Baldr

Overview

Baldr’s death is not an isolated tragedy, but a chain of dreams, protection, exception and deception. Chapter 49 first gives him dangerous dreams, prompting divine counsel; Frigg then takes oaths that things will not harm him. When the gods turn casting at Baldr into a game, the protection exposes the one unsworn exception: mistletoe.

Key facts

Further spoiler details are available in the interactive atlas.

Relationships

• Baldr's Deathdreams of danger

  Baldr’s ominous dreams make the gods seek protection and push the story toward his death.

• Friggtakes protective oaths

  Frigg takes oaths from dangerous things not to harm Baldr, making him seem temporarily unharmed.

• Mistletoebecomes fatal exception

  Mistletoe is not sworn and is used by Loki as the shoot that strikes Baldr.

• Hodrshoots

  Hodr shoots the mistletoe under Loki’s guidance, and Baldr falls.

• Baldr's Deathmarks the death

  The event of Baldr’s Death gathers dreams, oath-gap and shot into the death outcome.

• Baldr's Funeralmourns

  The funeral places Baldr on a ship and gives divine grief ritual form through cremation.

• Helsets return condition

  Hel says Baldr may return to the gods only if all things weep for him.

• Thokkrefuses to weep

  Thokk refuses to weep for Baldr, making Hel’s return condition fail.

• Renewal after Ragnarokreturns after doom

  Baldr returns among the gods in the renewed world after the fire, with Hodr also present.

• Lokiclaims blame for Baldr’s death

  In the flyting, Loki says he is to blame for Baldr’s absence; it is a speaker’s claim in the poem.

• Odinseeks an answer for Baldr’s dreams

  seeks an answer for Baldr’s dreams

• Hodris foretold to kill Baldr

  is foretold to kill Baldr

Story appearances

• Baldr's Death and Loki's PunishmentProtected and slain god

  Baldr becomes the centre of crisis through dreams, dies by mistletoe and remains in the Realm of Hel.

• RagnarokGod returning in the renewed world

  Baldr returns among the gods after the fire with Hodr.

• Oaths, Treasures and Giant AftershocksAvenged god

  Baldr’s death gives Vali’s avenging identity its place.

• Lokasenna: Ægir’s FeastFeast figure in Lokasenna

  Son of Odin and Frigg whose ominous dreams and the mistletoe exception make his death the centre of divine rupture.

• Baldrs Draumar: Odin Seeks an Answer in the UnderworldFigure, place, event, or creature in Baldrs Draumar

  Son of Odin and Frigg whose ominous dreams and the mistletoe exception make his death the centre of divine rupture.

Ancient sources

MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.

• Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning, Chapter 49, Baldr’s ominous dreams, Frigg taking oaths from dangerous things, and the gods casting at Baldr unharmed
• Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning, Chapter 49, Loki learns that mistletoe was not sworn, takes the shoot and guides Hodr’s shot
• Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning, Chapter 53, earth rises again, gods return, Baldr and Hodr come back, Mjolnir remains, Lif and Lifthrasir survive
• Anonymous; translated by Henry Adams Bellows, The Poetic Edda: Baldrs Draumar, Stanzas 6–10: the seeress says Baldr’s mead is prepared and names Hodr as the one who will take his life.