Balder's death is portrayed in this illustration from an 18th century Icelandic manuscript.

Balder (Old Norse Baldr, modern Icelandic and Faroese Baldur, Balder is the name in modern Norwegian, Swedish and Danish and an anglicized form) is, in Norse Mythology, the god of innocence, beauty, joy, purity, and peace, and is Odin's second son. His wife is called Nanna and his son Forseti. Balder had a ship, the largest ever built, named Hringhorni, and a hall, called Breidablik. Phol may have been a German name for Balder, based on the second Merseburg charm, where the same person seems to be referred to as Phol and Balder. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (946x1186, 991 KB)Baldr getting killed by Höðr and Loki. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (946x1186, 991 KB)Baldr getting killed by Höðr and Loki. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Old Norse is the Germanic language spoken by the inhabitants of Scandinavia and their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300. ... The orthography of the Old Norse language since the introduction of the Latin alphabet in Iceland is a thorny subject. ... Norse or Scandinavian mythology comprises the pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian people, including those who settled on Iceland, where the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... Odin (Old Norse Óðinn) is considered the chief god in Norse mythology and Norse paganism, like the Anglo-Saxon Woden it is decended from Proto-Germanic *Wōdinaz or *Wōđanaz. ... Nanna is a moon goddess in Norse mythology, the daughter of Nep and wife of Baldur. ... Forseti (Old Norse the presiding one, actually president in Modern Icelandic and Faroese) is the Æsir god of justice, peace and truth in Norse mythology. ... Hringhorni was the name of the Norse god Baldrs ship, the largest ever built. ... In Norse mythology, Breidablik (broad splendor; often erroneously spelled Briedablik) is the home of Baldur in Asgard where he lives with his wife Nanna. ... The Merseburg Incantations The Merseburg Incantations (German: die Merseburger Zaubersprüche) are two medieval magic formulae or incantations, written in Old High German. ...

The Prose Edda

Balder's brow.

In the Gylfaginning section of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda Balder is described as follows. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1200x1600, 469 KB) Thanks to Franz Xaver for identifying the plant. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1200x1600, 469 KB) Thanks to Franz Xaver for identifying the plant. ... Matricaria perforata See Also Mayweed, List of Asteraceae genera Synonyms/other Latin names: Tripleurospermum perforatum (Mérat) Lainz Common name(s): scentless mayweed, scentless chamomile, wild chamomile, mayweed, false chamomile, German chamomile, Baldrs Brow Origin Eurasia, North Africa Considered an invasive weed in North America Categories: Plant stubs ... External links Original text English text Categories: Mythology stubs | Medieval literature | Sagas of Iceland | Norse mythology | Nordic folklore ... Snorri Sturluson (1178 – September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet and politician. ... The Younger Edda, known also as the Prose Edda or Snorris Edda is an Icelandic manual of poetics which also contains many mythological stories. ...

Apart from this gushing description Balder is known primarily for the myth surrounding his death. His death is seen as the first in the chain of events which will ultimately lead to the destruction of the gods at Ragnarok. Balder will be reborn in the new world, however, as foretold in the Völuspá. Matricaria perforata See Also Mayweed, List of Asteraceae genera Synonyms/other Latin names: Tripleurospermum perforatum (Mérat) Lainz Common name(s): scentless mayweed, scentless chamomile, wild chamomile, mayweed, false chamomile, German chamomile, Baldrs Brow Origin Eurasia, North Africa Considered an invasive weed in North America Categories: Plant stubs ... Look up Ragnarok in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Völuspá (The Prophecy of the Seeress) is the first poem in the Poetic Edda. ...

Due to perceived similarities, Balder is sometimes associated with Christ in art, as is clearly emphasized in this illustration of Baldrs draumar (1893).

He had a dream of his own death (or his mother had the same dreams). Since dreams were usually prophetic, this depressed him, and his mother Frigg made every object on earth vow never to hurt Balder. All but one, an insignificant weed called the mistletoe, made this vow. Frigg had thought it too unimportant and nonthreatening to bother asking it to make the vow (alternatively, it seemed too young to swear). When Loki, the mischief-maker, heard of this, he made a magical spear from this plant (in some later versions, an arrow). He hurried to the place where the gods were indulging in their new pastime of hurling objects at Balder, which would bounce off without harming him. Loki gave the spear to Balder's brother, the blind god Höðr, who then inadvertently killed his brother with it. For this act, Odin and Rind had a child named Váli, who was born solely to punish Höðr, who was slain. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Baldrs draumar (Balders dreams) or Vegtamskviða is an Eddic poem, contained in the manuscript AM 748 I 4to. ... Frigg spinning the clouds In Norse mythology, Frigg (Eddas) or Frigga (Gesta Danorum) was said to be foremost among the goddesses, 1 the wife of Odin, queen of the Æsir, and goddess of the sky. ... A vow (Lat. ... Families Santalaceae(Viscaceae) Loranthaceae Mistletoe is the common name for various parasitic plants of the families Santalaceae (in the section of the family formerly separated as Viscaceae) and Loranthaceae. ... This picture, from an 18th century Icelandic manuscript, shows Loki with his invention - the fishing net. ... Loki tricks Höðr into shooting Baldr. ... Rind was a giantess in Norse mythology who bore Vali to Odin (though she was unwilling to lie with him at first). ... In Norse mythology, Váli is a son of the god Odin and the giantess Rindr. ...

Balder was ceremonially burnt upon his ship, Hringhorni, the largest of all ships. As he was carried to the ship, Odin whispered in his ear. This was to be a key riddle asked by Odin (in disguise) of the giant Vafthruthnir (and which was, of course, unanswerable) in the Vafthruthnismal (the riddle also appears in the riddles of Gestumblindi in Hervarar saga). The dwarf Lit was kicked by Thor into the funeral fire and burnt alive. Nanna, Balder's wife, also threw herself on the funeral fire to await the end of Ragnarok when she would be reunited with her husband (alternatively, she died of grief). Balder's horse with all its trappings was also burned on the pyre. The ship was set to sea by Hyrrokin, a giantess, who came riding on a wolf and gave the ship such a push that fire flashed from the rollers and all the earth shook. Vafthruthnir was a giant in Norse mythology and both Odins host and (defeated) opponent in a battle of wits in the poem Vafthruthnismal, a part of the Elder Edda. ... In Norse mythology, Vafþruðnismál (Vafthruthnismal), or the Song of Vafþruðner, is the third poem in the Elder Edda. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Hervarar saga ok Heidhreks is a fornaldarsaga from the 13th century using material from an older saga. ... Thors battle against the giants, by MÃ¥rten Eskil Winge, 1872 Thor (Old Norse: Þórr) is the red-haired and bearded god of thunder in Norse Mythology and more generally Germanic mythology (Old English: Þunor, Old Dutch and Old High German: Donar, from Proto-Germanic *Þunraz). ... In Norse mythology, Hyrrokkin is a giantess. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ...

Upon Frigg's entreaties, delivered through the messenger Hermod, Hel promised to release Balder from the underworld if all objects alive and dead would weep for him. And all did, except a giantess, Thokk, who refused to mourn the slain god. And thus Balder had to remain in the underworld, not to emerge until after Ragnarok, when he and his brother Höðr would be reconciled and rule the new earth together with Thor's sons. Hermóðr the Brave (Old Norse Hermóðr Courage-Battle) appears, in Norse mythology, clearly among the gods only in Snorri Sturlusons Gylfaginning where Hermóðr is the messenger sent by Odin to find out what ransom Hel would accept to return Baldr to Ásgarðr. ... Indy Norse mythology, Hel is the queen of Helheim, the Norse underworld. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... In Norse mythology, Thokk (actually Loki in disguise) was the giantess who refused to weep for the slain Baldur, thus forcing him to stay dead until Ragnarok. ...

When the gods discovered that the giantess had been Loki in disguise, they hunted him down and bound him to three rocks. Then they tied a serpent above him, the venom of which dripped onto his face. His wife Sigyn gathered the venom in a bowl, but from time to time she had to turn away to empty it, at which point the poison would drip onto Loki, who writhed in pain, thus causing earthquakes. He would free himself, however, in time to attack the gods at Ragnarok. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... This picture, from an 18th century Icelandic manuscript, shows Loki with his invention - the fishing net. ... Sigyn was, in Norse mythology, the wife of Loki, who bore him two sons, Narvi and Váli. ...

The Poetic Edda

Loki tricks Höðr to shoot Balder.

In the Elder Edda the tragic tale of Balder is hinted at rather than told at length. Among the visions which the Norse Sibyl sees and describes in the weird prophecy known as the Völuspá is one of the fatal mistletoe. "I behold," says she, "Fate looming for Balder, Woden's son, the bloody victim. There stands the Mistletoe slender and delicate, blooming high above the ground. Out of this shoot, so slender to look on, there shall grow a harmful fateful shaft. Hod shall shoot it, but Frigga in Fen-hall shall weep over the woe of Wal-hall." Yet looking far into the future the Sibyl sees a brighter vision of a new heaven and a new earth, where the fields unsown shall yield their increase and all sorrows shall be healed; then Balder will come back to dwell in Odin's mansions of bliss, in a hall brighter than the sun, shingled with gold, where the righteous shall live in joy for ever more. PD image, from Swedish Wikipedia This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... PD image, from Swedish Wikipedia This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This picture, from an 18th century Icelandic manuscript, shows Loki with his invention - the fishing net. ... Loki tricks Höðr into shooting Baldr. ... The Poetic Edda or Elder Edda is a term applied to two things. ... Völuspá (The Prophecy of the Seeress) is the first poem in the Poetic Edda. ...

Gesta Danorum

Writing about the end of the 12th century, the old Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus tells the story of Balder in a form which professes to be historical. According to him, Balderus and Høtherus were rival suitors for the hand of Nanna, daughter of Gewar, King of Norway. Now Balderus was a demigod and common steel could not wound his sacred body. The two rivals encountered each other in a terrific battle. Though Odin and Thor and the rest of the gods fought for Balderus, he was defeated and fled away, and Høtherus married the princess. Nevertheless Balderus took heart of grace and again met Høtherus in a stricken field. But he fared even worse than before. Høtherus dealt him a deadly wound with a magic sword, which he had received from Miming, the satyr of the woods; and after lingering three days in pain Balderus died of his injury and was buried with royal honours in a barrow. (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... Saxo, etching by the Danish-Norwegian illustrator Louis Moe (1857 – 1945) Saxo Grammaticus (estimated. ... The term magic sword refers to any kind of mythological or fictional sword imbued with magical power to increase its strength or grant it other supernatural qualities. ...

Chronicon Lethrense and Annales Lundenses

There are also two less known Danish Latin chronicles, the Chronicon Lethrense and the Annales Lundenses of which the latter is included in the former. These two sources provide a second euhemerized account of Höðr's slaying of Balder. Chronicon Lethrense (Danish: Lejrekrøniken English: Chronicle of Lejre/Leire) is a small Danish Medieval work from the 12th century written in Latin. ... Euhemerus (Ευημερος) (flourished around 316 BCE) was a Greek mythographer at the court of Cassander, the king of Macedonia. ...

It relates that Hother was the king of the Saxons and son of Hothbrod and the daughter of Hadding. Hother first slew Othen's (i.e. Odin) son Balder in battle and then chased Othen and Thor. Finally, Othen's son Both killed Hother. Hother, Balder, Othen and Thor were incorrectly considered to be gods. Map showing the Saxons homeland in traditional region bounded by the three rivers: Weser, Eider, and Elbe Src: Freemans Historical Geographys. The Saxons or Saxon people are (nowadays) part of the German people with its main areas of settlements in the German States of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Saxony... Hothbrodd appears in several related versions. ... Hadingus was one of the earliest legendary Danish kings according to Saxo Grammaticus Gesta Danorum where he has a detailed biography. ...

Beowulf

In Beowulf Balder appears as the geatish prince Herebeald, who is killed by his brother Hæþcyn (Höðr). The king Hreðel replaces Odin as the grieving father. The first page of Beowulf This article is about the epic poem. ... Geats (Gautar Old Norse or Götar in Swedish) is the Old English spelling of the name of a Scandinavian people living in Götaland, land of the Geats, currently within the borders of modern Sweden. ... Herebeald was the son of the Geatish king Hrethel in Beowulf. ... Hæþcyn (d. ... Loki tricks Höðr into shooting Baldr. ... Hreðel, Proto-Norse *Hrōþilaz or *Hrōþila [1], was the king of the Geats, in Beowulf. ... Odin (Old Norse Óðinn) is considered the chief god in Norse mythology and Norse paganism, like the Anglo-Saxon Woden it is decended from Proto-Germanic *Wōdinaz or *Wōđanaz. ...

Balder in place names

There are few place names in Scandinavia that contains the name Balder. The most certain and notable one is the (former) parishname Baldishol in Hedmark county, Norway: "a Balldrshole" 1356 (where the last element is hóll m "mound; small hill"). Others may be (in Norse forms) Baldrsberg in Vestfold county, Baldrsheimr in Hordaland county and Baldrsnes in Sør-Trøndelag county. Norse is an adjective relating things to Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Sweden. ...

Analogues

The legendary death of Balder resembles the legendary death of the Persian hero Esfandyar in the epic Shahnameh. In Finnish mythology, Lemminkäinen shares just the same kind of fate as Balder: to be killed by a blind one at the feast of gods. Balder has also been likened to Jesus, as C. S. Lewis did when he said he "loved Balder before Christ." Motto: de facto: Esteqlāl, āzādÄ«, jomhÅ«rÄ«-ye eslāmÄ«[1]   (Persian for Independence, freedom, (the) Islamic Republicde jure: Allaho Akbar (Arabic for God is Great)[2] Anthem: SorÅ«d-e MellÄ«-e Īrān Capital (and largest city) Tehran Persian Government Islamic Republic  - Supreme Leader Ayatollah... Esfandiar or Esfandyar is an Iranian legendary hero. ... Shahnameh Scenes from the Shahnameh carved into reliefs at Tus, where Ferdowsi is buried. ... In Finnish mythology, Lemminkäinen is a god of magic, or else a sorceror who could sing the sand into pearls. Lemminkäinen is good looking, yellow wavy haired, and young. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963), commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis, was an Irish author and scholar. ...

Balder's brows

In Scandinavian, the Scentless Mayweed (Matricaria perforata) is named Balder's brows because of its whiteness. The North Germanic languages (also Scandinavian languages or Nordic languages) is a branch of the Germanic languages spoken in Scandinavia, parts of Finland and on the Faroe Islands and Iceland. ... Matricaria perforata See Also Mayweed, List of Asteraceae genera Synonyms/other Latin names: Tripleurospermum perforatum (Mérat) Lainz Common name(s): scentless mayweed, scentless chamomile, wild chamomile, mayweed, false chamomile, German chamomile, Baldrs Brow Origin Eurasia, North Africa Considered an invasive weed in North America Categories: Plant stubs ... Matricaria perforata See Also Mayweed, List of Asteraceae genera Synonyms/other Latin names: Tripleurospermum perforatum (Mérat) Lainz Common name(s): scentless mayweed, scentless chamomile, wild chamomile, mayweed, false chamomile, German chamomile, Baldrs Brow Origin Eurasia, North Africa Considered an invasive weed in North America Categories: Plant stubs ...

Modern popular culture

Main article: Balder in popular culture

Balder has been the basis of various works of art and appears irregularly in modern popular culture. Balder has inspired much works of art and poetry. ...

References

• Brodeur, Arthur Gilchrist (transl.) (1916). The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson. New York: The American-Scandinavian Foundation. Available online at http://www.northvegr.org/lore/prose/index.php.
• Eysteinn Björnsson (ed.). Snorra-Edda: Formáli & Gylfaginning : Textar fjögurra meginhandrita. 2005. http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/gg/

External Links

• Viktor Rydberg's "Teutonic Mythology: Gods and Goddesses of the Northland" e-book
• W. Wagner's "Asgard and the Home of the Gods" e-book
• H. A. Guerber's "Myths of Northern Lands" e-book
• Peter Andreas Munch's "Norse Mythology: Legends of Gods and Heroes" e-book

	Norse mythology
	List of Norse gods | Æsir | Vanir | Giants | Elves | Dwarves | Valkyries | Einherjar | Norns | Odin | Thor | Freyr | Freyja | Loki | Balder | Tyr | Yggdrasil | Ginnungagap | Ragnarök
	Sources: Poetic Edda | Prose Edda | The Sagas | Volsung Cycle | Tyrfing Cycle | Rune stones | Old Norse language | Orthography | Later influence
	Society: Viking Age | Skald | Kenning | Blót | Seid | Numbers
	The nine worlds of Norse mythology | People, places and things