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Heres my art for Thor’s lady wife, Sif!
Sif is the goddess of wheat, but also has many plants named after her! Flax, saffron, and wheat all have links to her. The story about the cutting of her hair yielding gold may be a metaphor for reaping the harvest and selling the grains.
Rowan is sacred to her. In Sami mythology, Sif is called Ravdna, which means Rowan, and is the wife of Horgalles, which means “Thor-fellow” or “Old man Thor.” Thor/Horgalles was saved by Rowan from a fall. Some theories say that Sif/Ravdna saved him, and/or that she is a spirit of rowan trees. In some parts of Finland, it’s thought that if the rowan has plentiful flowers, potatoes, rye, and weddings will also be plentiful.
She has a wolf on her belt because of some very interesting kennings I’ve found that called wolves the “horses of Sif.” ( Sifjar Sóti ) This is attested by several different passages written by different authors. Perhaps there was once a link between her and wolves that’s been lost to time. This link lives on in modern culture in Dark Souls; there is a giant wolf character named Sif.
What species she is has also been lost to time. Given her roles in harvest, frith, and money, she could likely be a Vanir.

(part of my series on Norse mythology)

Description

Heres my art for Thor’s lady wife, Sif!
Sif is the goddess of wheat, but also has many plants named after her! Flax, saffron, and wheat all have links to her. The story about the cutting of her hair yielding gold may be a metaphor for reaping the harvest and selling the grains.
Rowan is sacred to her. In Sami mythology, Sif is called Ravdna, which means Rowan, and is the wife of Horgalles, which means “Thor-fellow” or “Old man Thor.” Thor/Horgalles was saved by Rowan from a fall. Some theories say that Sif/Ravdna saved him, and/or that she is a spirit of rowan trees. In some parts of Finland, it’s thought that if the rowan has plentiful flowers, potatoes, rye, and weddings will also be plentiful.
She has a wolf on her belt because of some very interesting kennings I’ve found that called wolves the “horses of Sif.” ( Sifjar Sóti ) This is attested by several different passages written by different authors. Perhaps there was once a link between her and wolves that’s been lost to time. This link lives on in modern culture in Dark Souls; there is a giant wolf character named Sif.
What species she is has also been lost to time. Given her roles in harvest, frith, and money, she could likely be a Vanir.

(part of my series on Norse mythology)