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

Baldr (modern Icelandic and Faroese Baldur. Balder is the name in modern Norwegian, Swedish and Danish and sometimes an anglicized form) is, in Norse Mythology, a god in Germanic paganism and is Odin's second son. 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. ... The orthography of the Old Norse language since the introduction of the Latin alphabet in Iceland is a thorny subject. ... Norse, Viking or Scandinavian mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian peoples, including those who settled on Iceland, where most of the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... ROSIE IS A GERMN LADYGermanic paganism refers to the religion of the Germanic nations preceding Christianization. ... For other meanings of Odin,Woden or Wotan see Odin (disambiguation), Woden (disambiguation), Wotan (disambiguation). ...

In the 12th century, Danish accounts by Saxo Grammaticus and other Danish Latin chroniclers recorded a euhemerized account of the story. Compiled in Iceland in the 13th century but based on much older Old Norse poetry, the Poetic Edda and, based largely on it, the Prose Edda were compiled and contain numerous references the death of Baldr as both a great tragedy to the Æsir but also a harbinger of Ragnarök. Saxo, etching by the Danish-Norwegian illustrator Louis Moe (1857 – 1945) Saxo Grammaticus (estimated. ... Euhemerus (Ευήμερος) (working late 4th century BCE) was a Greek mythographer at the court of Cassander, the king of Macedonia. ... Old Norse poetry encompasses a range of verse forms written in a number of Nordic languages, embraced by the term Old Norse, during the period from the 8th century to as late as the far end of the 13th century. ... The Poetic Edda is a collection of Old Norse poems primarily preserved in the Icelandic mediaeval manuscript Codex Regius. ... The Younger Edda, known also as the Prose Edda or Snorris Edda is an Icelandic manual of poetics which also contains many mythological stories. ... In Old Norse, the Æsir (singular Ás, feminine Ásynja, feminine plural Ásynjur, Anglo-Saxon Ós, from Proto-Germanic *Ansuz) are the principal gods of the pantheon of Norse mythology. ... For other uses, see Ragnarök (disambiguation). ...

According to Gylfaginning, a book of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, Baldr's wife is Nanna and their son is Forseti. In Gylfanning, Snorri also relates that Baldr had the greatest ship ever built, named Hringhorni, and that there is no place more beautiful than his hall, Breidablik. External links Original text English text Categories: Mythology stubs | Medieval literature | Sagas of Iceland | Norse mythology | Nordic folklore ... A statue of Snorri Sturluson by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland was erected at Reykholt in 1947. ... 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. ...

Merseburg Incantations

One of the two Merseburg Incantations names Balder, and it also features mention of a figure named Phol. It has been theorized that Phol may therefore be another name for Baldr.^[1] The Merseburg Incantations The Merseburg Incantations (German: die Merseburger Zaubersprüche) are two medieval magic spells, charms or incantations, written in Old High German. ...

The Poetic Edda

Loki tricks Höðr into shooting Baldr.

In the Poetic Edda the tale of Baldr's death is referred to rather than recounted at length. Among the visions which the Völva sees and describes in the prophecy known as the Völuspá is one of the fatal mistletoe. Yet looking far into the future the Völva sees a brighter vision of a new world. 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. ... For other uses, see Loki (disambiguation). ... Loki tricks Höðr into shooting Baldr. ... The völva, vala, wala (Old High German), seiðkona, or wicce was a female shaman in Norse mythology, and among the Germanic tribes. ... Völuspá (The Prophecy of the Seeress) is the first poem in the Poetic Edda. ...

The Prose Edda

In Gylfaginning, Baldr is described as follows.

Apart from this description Baldr 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. Baldr will be reborn in the new world, according to 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. ...

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 Baldr. All objects made this vow except mistletoe.^[4] Frigg had thought it too unimportant and nonthreatening to bother asking it to make the vow (alternatively, it seemed too young to swear). 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, by J C Dollman 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 Misodendraceae Mistletoe is a plant parasitic on the branches of a tree or shrub. ...

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 Baldr, which would bounce off without harming him. Loki gave the spear to Baldr's brother, the blind god Höðr, who then inadvertently killed his brother with it (other versions suggest that Loki guided the arrow himself). For this act, Odin and the giantess Rindr gave birth to Váli who grew to adulthood within a day and slew Höðr.^[5] For other uses, see Loki (disambiguation). ... 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). ...

Baldr 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 Vafthrudnir (and which was, of course, unanswerable) in the poem Vafthrudnismal. The riddle also appears in the riddles of Gestumblindi in Hervarar saga.^[6] 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. ...

The dwarf Litr was kicked by Thor into the funeral fire and burnt alive. Nanna, Baldr'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). Baldr'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. In Norse mythology, Hringhorni is the name of the ship of Baldr, described as the greatest of all ships. According to Gylfaginning, following the murder of Baldr by Loki the other gods brought his body down to the sea and laid him to rest on the ship. ... For other uses, see Thor (disambiguation). ... In Norse mythology, Hyrrokkin is a giantess. ... A giantess is a female giant. ...

Upon Frigg's entreaties, delivered through the messenger Hermod, Hel promised to release Baldr from the underworld if all objects alive and dead would weep for him. And all did, except a giantess, Þökk, who refused to mourn the slain god. And thus Baldr 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. ... A giantess is a female giant. ... Þökk (Thanks) is a giantess in Norse mythology, presumed to be Loki in disguise, who refuses to weep for the slain Baldr, thus forcing him to stay in Hel. ...

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. A giantess is a female giant. ... For other uses, see Loki (disambiguation). ... Sigyn was, in Norse mythology, the wife of Loki, who bore him two sons, Narvi and Váli. ...

Gesta Danorum

Writing about the end of the 12th century, the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus tells the story of Baldr (recorded as Balderus) 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. (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. ...

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, named Mistletoe^[7], 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. Faroe stamp by Anker Eli Petersen depicting the magical sword Gram 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. ... Families Santalaceae (Viscaceae) Loranthaceae Misodendraceae Mistletoe is a plant parasitic on the branches of a tree or shrub. ...

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 Baldr. Chronicon Lethrense (Danish: Lejrekrøniken English: Chronicle of Lejre/Leire) is a small Danish Medieval work from the 12th century written in Latin. ...

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. For other uses, see Saxon (disambiguation). ... 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. ...

Utrecht Inscription

A Latin votive inscription from Utrech, from the 3rd or 4th century C.E., apparently contains the dative form Baldruo,^[8], pointing to a Latin nominative singular *Baldruus, which some have identified with the Norse/Germanic god,^[9] although both the reading and this interpretation have been questioned.^[10][11]

Eponyms

Plants

Baldr's brow (Matricaria perforata)

Main article: Matricaria perforata

As referenced in Gylfaginning, in Sweden and Norway, the Scentless Mayweed (Matricaria perforata) and the similar Sea Mayweed (Matricaria maritima) are both called Balder's brow.^[12] In Iceland only the latter is found.^[12] 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 ... 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 ...

Toponyms

There are few old place names in Scandinavia that contains the name Baldr. The most certain and notable one is the (former) parish name Balleshol 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 Baldrsnes in Sør-Trøndelag county — and (very uncertain) the fjord and municipality Balsfjord in Troms county. The North Germanic languages make up one of the three branches of the Germanic languages, a sub-family of the Indo-European languages, along with the West Germanic languages and the East Germanic languages. ... County Troms Landscape Municipality NO-1933 Administrative centre Storsteinnes Mayor (2003) Gunda Johansen (Ap) Official language form BokmÃ¥l Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 52 1,496 km² 1,440 km² 0. ...

The name Balder is also the name used by the inhabitants for their village Berlaar in Belgium. Berlaar is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. ...

Analogues

The legendary death of Baldr 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 Baldr: to be killed by a blind one at the feast of gods. Baldr has also been likened to Jesus, as C. S. Lewis did when he said he "loved Balder before Christ" (Surprised by Joy). Baldr, a god of light, shares some of Jesus' traits as a youthful "dying and rising" god, who returns after Ragnarok, the end of the world (comparable to the Christian Apocalypse) to usher in a new era of peace. It may also be compared, at a stretch, to the murder of Osiris by Set in Egyptian mythology. Parallels with Mithras have also been proposed.^[13] Anthem SorÅ«d-e MellÄ«-e Īrān Â² Capital (and largest city) Tehran Official languages Persian Demonym Iranian Government Islamic Republic  -  Supreme Leader  -  President Unification  -  Unified by Cyrus the Great 559 BCE   -  Parthian (Arsacid) dynastic empire (first reunification) 248 BCE-224 CE   -  Sassanid dynastic empire 224–651 CE   -  Safavid dynasty... Esfandiar or Esfandyar is an Iranian legendary hero. ... Shâhnameh Shāhnāmé, or Shāhnāma (Persian: )(alternative spellings are Shahnama, Shahnameh, Shahname, Shah-Nama, etc. ... 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 Jack Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963), commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis, was an Irish author and scholar. ... The category life-death-rebirth deity also known as a dying-and-rising god is a convenient means of classifying the many divinities in world mythology who are born, suffer death or an eclipse or other death-like experience, pass a phase in the underworld among the dead, and are... Look up Ragnarok in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Look up Apocalypse in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Osiris (disambiguation). ... In mathematics, a set can be thought of as any collection of distinct objects considered as a whole. ... Egyptian mythology or Egyptian religion is the succession of tentative beliefs held by the people of Egypt for over three thousand years, prior to major exposure to Christianity and Islam. ... This article or section contains too much jargon and may need simplification or further explanation. ...

References

Further reading

• Lindow, John (1997). Murder and Vengeance Among the Gods: Baldr in Scandinavian Mythology. Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia. ISBN 9514108094.

External links

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

v • d • e Norse Paganism and Mythology
List of Norse gods • Æsir • Vanir • Giants • Elves (Light Elves • Dark Elves) • Dwarves • Troll • Valkyries • Einherjar • Norns • Odin • Thor • Freyr • Freyja • Frigg • Heimdall • Loki • Baldr • Týr • 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
People, places and things