The god of light, spring, and peace, is known as Balder in Norse Mythology. Balder was born on the day of winter solstice in which the sun becomes as bright as it could possibly be. He was known for his kindness, wisdom, and courtesy to others. Balder sat on his throne that was said to be so bright that it could be “seen from all corners of the world.” He was loved by all gods, and is sometimes called the “White One” due to his white hair and white eyebrows. His death symbolized the seasonal cycle of death and rebirth marked by the solstices.
During one of Thor’s many quests, he happened to come across an eagle that had taken Loki and ordered him to do a task for him. Thor then slayed the animal, in order to end the conflict. Later afterwards, a girl came along claiming that Thor had slain her father, and she believed she deserved a certain husband, Balder, as retribution for her father’s death. Odin decided she must only see four sets of feet, and choose from the four. She remembered his nickname being the “White One,” therefore she chose the whitest feet she saw, which she actually chose the god of the sea, Gymir. After several nights where Balder dreamed of his death, he went to his mother Frigg and told her about these dreams. Frigg then made every living thing swear an oath not to harm Balder. The gods, who were amused by his invincibility, hurled every weapon they could at him, assured that nothing would actually harm him. Loki, full of jealousy and mischief, was then determined to find a way to harm Balder. Loki asked Frigg if she was sure she made everything make an oath, in which she admitted that she did not ask the mistletoe in the west because it seemed to small and harmless. Loki then immediately went towards the west to find a mistletoe. When he returns he ties the mistletoe to the end of a spear, and gives it to Hodur, Balder’s blind brother, to hurl at him. Hodur does heave the spear, piercing his brother’s heart, killing him. The gods, who were distraught by this, ordered that someone must go to the underworld for his return. Hermond, one of Balder’s brothers, volunteers to go and convince Hel. She agrees he may return if everything in the world were to weep for him. Everything in fact did, except one giantess named Thokk, who it is believed to be Loki in disguise. |