breidablik 13 the other was Son . The dwarfs also used the kettle , Odrerir , when they killed the wise poet , Kvasir ( 1 ), and used his blood to make the mead .
Snorri Sturluson uses the names Bodn and Son in Skaldsaparmal , his work of advice to young poets . Odrerir , the kettle , is named in early works of Norse mythology . ( See “ The Mead of Poetry ” under Odin .)
Bolthur ( BolÞorn ; Bolthorn ; Thorn of Evil ) The Hrimthurggar father of Bestla and a son whose name is unknown but is probably the god mimer . Bestla married Bor and bore him three sons , Odin , Vili , and Ve . Thus Bolthur was Odin ’ s grandfather .
When Odin hanged himself from the World Tree , Yggdrasil , to gain wisdom , he learned nine songs from the son of Bolthor , Odin ’ s uncle ( see “ Lord of the Gallows ,” under Odin ). In Norse mythology , and folklore , there was often a close bond between a man and his maternal uncle , who sometimes acted as godfather or surrogate father . Bolthur is identified in the poem Havamal and in Gylfaginning .
Bolverk ( Evil-Doer ) The name Odin used when he went to Jotunheim to steal back the mead of poetry . Odin took the form of a tall , strong man . When he found nine slaves working wearily in a field , he offered to sharpen their scythes with his whetstone .
The slaves were so impressed with the sharpness of their blades after Bolverk had honed them that they asked for the whetstone . Odin-Bolverk threw it up in the air . As they scrambled to catch it , the nine workers managed to kill one another with their scythes . Thus Odin-Bolverk was able to ingratiate himself with their master , Baugi , who now had no workers and was glad to employ the stranger .
As a reward for his work , Baugi eventually led Odin to the cave where the mead of poetry was hidden . The story is told in the poem Havamal and in Snorri Sturluson ’ s Gylfaginning .
Bor ( BUR ) Son of Buri , who was known as the father of the gods . According to early Norse poetry , Bor married Bestla , the daughter of a rime-giant . Bor ’ s sons killed the first giant , Ymir , and created the world from his body parts . According to Snorri Sturluson , Bor ’ s sons were Odin , Vili , and Ve .
bracteates ( bractates ) Small stamped pendants or amulets of metal , usually gold , similar to handmade coins from around 400 – 550 a . d . Bracteates are found across most of Scandinavia , usually in graves or sites of ship burials .
Many have depictions of scenes or objects that scholars connect to Norse mythology . For example , one shows a man ’ s hand being bitten off by a wolf , part of the story of Tyr and Fenrir . Some bracteates even depict runes ; several contain the complete runic alphabet .
Some scholars suggest that bracteates were magical charms worn to bring the blessings of the gods or to ward off evil .
Bragi The god of poetry , eloquence , and music . Bragi was the son of Odin and Gunlod and husband of Idunn . Bragi does not play a major role in Norse myths . He played a harp and sang so sweetly that even the trees and flowers were charmed by him . Norsemen called their poets or skalds bragamen or bragawomen . Because Odin had a great knowledge of poetry , some scholars see Bragi as another facet of Odin ’ s personality .
Breidablik ( Broad Splendor ; Wide View ) The shining hall of the god Balder , located in Asgard . Breidablik is the seventh of the gods ’ homes described in the poem Grimnismal . It is located in a land free from evil , where only fair things dwell , including
Bracteate from Funen , Denmark , featuring an inscription that includes the term “ The High One ,” a name for Odin ( Photo by Bloodofox / Used under a Creative Commons license )