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Baldur

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in Norse mythology, was the son of Odin and Frigga, highly honored as the, most beautiful and benevolent of the Asas. His beauty was so extraordinary that there was a continual flame of fire about him, and his face shone with the brightness of the sun. He was full of eloquence, and so just that a decision made by him could not be changed. Besides all this, he was valiant and fearless; but at times frightful dreams would make him uneasy, therefore his mother adjured all things in the world not to harm him. This had been done.at the advice of Odin, who had gone to the infernal regions to ask the Nornes about the dreams, and the latter had said that Baldur's destruction had' been decided upon, but Odin thought to counteract it by the above advice. However, even the deities fall a prey to fate, and thus Baldur could no more escape fate than Odin himself. Frigga had exacted an oath of all plants save the young twig misletoe, which seemed too weak and insignificant to the goddess to subject it to such a strong oath. Loke (q.v.) had learned this secret from the queen, and at his bidding the twig grew. When, therefore, Baldur, knowing that he was invulnerable, gave a festival to the Asas, at which they shot at him and threw stones and lances without causing any injury, Loke went among them and placed the twig in the hand of the blind Hodur, the brother of Baldur, directed his arm to the place where Baldur stood, and the latter fell to the ground. In order to show the young god the greatest respect, it was decided to burn his body on his beautiful ship, the Ringhorn. But before the deities took this step, their sorrow was increased by the death of the lovely Nanna, Baldur's wife, who died of anguish for her husband. Two funeral piles were made on the ship, therefore, and it was decided to move it, and set fire to it from all sides. But it could not be moved from the spot. In this difficulty the Asas sent for the giantess Hyrokian, who was a great sorceress. She came riding on a fierce wolf. She drew near to the ship and gave it so powerful a push that it floated far out into the sea, and the planks, by the friction, caught fire. Thor thereupon became so exasperated that he would have crushed the giantess with his hammer, Miolner, if the other Asas had not stepped between; but as his awakened anger would not subside without the shedding of blood, it was necessary to make a sacrifice. This was the dwarf Litur, who came in his way when lighting the funeral piles. He took him, therefore, and threw him into the fire. All the Asas, many Jotes, Rhimtusses, and dwarfs were present at the solemnities. They each sacrificed something costly by throwing it into the flames. Odin also threw a costly golden ring into the fire, but it was found afterwards uninjured, and Baldur had given it the attribute that, on every ninth night, eight equally beautiful golden rings would drop from it; wherefrom it received the name Drupner (dropper). Subsequent to the funeral, Frigga said that he who desired her special favor should go to Hela (the goddess of death) and offer her a ransom for the return of her son to the world. Hermode, Baldur's brother, offered to undertake the task, and for this purpose he received his father's eight-footed horse Sleipner, on which he rode for nine days and nights through deep, dark vales and caves, until he came to the river of hell, and crossed the bridge. He was informed that in order to find Baldur he must keep to the right on the street of the dead. He did sao and came to the hedge which encircles hell. He girded his horse tighter, took a start, leaped over, and there found his brother ‘ on a stately throne in the dwelling of Hela. He asked the latter to permit his younger brother to return with him to the upper world. Hela said she did not wish a ransom, but if all things were sorry for him she would let him return; if, however, there was one living or dead creature that did not sorrow for him, he must remain. Hermode returned with rich presents and poor comfort; but the heralds sent out returned with the cheering news that even the stones wept for him. The last of the heralds, however, found in a certain cave an old woman who positively refused to grieve for Baldur. The mischievous Loke was said to live there in this form, and thus he not only caused Baldur's death, but also prevented his resurrection. Therefore the young god must remain in Helaheim until the end of the world, when he will come forth to build Gimle (heaven) with his brother.