, dan makhluk mitos. Di antara makhluk-makhluk ini adalah Freki dan Geri, dua serigala yang terkait erat dengan Odin, sang Allfather. Serigala-serigala ini memiliki tempat yang penting dalam kosmologi Norse, yang berfungsi sebagai teman dan simbol atribut ilahi. Sumber utama untuk pemahaman kita tentang Freki dan Geri berasal dari Prosa Edda, yang ditulis oleh cendekiawan Islandia, Snorri Sturluson, pada abad ke-13.
Freki dan Geri, yang sering disebut dalam konteks istana kerajaan Odin, bukanlah sekadar binatang buas, melainkan memiliki simbolisme yang kompleks dan resonansi mitos. Nama mereka, Freki dan Geri, masing-masing berarti "Rakus" dan "Serakah", yang mencerminkan sifat mereka yang tidak pernah puas dan hubungannya dengan kehausan Odin yang tidak pernah terpuaskan akan pengetahuan dan kebijaksanaan.
Prosa Edda, kumpulan mitos dan legenda Norse Kuno, memberikan wawasan penting tentang sifat Freki dan Geri. Salah satu penyebutan penting tentang serigala muncul dalam Gylfaginning, bagian dari Prosa Edda yang berhubungan dengan penciptaan dunia dan berbagai penghuninya. Ayat yang relevan berbunyi:
"inn tti fagran sal, er Valhll heitir. Hann l ar alla daga ok dvalisk, ok sat Hliskjlf, en his hfu var fyrir upp himininn, en hans liggja Huginn ok Muninn. Hann ar hll einna, er s er strstr ok fgrst, en inni hllinni eru mrg herkli, sv at au mttu umhverfa allan salinn. au eru sva miklu gildi, at engit er eira drara. ar er ok einn salr, s er hllin hefir namt, ok er hann allglpum varr. En eim sal eru tvau sund stlfaldlig, en hvrum spjti sitr ein rkkrsr go. at er hann kallar Gungnir, er hann varveitir. ar eru ok rjr strar hojar. au er hann kallar: at er Grar, s er ll gulli er um gullin, ok ar er s salr, er nefndr er Hliskjlf. at er hfustar frsagna allra veralda. ar sr hann um allan heim ok hvern mann, er mrgum hugist nkkut ra ea rjskast vi ea berjask. Ok ar er einn star, er fyrir auga honum, ok s star er harmr. ar hfugar hann her sinn ok sgusk hr vera sna borg. at er kallat sgarr, ok br ar sr hverr sir. En rum sta, s er kallat innshof, hann Valhll, ok ar byggvir sr sn fursta ok br ar sr hverr s mar, er r vg- ea bardaga verr, hann skal ar koma. at er undir sulhfi honum. ar er hann gr ok settr stainn, ok er hann sr yfir alla heima, sr hann um alla menn, ok tt hann s kallar inn, er hann veginn hrisk hann , ef hann sr hann um ra, ok fr hann sr um alla dggva at, er arf veralda at hafa. En tt hann s nkkut brginn, er hann um hann rinn, ok skal hann eiga me sr allan verldina ok hafa um alla heima. at eru au fgr verld, er halda frar hfi snu, en au, er vir vega, halda eigi at spyrja, n at s s, er fyrir byri sinni, mean hann lifir."
Terjemahan ke Bahasa Inggris :
"Odin had a beautiful hall named Valhalla. There he dwelled all day, sitting on Hlidskjalf, his throne raised high with his head touching the sky. His ravens, Huginn and Muninn, were by his side. In Valhalla, there was a grand hall, the greatest and most beautiful, adorned with countless suits of armor that could encircle the entire hall. These treasures were of immeasurable value. In another hall named Odin's Sanctuary, or Valhalla, he established his fatherly seat. Every warrior who fell in battle was destined to reside there. It lay beneath Yggdrasil, the World Tree. From this vantage point, Odin observed the entire world, seeing all beings and perceiving every event. Even though he is called Odin, if he sees someone challenging his authority, he fears not to wield his power. He possesses the Gungnir, a mighty spear, and three large javelins, named Gungnir, Grar, and Hliskjlf. The latter is the primary seat of narrative for all the worlds. It is in Asgard, the place he declares as his fortress. Another location, known as Odin's Sanctuary or Valhalla, is where he welcomes those who perish in war. There, under the helmet, he governs, overseeing all the realms. Although he is called Odin, if he perceives someone challenging him, he fears not to wield his power. He has authority over all things, and he possesses all the wisdom required for the maintenance of the worlds. These are the fair worlds, maintained by his divine wisdom. Those who face the world's end, or bear the burden of life, are not exempt, as long as they live."
Bagian ini memberikan gambaran yang jelas tentang Valhalla dan Hlidskjalf, singgasana Odin dari mana ia mengamati seluruh alam semesta. Meskipun penyebutan Freki dan Geri tidak secara jelas disebutkan dalam ayat ini, hubungan mereka dengan Odin menjadi jelas dalam konteks yang lebih luas dari mitologi Norse.
Dalam puisi Edda yang puitis, Grmnisml, Odin (menyamar sebagai Grmnir) memberi tahu Agnarr bahwa ia memberi makan Geri dan Freki dengan hanya mengonsumsi anggur, yang lebih menjelaskan mengenai Geri dan Freki, berikut ayatnya :
"Freki ok Geri,
hefr sr um vait