Why is the death of Balder so famous?

The Death of Balder

Balder

Baldr (also Balder, Baldur) is a god in Germanic mythology. In Norse mythology, Baldr (Old Norse: [ˈbɑldz̠]) is a son of the god Odin and the goddess Frigg, and has numerous brothers, such as Thor and Váli.

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Baldr - Wikipedia

is one of the most significant events in Viking lore. His death causes the final rift between the Norse gods Loki and Odin. Balder's death sets into motion the events of Ragnarok

Ragnarok

In Norse mythology, Ragnarök (/ˈræɡnəˌrɒk, ˈrɑːɡ-/ ( listen); Old Norse: Ragnarǫk) is a series of events, including a great battle, foretelling the death of numerous great figures (including the gods Odin, Thor, Týr, Freyr, Heimdall, and Loki), natural disasters, and the submersion of the world in water.

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Ragnarök - Wikipedia

and the Viking god's return from Hel after Ragnarok.

Why was Balder so important?

Baldr is a god in Norse mythology associated with light, wisdom, and courage, although he is never specifically defined as the god of any of these. He is best known for his dramatic death, which heralds the coming of Ragnarök, the end of the age of the Norse gods and the rebirth of the world.

What happened when Baldur died?

The mistletoe struck Balder and pierced him through and through, and he fell down dead. For a while the gods stood speechless, then they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly.” The story goes on to describe the burning of Balder's body in a funeral pyre on his ship.

Why does Baldur's death cause Ragnarok?

Had Freya decided against placing this spell -- which, ironically, was supposed to protect him -- Baldur wouldn't have allied himself with Odin and Thor. It's due to his death that the latter two gods have turned their attention to Krato and Atreus, setting up Loki's actions against them in the future.

Why did the mistletoe hurt Baldur?

Mistletoe is apparently the only thing that can break the curse, which Mimir attributed to the fickle nature of the otherwise powerful Vanir magic. Since the curse causes sensory deprivation, it also prevents the sufferer from enjoying sexual pleasure, making the victim unable to feel orgasms.

The Death of Baldur - Norse Mythology

What was Baldur's weakness?

Baldur is beloved by all. He is cheery and kind. He is still made invulnerable with only a weakness to mistletoe. His death in Norse myth marks the beginning of Ragnarok.

What was Loki's punishment for killing Balder?

Ultimately, Loki caused the death of Baldr, wisest of the gods. As punishment, Loki now lies in a cave, bound to a rock by the entrails of his sons. A snake fastened to a stalactite above him drips venom into his face. Loki's faithful wife Sigyn catches the venom in a bowl, protecting Loki from harm.

Who didn t cry for Baldur?

The blind god Höd, deceived by the evil Loki, killed Balder by hurling mistletoe, the only thing that could hurt him. After Balder's funeral, the giantess Thökk, probably Loki in disguise, refused to weep the tears that would release Balder from death.

Why can t Baldur feel anything?

Baldur is invincible because Freya, having seen a prophecy that Baldur will one day die a needless death, put a spell on him that makes him impervious to pain, or any other sensation.

Why is Baldur loved?

Balder is the son of Odin and Frigg, and with his friendliness, gentleness and wisdom, he is loved by everyone in Asgard. He is so attractive that light shines all around him. Balder is married to Nanna and they live in Breidablick.

What did Odin whisper to Baldur?

The myth itself does not say, but some speculate that Odin told his son that he (Balder) would survive the upcoming Ragnarok. Some say this could have been a prophecy from the Well of Knowledge, where Odin paid the price with the loss of his eye.

Why did Baldur go insane?

Unfortunately, Baldur's sensory incapabilities drove him insane after years of being under his mother's spell. As a result, he grew to despise his mother and wished to kill her for the decades of pain she had inadvertently caused him, later regretting his decision to spare her life.

Why is Baldur so evil?

Baldur was once a kind and emotionally stable Aesir god, but he ended up becoming an extremely cruel, ruthless and sadistic monster after his mother Freya, out of misguided love, cursed him with an invulnerability spell to ensure nothing can kill him at the cost of his ability to feel anything.

Is Loki jealous of Balder?

She left out only one small, modest plant: the mistletoe. The cunning Loki was jealous of Balder, and convinced Balder's blind brother to shoot Balder with the plant, in order to honor him. The mistletoe struck its mark, and Balder died.

Who is the most handsome Norse god?

Baldur was the god of beauty, light and peace. He was described as being very handsome, and he was well loved by all. Even the giants and other enemies of the gods respected Baldur. Of course, despite his good looks and love for beautiful things, Baldur was still a Norse deity.

Was Balder stronger than Thor?

In terms of Norse mythology, both of the Aesir gods, Thor and Baldr, are usually portrayed as equally powerful.

What was Baldur's curse?

So, we know that Freya, in an attempt to circumvent the “needless death” she saw for her son Baldur, cast a spell on him that made him invulnerable to harm, physical or magical, with the unfortunate side effect of being unable to feel anything.

Why was Loki jealous of Baldur?

Baldr was collateral damage. Meaning, Loki didn't want Baldr dead, it was more of a trick or test or challenge that nothing could kill Baldr.

Who is stronger Kratos or Baldur?

Baldur had super strength around the same as Kratos, but it was his inability to feel anything, pain, tiredness, or even emotions that gave him the edge. Thanks to the curse/blessing Freya placed upon him, Baldur is quite literally unkillable.

Is Baldur older than Thor?

Baldur was an Aesir born to Odin and Freya and was the younger half-brother of Thor, Týr and Heimdall.

Who avenged Balder's death?

According to volva, Odin's other son, Vali, along with a woman named Rind, would avenge Balder's death.

What is Baldur's symbol?

Key Themes and Symbols

In Norse mythology, Balder is seen as a symbol of innocence, purity, and beauty. According to legend, the tears Frigg shed after Balder's death became the berries on the mistletoe plant.

Why is the death of Balder One of the most famous Norse myths?

The Death of Balder is one of the most significant events in Viking lore. His death causes the final rift between the Norse gods Loki and Odin. Balder's death sets into motion the events of Ragnarok and the Viking god's return from Hel after Ragnarok.

What was the prophecy of Balder?

According to Völuspá, Baldr will be reborn in the new world. He had a dream of his own death and his mother had the same dream. Since dreams were usually prophetic, this depressed him, so his mother Frigg made every object on earth vow never to hurt Baldr.

What happens to Balder at Ragnarok?

[ The most beautiful and beloved of the gods, Balder, son of Odin, had been slain by his blind brother wielding a misletoe shaft aimed by Loki. Balder's wife had joined him on the funeral pyre. After their funeral, they were in the world called Niflheim.]