Baldr
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, the god of innocence, beauty, joy, purity, and peace, and is
Odin's second son. His wife is called
Nanna and his son is called
Forseti. Baldr had a ship, the largest ever built, named
Hringhorni, and a hall, called
Breidablik. Phol may have been a German name for Baldr, based on the second
Merseburg charm, where the same person seems to be referred to as Phol and Balder.
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Baldr
Noun
1. (Norse mythology) god of light and peace and noted for his beauty and sweet nature; son of Odin and Frigg and husband of Nanna; killed by Hoth
(synonym) Balder
(hypernym) Norse deity
(classification) Norse mythology
Balder
Balder, Baldr (Icelandic) The best, foremost; the sun god in Norse mythology, the son of Odin and Frigga and a favorite with gods and men. His mansion is Breidablick (broadview) whence he can keep watch over all the worlds. One of the lays of the Elder or Poetic Edda deals entirely with the death of the sun god, also mentioned in the principal poem Voluspa. Briefly stated: the gods were concerned when Balder was troubled with dreams of impending doom. Frigga therefore set out to exact a promise from all living things that none would harm Balder, and all readily complied. One thing only had been overlooked: the harmless-seeming mistletoe. Loki, the mischievous god (human mind), became aware of this, plucked the little plant, and from it fashioned a dart. He approached Hoder, the blind god (of darkness and ignorance) who was standing disconsolately by while the other gods were playfully hurling their weapons against the invulnerable sun god. Offering to guide his aim, Loki placed on Hoder's bow the small but deadly "sorrow-dart." Thus mind darkened by ignorance accomplished what nothing else could: the death of the bright deity of light. Balder must then travel to the house of Hel, queen of the realm of the dead.
Odin, as Hermod, goes to plead with Hel for Balder's return, and Hel agrees to release him on condition that all living things weep for him. Frigga resumes her weary round and implores all beings to mourn the sun god's passing. All agree save one: Loki in the guise of an aged crone refuses to shed a tear. This single taint of perverseness in the human mind condemns Balder to remain in the realm of Hel until the following cycle is due to begin. Thus death is linked with the active human mind, Loki.
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