Baldur - Norse Mythology for Smart People Norse Mythology for Smart People Baldur “Each Arrow Overshot His Head” by Elmer Boyd Smith (1902) Baldur (pronounced “BALD-er;” Old Norse Baldr, Old English and Old High German Balder) is one of the Aesir gods. He’s the son of Odin and Frigg , the husband of the obscure goddess Nanna, and the father of the god Forseti . He’s loved by all the gods, goddesses, and beings of a more physical nature. So handsome, gracious, and cheerful is he that he actually gives off light.[1] The meaning and etymology of his name are uncertain and have been the topic of intense scholarly debate. Numerous possibilities have been proposed, including a derivation from the Proto-Indo-European root *bhel- (“white”), Old Norse bál, “fire,” or a hypothesized word for “lord” common to various Germanic languages.

The most straightforward – and probably correct – explanation, however, is that his name comes from the Old Norse word baldr, “bold.”[2][3] Scholars have been reluctant to accept this explanation due to its implication of a warlike character for Baldur. But as we’ll see below, Baldur may not have been as innocent and passive as he’s portrayed to be in the late Old Norse literary source that provides the most extensive description of the god and the tales in which he features. This literary source is the Prose Edda of the medieval Icelandic scholar Snorri Sturluson. From this treatise on mythology and poetics comes the most complete account we have of the primary tale concerning Baldur, the story of his death and resurrection . This tale can be briefly summarized as follows: When Baldur began to have dreams of his death, Frigg went around to everything in the world and secured from each of them an oath to not harm her son. Confident in Baldur’s invincibility, the gods amused themselves by throwing weapons and any random thing they could find at Baldur and watching them bounce off of him, leaving him utterly unscathed.

Loki , the guileful trickster of the gods, sensed an opportunity for mischief. He inquired of Frigg whether she had overlooked anything whatsoever in her quest to obtain oaths. She casually answered that she had thought the mistletoe to be too small and harmless a thing to bother asking for such a promise. Loki straightaway made a spear from the mistletoe and convinced the blind god Hodr to throw it at Baldur. The projectile pierced the god, and he fell down dead. The anguished gods then ordained that one of them should go to the underworld to see if there was any way Baldur could be retrieved from the clutches of the death goddess, Hel . Hermod , another one of Odin’s many sons, agreed to make this journey, and, mounting Odin’s steed, Sleipnir , he rode down the world-tree until he came to its dark and damp roots, wherein lies Hel’s abode. When he arrived, he found his brother, pale and grim, sitting in the seat of honor next to Hel.

Hermod implored the dreadful goddess to release Baldur, and after much persuasion, she replied that she would give him up if and only if everything in the world would weep for Baldur – to prove, in other words, that he was as universally beloved as Hermod claimed. The whole world did indeed weep for the generous son of Odin – all, that is, save one creature. The giantess Þökk (“Thanks”), generally assumed to be Loki in disguise, callously refused to perform the act that would secure Baldur’s return.[4] And so the bright god lay in the grave until Ragnarok , the destruction of the cosmos at the end of the great mythical cycle , after which Baldur returned at last to the land of the living, gladdening the hearts of the creatures who filled the new world.[5] While this account comes overwhelmingly from one source, bits and pieces of it can be found in earlier Old Norse poetry, and many details of the narrative are depicted on pieces of jewelery dating from before the Viking Age.[6] We can be reasonably certain that the tale as told by Snorri is not only authentic, at least in its general outline, but very, very old.

However, whether out of ignorance or a desire to portray Baldur as a martyr-like figure, Snorri likely omitted a key element of Baldur’s character: a warlike disposition. There’s one other literary account of Baldur’s death, that told by the medieval Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus. As confused and euhemerized (historicized) as this version is, one of the characteristics that stands out is Baldur’s constant eagerness to engage in battle. He’s even depicted as something of a warlord. This, combined with the many kennings that link Baldur’s name with weapons and war in general, suggests that Baldur was much more of an active fighter and less of a passive, innocent sufferer than Snorri makes him out to be.[7] Other than that, references to Baldur are scarce.

He’s mentioned in an Anglo-Saxon chronicle (where he’s given the additional name Bældæg, “The Shining Day,” and described as a son of Woden, the Old English name for Odin).[8] Another brief reference to him can be found in the so-called Second Merseburg Charm from continental Germany, which comes from a manuscript that dates from the ninth or tenth century CE. While we know relatively little about Baldur due to the fragmentary nature of the sources of our knowledge of pre-Christian Germanic religion, he evidently occupied a position of renown and splendor in the hearts and minds of the heathen Germanic peoples. He seems to have been regarded as the divine animating force behind the beauty of life at the peak of its strength and exuberance. His death marks the beginning of the decline into old age, night, winter, and ultimately the death and rebirth that characterize Ragnarok. Looking for more great information on Norse mythology and religion? While this site provides the ultimate online introduction to the topic, my book The Viking Spirit provides the ultimate introduction to Norse mythology and religion period.

I’ve also written a popular list of The 10 Best Norse Mythology Books , which you’ll probably find helpful in your pursuit. References: [1] Snorri Sturluson. The Prose Edda. Gylfaginning 22. [2] Turville-Petre, E.O.G. 1964. Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. p. 117. [3] Simek, Rudolf. 1993. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. Translated by Angela Hall. p. 28. [4] Snorri Sturluson. The Prose Edda. Gylfaginning 49. [5] The Poetic Edda. Völuspá. [6] Simek, Rudolf. 1993. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. Translated by Angela Hall. p. 28. [7] Turville-Petre, E.O.G. 1964. Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. p. 115. [8] Simek, Rudolf. 1993. Dictionary of Northern Mythology.

Translated by Angela Hall. p. 26. The Ultimate Online Resource for Norse Mythology and Religion My Books BALDUR - the Norse God of Good (Norse mythology) BALDUR Also known as BALDER, BALDR The un-indestructible God of Goodness and Peace ODIN and FRIGG ’s son BALDUR is the Shining One — a champion of goodness, innocence and forgiveness. He is loved by everybody. Wait! News has just reached us that he was killed by LOKI . But how did he die? He was supposed to be invulnerable. His mother made sure of it — she got every living thing in existence to promise never to harm him, thus making him completely indestructible. In fact, BALDUR was so impervious to injury that at banquets guests used to amuse themselves by hurling sharp objects at him. Not dying horribly was a hilarious party trick of his. So how did LOKI kill the unkillable kid? (It’s more convoluted than Agatha Christie or a Dan Brown novel but bear with us.) Ah yes, when all the world was promising not to hurt him, there was an exception. Mistletoe. Yes, mistletoe.

Frankly, mistletoe was so tiny and insignificant that FRIGG didn’t even bother to ask. Oops. When LOKI found out, he made a dart of sharpened mistletoe and gave it to a blind god called HOD . In the middle of a banquet, HOD with sharp ears and sharp mistletoe hit the target. Zap! The good god was now good and dead. Don’t panic — there was a resurrection clause. With extensive mourning by all living things on Earth, he might have been brought back to life. But no. It failed — one old hag called Thokk refused to weep, saying he never did anything for her. But that’s not the end of it. The old hag turned out to have been arch-villain LOKI in one of his many disguises. When confronted, he tried to escape by turning into a salmon. But he was not slippery enough to escape the net and now faces perpetual punishment. There’s even more! HOD turns out to be BALDUR’s unsuspecting twin brother. But was he full of hidden hatred? Will BALDUR return? Can HERMOTH save him from the Underworld?

Don’t miss the next episode of the Baldur Murder Mystery. As you might imagine, this Scandinavian soap saga is one of the most important of the Norse legends. Sadly for BALDUR fans he is famous mostly for being dead. Celebrity gossip has linked his name with the similar-sounding God of Goodness BELOBOG from Slavic mythology, but we are not convinced. Perhaps it will all become clear in Episode 427263. Can you wait for the next installment? BALDUR FACTS AND FIGURES Cite this Link to this page HTML: To link to this page, just copy and paste the text below into your blog, web page or email. <a href="">Godchecker entry on BALDUR, the Norse God of Good</a> BBCODE: To link to this page in a forum post or comment box, just copy and paste the text below: [url= entry on BALDUR, the Norse God of Good[/url] Cite this article Here's the info you need to cite this page. Just copy the text in the box below. Saunders, Chas, and Peter J. Allen, eds.

"BALDUR - the Norse God of Good (Norse mythology)." <em>Godchecker</em>. Godchecker.com / CID, 30 Jan. 2014. Web. 18 January 2017. . 30 January 2014 by the Godchecker Team. Editors: Peter J Allen, Chas Saunders References: Coming soon. Norse Mythology -- Baldur's Death Baldur, the son of Frigga and Odin, was the most handsome and noble of all the Gods.� Forever appearing in the form of a beautiful young man, he was the God of Light and Spring, of all things Right and Good, the best loved among all Aesir.

One morning, his mother wakened from a horrible nightmare.� She had seen Hel, the Goddess who rules the underworld, take Baldur into her realm.� Baldur too had been plagued by troubling dreams foretelling doom.� So Odin invoked the ancient prophetess, Wala, from her grave to find out what was behind the dreams.� He asked her who was next expected to enter the realm of Hel, and her answer was "It is Baldur, the noble one, who is next for Hel, and H�dur, his blind brother, will be the instrument of his demise."� (Baldur was not a warrior, he would not be killed in battle.� This meant his body was for Hel, not for Valhalla.) So the Aesir held a meeting to make plans to forestall Baldur's death.� They decided that every creature in heaven and on earth must swear a holy oath to never do harm to Baldur.� Frigga herself undertook the administration of the oath, from fire and water, giants, dwarfs and elves, human beings, animals and plants.

From this time on, every weapon directed at Baldur missed its mark, it even became a favourite pastime among the Gods to throw weapons at Baldur.� None could touch him. Even Loki, the meanspirited one, had taken part in the meeting of the Gods.� As the Aesir amused themselves throwing weapons at the God they could not hit, Loki took the form of an old beggar woman, knowing that he would be welcomed by Frigga.� He managed to get her to tell him a secret:� On an oak tree, outside the gates to Valhalla, grew a bush of mistletoe.� The little plant had seemed so meek and harmless to Frigga that it had not been included in the oath. Back in his real shape, Loki hurried to the oak tree.

There he cut a twig from the mistletoe, then he returned to the circle of the Gods.� They were still at their game with Baldur.� The only one standing aside was the blind H�dur.� "How can I play when I can't see what I'm doing?" he complained to Loki.� "Take your bow and get ready to shoot," replied Loki, "and here is your arrow."� He handed H�dur the twig and told him he'd guide his hand. Not suspecting anything, H�dur went along with Loki.� Mortally wounded, Baldur sank to the ground.� The horrible prophecy of Wala had come true.� Only Odin's word, that Baldur's death had been prophesied, protected H�dur from the immediate revenge of the Gods.� He would be killed later, though, by Odin's son Valli.

So the Gods set about to bury the body of their beloved Baldur.� Never before had Asgard or Midgard been in such deep mourning.� They erected a funeral pyre on Baldur's own ship, Ringhorn.� At the sight of her beloved husband, dead upon the pyre, Nanna, his widow, died of a broken heart.� Her body was laid at the side of her husband's.� The Aesir sent off Baldur with words of hope and encouragement, but no-one knows the words that Odin whispered to his son. As Thor put the torch to the pyre, he accidentally kicked a tiny dwarf into the flames.� The dwarf perished, leading to later friction betwen Gods and Dwarfs. Then the Giants pushed to ship out into the open waters and wild flames accompanied the God on his last journey.� When the ship finally sank into the depth of the ocean, it seemed as if the whole world went into a twilight.

No-one was grieving more than Frigga, his mother.� Was Baldur, the God of Light and Springtime, lost forever?� Was there a way she could persuade Hel, the Goddess who ruled in the land of the dead, to let Baldur return to the daylight?� Touched deeply by Frigga's grief, Hermodur, the divine messenger, decided to try and free his brother.� Odin lent him Sleipneir, his steed, who knew the way to Hel.� For nine nights, Hermodur rode the eight-legged horse which was swift as the wind.� Finally, they reached Bifr�st, the bridge that separates the world of the dead from the world of the living.

Once he reached the realm of Hel, he saw Baldur, pale and dazed, Nanna at his side.� He wispered words to comfort to his brother.� But Hel, the cold, dark Goddess of the Dead, was not to be swayed: "The dead are for my realm alone, Baldur belongs to me."� However, she finally agreed that Baldur may return if any and all creatures, alive or dead, would cry for Baldur.� If even one creature refused to cry, Baldur would be hers for all time to come.

Hermodur returned to Asgard as fast as he could, carrying presents from Baldur and Nanna for Odin and Freya.� The Asgards had been anxiously awaiting his return.� When they heard what Hel had decreed, Freya immediately send out the Elves, her special messengers.� They were to find every creature so that they would cry for Baldur.� And every creature went along, even the rocks and stones cried over the loss.� But then, in a cave, they encountered a Giantess, Thoegg, who coldly refused to shed even one tear for Baldur.� No amount of begging and pleading could soften her mean spirit.� Some even say that the Giantess was no other then Loki himself, in one of his many guises. And thus Baldur remained in the realm of Hel.� The Aesir were naturally very upset about the behavior of the Giantess, but they recognised the doings of Loki.

Where was this underhanded God, this murderer?� In the confusion over Baldur's death, he had quietly stolen away.� He was finally tracked to a house that had four windows, one in every direction.� Thus Loki saw them coming.� He turned himself into a salmon, one of his favourite tricks, and disappeared into the ocean.� But he had left something behind:� In order to find out how he might be captured in his fish form, he had invented and fashioned a net, which he then threw into the fire before fleeing.� This was his downfall:� The shape of the net was still discernible in the ashes, and now the Aesir had a way of catching him.

And catch him they did.� Their revenge was as horrible as the crime he had committed:� He was taken to an island in the realm of Hel and bound to a sharp-edged rock in such a manner that he could barely move.� Above his head they hung an adder who continuouly dripped her acrid poison upon his face.� Sigyn, his faithful wife, stayed by his side, catching the dripping acid in a bowl.� Horrible were the screams of Loki when Sigyn had to rise to empty the bowl, and his desperate writhing was felt through all Midgard.� This shaking of the world the humans came to call earthquake.� During those gruesome nights, the Midgard Snake stirs in the depth of the ocean so that huge waves hit the lands, and mighty floods slam into the wall that separates Midgard against the sea, accompanied by the frightening howl of the Fenris Wolf. And thus it will remain until Ragnar�k, the Twilight of the Gods, the end of all things.

Next: The Death of Balder in Norse Mythology The Story of Baldur's Death From Bulfinch Odin, the king of the Norse gods, often sat upon Hildskialf, the throne of the Aesir gods [see Norse Gods ], with his companions, the two ravens, Hugin (thought) and Munin (Memory), whispering in his ears. From this position he could look out on all of the nine worlds . Sometimes his wife Frigg would sit there, too, but she was the only other god who was so privileged. Frigg was the second and favorite wife of Odin, whose daughter she may also have been. She was the only Aesir as clever and knowledgeable about the future as Odin, although her foreknowledge did not depress her as it did her husband. Frigg had her own palace, which was known as Fensalir, where she sat spinning clouds to float above Midgard . continue reading below our video 10 Best Universities in the United States Fensalir also served as the afterlife home for married couples who wished to be together.

It was a counterpart to the famous home of valiant warriors, Valhalla, where Odin spent much of his time -- drinking (he is said to have stopped eating when he heard about the inevitable doom of Ragnarok) with his feasting and fighting companions and the Valkyries. The most handsome of the gods was born to Frigg and Odin. He was named Balder (also known as Baldur or Baldr). He was a god of truth and light. Balder was also knowledgeable in healing herbs and runes, which made him a favorite among the people of Midgard. Balder lived in a palace named Breidablik with his wife Nanna (n.b. there is also a Mesopotamian goddess of this name), a vegetation goddess. It was believed that no lie could pass through the walls of Breidablik, home of the god of truth, so when Balder started having frightening nightmares about his own demise, the other Aesir gods took them seriously. Unlike gods in other pantheons, the Norse gods were not immortal. They catalogued everything that might possibly cause Balder harm, from weapons to diseases to creatures.

With the list in hand, Balder's mother, Frigg, set out to exact assurances from everything in the nine worlds not to harm Balder. This wasn't hard because he was so universally loved. When she had completed her mission, Frigg returned to Gladsheim, the gods' meeting hall, for a celebration. After a few rounds of drinks and toasts, the gods decided to test Balder's invulnerability. A pebble thrown at Balder bounced off without hurting Balder, in honor of its oath. Larger weapons were used, including Thor's axes and all refused to hurt the god. Loki is known as a trickster god . Sometimes he was mischievous, but he hadn't really been malicious. The giants were evil, but Loki, who was the son of a giant, hadn't been known as such. It seems his self-appointed job was to stir things up when things were going well. It's a Loki-type action that one wishes to avert when telling an actor to break a leg before a performance.

Loki was disturbed by all the gaiety and decided to do something about it, so in disguise as a disgusting old hag, he went to Frigg while she was at Fensalir taking a break from the festivities. What was going on at Gladsheim, he asked her. She said it was a celebration for the god Balder. Loki-in-disguise asked why, then, were people throwing weapons at him? Frigg explained about the promises she'd exacted. Loki kept at her asking questions until she finally revealed that there was one thing she hadn't asked because she thought it too small and inconsequential. That one thing was mistletoe. With all the information he needed, Loki set off to the forest to get himself a branch of mistletoe. He then returned to the festivities at Gladsheim and sought out Balder's blind brother, Hod, god of darkness, who was in a corner because he couldn't aim and therefore couldn't participate in the test of Balder's invulnerability. Loki told Hod he would help him take aim and handed Hod a piece of apparently innocuous mistletoe to throw.

Hodur was grateful and accepted the offer, so Loki steered Hod's arm. Hod launched the branch, which caught Balder in the chest. Balder died instantly. The gods looked towards Hod and saw Loki beside him. Before they could do anything, Loki fled away. Celebration turned to lamentation since the most beloved of the gods had died. Odin alone was aware of how disastrous this event really was for them all, for he knew that with the loss of light and truth, the end of the world, Ragnarok, was due soon. A funeral pyre was made that was so enormous the gods had to ask the help of the giants. They then placed their most valuable worldly possessions as gifts upon the pyre. Odin placed his golden armband Draupnir. Balder's wife fell down dead of grief at the pyre, so her body was placed beside her husband's. Prev Norhalla - Norse Mythology and Legends - God Art - Baldur Husband to Nanna, son of Odin & Frigga Splash color = Blue Baldur represents and personifies, and is the source of what is known as divine inspiration, perspective, and insight as it relates to peace.

In Norse mythology, Baldur's sword is called Mistletoe. Baldur is killed by a branch of the mistletoe plant by the blind Hodur at Loki's direction. In Legends, Baldur is killed by Hodur, who is blind to Loki's influence and danger and is killed by his own sword Mistletoe. After Baldur dies, his wife Nanna wrought with heartbreak and grief throws herself onto his funeral pyre and dies. While in Hel, Baldur gives a golden ring to Hermod (Andvari's ring) to take back to Asgard. The death of Baldur is one of the turning events just prior to Ragnarok. In Norse mythology, it is said that Baldur will return after Ragnarok. Baldur The Death of Baldur - Norse Mythology for Smart People Norse Mythology for Smart People The Death of Baldur “Baldur’s Death” by Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg (1817) Baldur was one of the most beloved of all the gods.

The son of Odin , the chief of the gods, and the benevolent sorceress goddess Frigg , Baldur was a generous, joyful, and courageous character who gladdened the hearts of all who spent time with him. When, therefore, he began to have ominous dreams of some grave misfortune befalling him, the fearful gods appointed Odin to discover their meaning. Baldur’s father wasted no time in mounting his steed, Sleipnir , and riding to the underworld to consult a dead seeress whom he knew to be especially wise in such matters. When, in one of his countless disguises, he reached the cold and misty underworld, he found the halls arrayed in splendor, as if some magnificent feast were about to occur. Odin woke the seeress and questioned her concerning this festivity, and she responded that the guest of honor was to be none other than Baldur. She merrily recounted how the god would meet his doom, stopping only when she realized, from the desperate nature of Odin’s entreaties, who this disguised wanderer truly was. And, indeed, all that she prophesied would come to pass.

Odin returned in sorrow to Asgard , the gods’ celestial stronghold, and told his comrades what he had been told. Frigg, yearning for any chance of saving her treasured son, however remote, went to every thing in the cosmos and obtained oaths to not harm Baldur. After these oaths were secured, the gods made a sport out of the situation. They threw sticks, rocks, and anything else on hand at Baldur, and everyone laughed as these things bounced off and left the shining god unharmed. The wily and disloyal Loki sensed an opportunity for mischief. In disguise, he went to Frigg and asked her, “Did all things swear oaths to spare Baldur from harm?” “Oh, yes,” the goddess replied, “everything except the mistletoe. But the mistletoe is so small and innocent a thing that I felt it superfluous to ask it for an oath. What harm could it do to my son?” Immediately upon hearing this, Loki departed, located the mistletoe, and brought it to where the gods were playing their new favorite game.

He approached the blind god Hodr ( Old Norse Höðr, “Slayer”) and said, “You must feel quite left out, having to sit back here away from the merriment, not being given a chance to show Baldur the honor of proving his invincibility.” The blind god concurred. “Here,” said Loki, handing him the shaft of mistletoe. “I will point your hand in the direction where Baldur stands, and you throw this branch at him.” So Hod threw the mistletoe. It pierced the god straight through, and he fell down dead on the spot. The gods found themselves unable to speak as they trembled with anguish and fear. They knew that this event was the first presage of Ragnarok , the downfall and death, not just of themselves, but of the very cosmos they maintained. At last, Frigg composed herself enough to ask if there were any among them who were brave and compassionate enough to journey to the land of the dead and offer Hel , the death-goddess, a ransom for Baldur’s release. Hermod , an obscure son of Odin, offered to undertake this mission.

Odin instructed Sleipnir to bear Hermod to the underworld, and off he went. The gods arranged a lavish funeral for their fallen friend. They turned Baldur’s ship, Hringhorni, into a pyre fitting for a great king. When the time came to launch the ship out to sea, however, the gods found the ship stuck in the sand and themselves unable to force it to budge. After many failed attempts they summoned the brawniest being in the cosmos, a certain giantess named Hyrrokkin (“Withered by Fire”). Hyrrokkin arrived in Asgard riding a wolf and using poisonous snakes for reins. She dismounted, walked to the prow of the ship, and gave it such a mighty push that the land quaked as Hringhorni was freed from the strand. As Baldur’s body was carried onto the ship, his wife, Nanna, was overcome with such great grief that she died there on the spot, and was placed on the pyre alongside her husband. The fire was kindled, and Thor hallowed the flames by holding his hammer over them. Odin laid upon the pyre his ring Draupnir, and Baldur’s horse was led into the flames.

All kinds of beings from throughout the Nine Worlds attended this ceremony: gods, giants, elves , dwarves , valkyries , and others. Together they stood and mourned as they watched the burning ship disappear over the ocean. Meanwhile, Hermod rode nine nights through ever darker and deeper valleys on his quest to rescue the part of Baldur that had been sent to Hel. When he came to the river Gjoll (Gjöll, “Roaring”), Móðguðr, the giantess who guards the bridge, asked him his name and his purpose, adding that it was strange that his footfalls were as thundering as those of an entire army, especially since his face still had the color of the living. He answered to her satisfaction, and she allowed him to cross over into Hel’s realm. Sleipnir leapt over the wall around that doleful land. Upon entering and dismounting, Hermod spotted Hel’s throne and Baldur, pale and downcast, sitting in the seat of honor next to her.

Hermod spent the night there, and when morning came, he pleaded with Hel to release his brother, telling her of the great sorrow that all living things, and especially the gods, felt for his absence. Hel responded, “If this is so, then let every thing in the cosmos weep for him, and I will send him back to you. But if any refuse, he will remain in my presence.” Hermod rode back to Asgard and told these tidings to the gods, who straightaway sent messengers throughout the worlds to bear this news to all of their inhabitants. And, indeed, everything did weep for Baldur – everything, that is, save for one giantess: Tokk (Þökk, “Thanks”), who was none other than Loki in another disguise.

Tokk coldly told the messengers, “Let Hel hold what she has!” And so Baldur remained with Hel until Ragnarok, when, after the cosmos was destroyed and re-created, he returned to bless the land and its inhabitants with his gladdening light and exuberance.[1][2][3] The Role of Baldur’s Death in the Norse Mythological Cycle Amongst the heathen Norse and other Germanic peoples, Baldur was regarded as the divine animating force behind the beauty of life at the peak of its strength and energy. Accordingly, his happy youth is the peak of the Norse mythical cycle as a whole, as summer is to the cycle of the year or noontime is to the cycle of the day. His death marks the beginning of the decline into old age, night, winter, and ultimately the death and rebirth that characterize Ragnarok. Looking for more great information on Norse mythology and religion? While this site provides the ultimate online introduction to the topic, my book The Viking Spirit provides the ultimate introduction to Norse mythology and religion period. I’ve also written a popular list of The 10 Best Norse Mythology Books , which you’ll probably find helpful in your pursuit.

References: Baldur - Who Was Baldur? - Profile of Baldur Frigg received all their vows and compacts.” Unfortunately, in her haste, Frigga overlooked the mistletoe plant, so Loki – the resident trickster – took advantage of the opportunity and fooled Hod into killing his twin brother with a spear made of mistletoe . Baldur was later restored to life. Because of the story of his life, death and resurrection, Baldur features prominently in Norse mythology. An important festival was held in honor of Baldur the Good at midsummer, because it was known to be the anniversary of his death and descent into the underworld. Celebrations were held involving big bonfires and outdoor festivities, much of which involved watching the sun rise and set. Bear in mind that in the extreme Northern latitudes inhabited by the Norse peoples, the sun never really sets at midsummer; instead, it touches the horizon and then rises again to begin a new day. When Christianity moved into the Norse countries, Baldur's celebration became the festival of St. John instead. Baldur Norse God ox-eye daisy (also known as Baldurs brow) myths and beliefs: See Norse mistletoe myth .

holy days Yule: Baldur is associated with Yule and the death and rebirth of the sun at Winter Solstice through the Norse mistletoe myth . other: from The Handbook of Norse Mythology: by Karl Mortensen, 1898 (Nordisk mythologi), original Danish translated into English 1913 by A. Clinton Crowell 6. Another son of Odin is B ALDUR. Of him there is lonly good to tell; he is the best of all and all praise him. He is so fair and shining in visage that light comes from him, and there is a plant so white that it has been compared to the gods eyelashes and called Baldurs brow ; it is the whitest of all plants. Baldur is the wisest, most eloquent and gracious of all the Aesir . This peculiarity follows him, however, that none of his decisions hold. His dwelling is in heaven in Breithablik, and in this place there can be nothing impure.

religious title certificate Get a beautiful certificate declaring that you are a priestess, priest, high priestess, high priest, witch, or shaman of ASDF. This is a real religious certificate meeting government standards for conducting marriages and other ceremonies. From Thor to Odin: a guide to the Norse gods | World news | The Guardian Iceland From Thor to Odin: a guide to the Norse gods As Iceland prepares to build its first temple to the Norse gods since the Viking age , we look at the deities that will be worshipped, including an amoral trickster and the blue ruler of the underworld Thor, Freya and Hel. Photograph: Alamy Iceland From Thor to Odin: a guide to the Norse gods Share on Messenger Close If pushed, most of us remember that almost all the days of the week are named after Norse gods. We might remember that Thor makes thunder with his mighty hammer, and if you’re a Marvel fan you might even know that the hammer is called Mjölnir. But most of us would struggle to recall much more than that about these northern deities. The persisting bias towards a classical education leaves us with a better knowledge of the Greek and Roman myths, and that’s a shame.

The Vikings (closer to us in time and space) left a significant mark on the English language, our place names and perhaps our psyche. Their mythology is rich and strange, and well worth discovering. Remarkably, Norse lore covers the entire history of the world; it’s not typical for a culture’s mythology to tell us how the world will end. For the Vikings, that “happened” at Ragnarök, the twilight of the gods, but the start of time is not neglected either. The stories even speak of the great void of Ginnungagap that existed even before the universe was created. Creation myths are often among the strangest of all stories, and the Norse version is no exception. We learn how the first god was licked into existence from a block of salty ice by a primeval cow called Auðumbla. That god was called Búri, and he was the grandfather of perhaps the greatest of all the gods, Odin.

Iceland to build first temple to Norse gods since Viking age Read more Poetry, magic and war Odin, who gave one of his eyes in exchange for wisdom, is, according to most sources, the “Allfather” of the gods; a fascinating shaman-like figure, emblematic of war, battle and death, but also poetry, music, prophecy and magic. He rode across the battlefield on Sleipnir, an eight-legged steed, with the ravens Hugin (thought) and Munin (memory) on his shoulders. Thunderstorms and healing Odin’s most famous son is, of course, Thor. As well as thunderstorms, Thor is associated with oak trees, and is said to protect mankind. It is less well-known that he was also a representative of healing and hallowing (sanctification). As well as his famous hammer, he possessed a magical belt and iron gloves, all with names of their own, named weapons being common fare for the Norse – something fans of JRR Tolkien will recognise. Summer sun and radiance Baldur, another of Odin’s sons, was a being of great beauty; the god of the summer sun, of radiance.

In fact, it was said he was so bright that the light shone from him. Having had a dream foretelling his death, Frigg, his mother, made all the things of the Earth vow never to harm him. They all did, save the mistletoe, and it was a spear made of this innocuous plant that killed him, through the trickery of our next god, Loki. Shapeshifting and amorality Pinterest Shape-shifter Loki. Photograph: Alamy Loki is a trickster god – an amoral figure who managed to inveigle his way into becoming Odin’s blood brother. His crimes against the gods were many, culminating with the beloved Baldur’s death. He was also a shape-shifter, and transformed into various animals. It was he, while in the form of a horse, who sired Sleipnir. Loki had other (divine) children, including the queen of the underworld, Hel. Death and the underworld Hel, ruler of Helheim, the Norse underworld, like gods of the dead in other cultures, is described as having skin resembling death itself (in this case, a bluish hue).

She was sovereign of a realm of vast mansions, and it was Hel’s duty to provide food and lodging to those dispatched to her. There is a pleasing equality about the portrayal of the women of Norse mythology. Each is fully developed; none are mere bit-part players. Love, fertility and seiðr Such is the case with Freyja, another multifaceted figure, and, as with Thor and Odin, one of contradictions. Not only was she a beautiful figure, goddess of love and fertility, she was also associated with war, battle, wealth, death and a particular form of Norse magic known as seiðr. It was in fact she who taught the magic arts to Odin himself, and she is a perfect example of the complex and intriguing nature of the Norse gods.

Question: In Norse mythology, which plant killed the god Baldur?
Answer: Mistletoe