10 Baldrs draumar
out in a fearful wail . Balder , the good , the beautiful , the god of light , had been snuffed out like a bright candle . The gods would willingly have killed Hodur there and then , but ancient laws forbade that blood should be shed in Idavoll .
Balder ’ s Funeral Pyre The gods built a huge funeral pyre on Hringhorni , Balder ’ s dragon ship . On it they laid the body , surrounding it with rich tapestries , heaps of flowers , vessels of food , clothes , weapons , and precious jewels , as was the custom of the Norse .
Nanna , Balder ’ s loving wife , fell grief-stricken over the body and died , so the gods placed her tenderly on the pyre beside her husband . Then they killed Balder ’ s horse and hounds and placed them beside their master so he should lack for nothing .
One by one all the gods drew near to say farewell to their beloved companion . Last of all came Odin , who took off his magic arm ring , Draupnir , and placed it on his son ’ s body . Then he stooped and put his mouth to Balder ’ s ear , but nobody knew what he had whispered .
When the gods tried to launch the ship , it was so heavy that not even Thor ’ s phenomenal strength could move it . The gods accepted the help of Hyrokkin , a giantess who galloped onto the scene riding a huge wolf and holding reins of writhing snakes . Hyrokkin gave the vessel a mighty shove and launched it into the sea .
The funeral pyre burst into flames , and Thor went on board to consecrate the fire with his magic hammer , Mjollnir . As he was performing the rite , the dwarf Lit got under his feet , and Thor kicked him into the flames , where he burned to ashes along with Balder and Nanna .
The ship drifted out to sea , burning brightly , and the gods watched it in mourning until it disappeared and the world became dark .
Hermod ’ s Journey When she had recovered sufficiently to speak , Frigg asked that one of the gods visit Hel ( 1 ) in Niflheim and beg her to send Balder back from the land of the dead . Gallant Hermod , another of Odin ’ s sons , immediately volunteered to make the dreaded journey . Odin lent him Sleipnir , and for the second time the brave horse made the journey to the underworld . After traveling for nine days and nine nights and crossing many rivers , Hermod came to a stream , Gjoll . Sleipnir ’ s hooves made the bridge over Gjoll shudder , and the sentry , Modgud , challenged the rider . Upon learning that Balder was indeed in Niflheim ,
Hermod and Sleipnir made a great leap over the gate , Helgrind , and landed safely on the other side . Balder could not leave the land of the dead without Hel ’ s permission , and Hel refused to let him go unless all the world should shed tears for him . Hermod spent many hours with Balder and his wife , Nanna . They gave him gifts , including Odin ’ s magic arm ring , Draupnir , to take back to Asgard .
Then Hermod left to tell the gods his news . Surely the whole world would willingly weep to set Balder free .
Thokk When Hermod returned from the underworld with the news about Hel ’ s condition for the return of Balder , messengers at once set out for every corner of the Earth . Soon every god and goddess , every man and woman , every plant and every animal on land and sea and air , and every stone and metal was shedding tears for Balder .
In a dark cave sat an old woman , the giantess Thokk . She alone remained dry-eyed and hard of heart . “ Balder never did anything for me ,” she said grimly . “ Let Hel keep what is her due , for I have no tears for Balder .” She was , many think , the trickster Loki in disguise . The messengers returned to Odin and Frigg with heavy hearts , and the gods mourned once more , for they knew now that Balder would never return to them .
Vali Kills Hodur Vali , Odin ’ s youngest son , appeared in Asgard on the day of his birth , miraculously grown to full stature and carrying a quiver of arrows . He shot one of these at Hodur , who died . Thus the Norseman ’ s code of a death for a death was satisfied , and the Volva ’ s prophecy was fulfilled .
Ragnarok At Ragnarok , the time of the Regeneration , Balder came back from the dead , leading his blind brother , Hodur . All the survivors returned to Idavoll , where they created a new world .
Pieces of the stories of Balder are found in many poems in the Poetic Edda and retold by Snorri Sturluson in Gylfaginning .
Baldrs Draumar ( Balder ’ s Dreams ) A 14- stanza poem of the Poetic Edda found only in the Icelandic manuscript known as the Arnamagnaean Codex . Bauldrs Draumar tells the story of Odin ’ s ride to Hel ( 2 ) and his conversation with a seer about why his son , Balder , is having horrible dreams . The seer tells Odin that Hodur will kill Balder and that Vali , a yet unborn son of Odin , will avenge his brother ’ s death by killing Hodur .
The story in the poem is similar to a portion of the
Voluspa , the first poem found in the Codex Regius