Rhonda Tharp
Active Member
One of my favorite myths - I miss teaching this to my kiddos. What do you take away from this myth?
Frigg's son, Balder had a dream that showed his death. He told his mom about the dream, and she went to everyone and everything asking them to promise not to hurt her son. She saw mistletoe, but thought it was harmless, and said nothing.
Loki found out about the dream and Frigg's wanderings. He also discovered that mistletoe never made a promise, and being Loki, he made an arrow out of mistletoe. Thor's axes, other weapons, rocks, and creatures were all unable to hurt Balder. When the gods were taking turns hurling things at Balder, Loki approached Balder's brother, Hodur, who was blind, and asked him if wanted to shoot an arrow at Balder. Since nothing had hurt him till this point, Hodur agreed, and Loki helped him aim the mistletoe arrow at Balder. Hodur let go, and everyone was shocked to see that Balder had been mortally wounded.
Frigg visited Hel to ask her for Balder's life, and Hel made a deal with her - get everyone and everything to weap for him, and he may return. If not, he stays. Frigg wandered around again, this time asking everything to weap for her son, and all of them did, but one, an giantess (Thok?) in a cave. The old woman was Loki in disguise.
Balder's wife, Nanna realized that he was not coming back, and threw herself on a pyre that was burning for Balder. They both stayed in Niflheim.
Frigg's son, Balder had a dream that showed his death. He told his mom about the dream, and she went to everyone and everything asking them to promise not to hurt her son. She saw mistletoe, but thought it was harmless, and said nothing.
Loki found out about the dream and Frigg's wanderings. He also discovered that mistletoe never made a promise, and being Loki, he made an arrow out of mistletoe. Thor's axes, other weapons, rocks, and creatures were all unable to hurt Balder. When the gods were taking turns hurling things at Balder, Loki approached Balder's brother, Hodur, who was blind, and asked him if wanted to shoot an arrow at Balder. Since nothing had hurt him till this point, Hodur agreed, and Loki helped him aim the mistletoe arrow at Balder. Hodur let go, and everyone was shocked to see that Balder had been mortally wounded.
Frigg visited Hel to ask her for Balder's life, and Hel made a deal with her - get everyone and everything to weap for him, and he may return. If not, he stays. Frigg wandered around again, this time asking everything to weap for her son, and all of them did, but one, an giantess (Thok?) in a cave. The old woman was Loki in disguise.
Balder's wife, Nanna realized that he was not coming back, and threw herself on a pyre that was burning for Balder. They both stayed in Niflheim.