The Death of Baldur, beloved God of the Norse Pantheon. A story of betrayal and the loss
of a man so loved that his absence was felt across all existence. Almost… But who was
Baldur, and how did he die? Let’s find out together, right now.
Baldur was the son of mighty Odin, ruler of the Norse Gods, and the sorceress goddess
Frigg. He was renowned for his kindness and generosity and the joy with which he lived
his life and spread to those around him. It was a shock then, and a concern to all, when
Baldur suddenly began experiencing ominous dreams predicting that a mystery misfortune
would befall him. His father Odin, at the behest of the other
Gods and Goddesses who loved Baldur so, immediately rode to the underworld to consult a dead seeress
who was known to be wise in these matters. As he often did, Odin had disguised himself
for this journey and so upon entering the underworld, he was not recognised by those
that dwelt within. To his surprise however, he did not find the
cold and dark underworld he knew, but instead he found the halls arrayed in splendour, as
if prepared for a great feast. Quickly locating the seeress, Odin questioned her as to the
reason for the strange appearance of this usually evil place. She told him that the
hall was being prepared for the arrival of a special guest of honour, none other than
Baldur himself. She began crowing happily about Baldur meeting
his doom before suddenly realising the identity of the man before her. But not before she
had revealed the fate of Baldur. Unfortunately, despite the knowledge slipping from her unwittingly,
the words she spoke would still come to pass. Rushing home, a distraught Odin told the other
Gods what he had learnt. Frigg, the mother of Baldur, was overcome with grief and refused
to accept the fate of her son. She travelled endlessly and tirelessly, visiting every entity
in the cosmos, living or non-living, and obtained oaths from each of them to not harm Baldur.
With the oaths secured, Odin and Frigg began to feel a little more secure and a blossom
of hope grew that they may be able to save their son after all.
Indeed, it became almost a sport amongst the Norse pantheon as they took it in turns to
throw sticks, rocks and anything else they could find at Baldur, laughing joyfully as
each item simply bounced off him, leaving him unharmed.
Of course, mischief will always find a way and as so often in Norse mythology, its source
was once again the trickster God Loki. In disguise, he visited Frigg and asked her,
“did ALL the things swear oaths to spare Baldur from harm?” “Oh yes”, she replied.
“Everything except the mistletoe. But mistletoe is so small and innocent a thing that I didn’t
see a need to ask for an oath. What harm could it do Baldur?”
Immediately upon learning this, Loki departed and located some mistletoe, carving it into
the shape of a small spear. Returning to the party where the sport of
throwing things at Baldur was continuing, Loki approached the blind God Hodr who sat
quietly by and whispered mischievously, “you must feel quite left out, having to sit back
here unable to join in with the game. The blind God simply nodded. “Here, take this,”
Loki spoke softly, handing him the mistletoe. “I will point your hand in the direction
Baldur stands and you throw this branch.” Happily, and blissfully unaware, Hodr threw
the branch and it struck Baldur, piercing him immediately and he dropped dead on the
spot. No-one moved as the world fell silent in anguish
and fear. Their game abruptly halted in the most dramatic of fashions. The Gods knew that
the death of Baldur was the first sign of Ragnarok, the end of all things.
Composing herself eventually, Frigg was still not ready to give up on her son and she asked
desperately for any God brave and loyal enough to journey to the land of the dead and offer
the death Goddess Hel a ransom for Baldur’s release.
Another son of Odin, Hermod, offered to undertake the mission and he set off. As he began his
perilous journey, the remaining Gods and Goddess arranged a lavish funeral for their fallen
comrade. Baldurs ship was turned into a pyre befitting
a great King. When the time came to launch the ship to sea however, the Gods were unable
to move it from its position stuck in the sand. They summoned the strongest creature
in the cosmos, a giantess named Hyrrokkin, who was finally able to push the ship with
a force that shook the whole land. As his body was placed on the ship, Baldurs
wife Nanna was overcome with such grief that she also died and was placed on the ship with
her husband. The fire was set and Thor hallowed the flames by holding his hammer over them.
Members of all races from across the nine worlds had come to see off the great and beloved
Baldur, Gods, Elves, Dwarves, Valkyries and many others. Together they stood and mourned
as the burning ship slipped slowly out of view and into the horizon.
Meanwhile, the brave Hermod reached the underworld and upon reaching the river Gjoll, he was
stopped by the giantess who guards the bridge, Modgud. She demanded his name and purpose,
surprised to see a member of the living down here. He told her the tale of his mission
and she allowed him to pass. Hermod quickly located the goddess Hel, sat
upon her throne with Baldur, pale and downcast, sitting in the seat of honour next to her.
Hermod pleaded for Hel to release Baldur back to the land of living, telling her of the
great sorrow that all living things, and especially the Gods, felt for his absence. Hel spoke
firmly, informing Hermod that if what he says is true, every thing in the cosmos should
weep for Baldur. If that happens, she would release him back to the land of the living.
But if even one should refuse, he would remain with her.
Hermod returned to Asgard and informed the Gods of the offer. Messengers were sent to
all corners of existence with the request and indeed, beloved as he was by all, each
and every being wept for his loss. All except one, a single giantess named Tokk. Tokk, who
of course, was Loki in disguise. And so the deal was complete and Baldurs fate
was sealed. He was to remain in the underworld and would never again walk amongst the living.
A great tale from Norse Mythology. The death of Baldur was the first step on the road to
Ragnarok and the downfall of the Norse Gods. It was also the start of the end for the trickster
God Loki who had so often hindered the Gods, despite sometimes also helping them.
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