Freia, the fair one 1910

Arthur Rackham gives us Freia, the Norse goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, amidst an apple tree, a symbol deeply entwined with immortality and eternal youth in Norse mythology. These are no ordinary apples; they are the magical fruit that Freia bestows upon the gods to maintain their youth. Notice how the motif of the life-giving tree has roots stretching back to ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean cultures, where sacred groves were central to cultic practices. Think of the Garden of Hesperides, a classical parallel, laden with golden apples. Here, the apple is more than mere fruit; it is a potent symbol, an emotionally charged emblem passed down through generations, evolving from a simple object into a profound representation of the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. This image stirs deep within us, echoing ancient memories of fertility rites and our enduring quest for immortality.