The Vanir were a race of gods and goddesses who lived in Vanaheim. They were the original gods, more ancient than the Aesir. They were gods of fertility. Chief among them were the twin deities Frey and Freya. After the war with the Aesir (see Aesir/Vanir War), Frey, Freya, and their father, Njord, and possibly Heimdall went to live in Asgard, home of the Aesir. After that war, all the gods were referred to as Aesir.

The Vanir gods brought peace and plenty to Asgard. They also brought their knowledge of seid, magic and witchcraft, and instructed the Aesir in its practice. The Vanir were worshipped for centuries in northern lands.

Vanir Gods and Goddesses
Freya		The goddess of fertility, the twin sister of Frey, and the daughter of Njord. She is beautiful and has a fatal love of gold. She is loved by dwarfs and giants alike. She may have been acquainted with magic and prophecy, but few facts are known about her.
Frey		A Vanir god, sent to Asgard as a peace token along with his twin sister, Freya, and his father, Njord. Frey was a god of fertility, peace, and plenty and was much worshipped.
Njord		A Vanir god of the seas and seafarers. Njord has two major roles in the myths: as a peace token sent to Asgard, the home of the Aesir gods, along with the twin deities Frey and Freya, his children; and as the husband of the giantess Skadi.