Frigga, wife of Odin, is a matronly figure in Norse mythology, associated with the hearth, the mead hall and childbirth. But while that seems a boring portfolio, it's an important one given the violence and instability of Scandinavia in the dark ages. Frigga is also remembered in the context of her spinning wheel, twining the threads of fate that tie all humanity.
Top 10 Earth Goddesses
A primordial component of all early religions was the cult of the mother goddess, who represented earth, fertility and all aspects of creation. In honor of Earth Day, TIME takes a look at some of the more interesting mama deities.