Norse Mythology · deity

Baldr

deitylightthe sun (in some accounts)beautypurity

The brightest and most beloved of the gods, associated with light and purity; his murder by Loki (via the mistletoe) is the great tragedy of Norse myth.

The Death of Balder (Balders Død) · Peter Cramer · 1779 · Danish rococo painting · Public domain

The account

Who they are

Baldr is the brightest, fairest, and most beloved of the gods, associated with light and (in some accounts) with the sun [S1][S2]. He and his wife Nanna live in the hall of Breidablik [S2]. His death is the great tragedy of Norse myth: his mother Frigg, warned of his fate, extracted oaths from all things not to harm him — except the mistletoe, which she overlooked; Loki, disguised as an old woman, learned of this and guided Baldr's blind brother Höðr to throw a mistletoe dart at him, killing him [S2]. Baldr's death is the beginning of the end: it is the act that sets the chain of events leading to Ragnarök in motion [S1][S2]. His son is Fosite (Forsétir), god of peace and reconciliation [S2].

Worth knowing

The brightest and most beloved of the gods [S2].
Killed by a mistletoe dart, thrown by his blind brother Höðr at Loki's instigation [S2].
His death begins the chain of events leading to Ragnarök [S1][S2].
Husband of Nanna; father of Fosite [S2].

Uncertainties & variants

Baldr's association with the sun is later and interpretive; the earliest Baldr is a god of light and beauty, not strictly the sun [S1][S2].

Relationships (10)

Connections

8 rows · 10 recorded edges — identical notes are grouped

Family & kinship

PARENT_OFOdin — Odin (with Frigg) is the parent of Baldr.[S2]

PARENT_OFFrigg — Frigg is the parent of Baldr.[S2]

SIBLING_OFHöðr — Baldr and Höðr are brothers.[S2]

PARENT_OFFosite (Forsétir) — Baldr (with Nanna) is the parent of Fosite.[S2]

Partners

PARTNER_OFNanna — Baldr and Nanna are married.[S2]

Conflict & enmity

KILLEDLoki — Loki engineered Baldr's death (via the mistletoe and Höðr).[S2]

KILLEDHöðr — Höðr (at Loki's instigation) threw the mistletoe that killed Baldr.[S2]

Alliances & rule

ASSOCIATED_WITHDraupnir — Draupnir is placed on the pyre of Baldr.[S1]

Local graph

Their corner of the divine world

View

hierarchical — generations top → bottom, partners side by side

Overlays

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parentage
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Myths featuring Baldr

1 story

The Death of Baldr

Baldr, the brightest of the gods, had dreams of his death. His mother Frigg extracted oaths from all things not to harm him — except the mistletoe. Loki, disguised as an old woman, learned of this and guided Baldr's blind brother Höðr to throw a mistletoe dart at Baldr, killing him [S2]. Baldr's death is the beginning of the end, setting the chain of events that leads to Ragnarök [S1][S2].

READ THE STORY →

Artifacts of Baldr

Objects they wielded, forged, or were bound to

INTERPRETIVE CLASSIFICATION · FULL PROFILE IN THE DIVINE VAULT

Draupnir

A · LegendaryAssociated

Artworks

Depictions

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