Study › Runes & Norse › The Death of Baldr
The death of Baldr, the most beloved of the gods, is the great tragedy of Norse myth. Every thing swore not to harm him except the mistletoe, and Loki put a mistletoe dart in blind Hodr's hand.
Frigg's oath
Baldr, the most beloved of the gods, began to be troubled by dreams that foretold his death. To protect him his mother Frigg went through all the worlds and took an oath from every thing — fire and water, iron and stone, sickness, beasts and plants — that none would harm her son. Only the mistletoe, young and slight, she thought too weak to bother with, and passed it by. Believing Baldr now invulnerable, the gods made a game of hurling weapons at him, which all glanced away.
The mistletoe dart
But Loki learned of the one thing overlooked. He shaped a dart of mistletoe and put it into the hand of Baldr's blind brother Hodr, guiding his aim; the dart pierced Baldr, and he fell dead. His wife Nanna died of grief, and both were laid on his ship Hringhorni for a great pyre, which the giantess Hyrrokkin launched.
Hermod's ride to Hel
The gods sent Hermod, riding Odin's horse Sleipnir, down the long dark road to Hel to beg for Baldr's return. Hel answered that she would release him if every thing in all the worlds would weep for him.
The one who would not weep
Messengers went out, and all things wept — save one giantess in a cave, Thokk, who was Loki in disguise, and who said coldly, 'Let Hel keep what she has.' And so Baldr remained among the dead, to return only in the world reborn after Ragnarok. Snorri gives the fullest telling in Gylfaginning.
Read about Baldr, Hodr, Hel and the binding of Loki.
Questions
Why could the mistletoe kill Baldr?
It was the one thing Frigg did not ask to swear an oath, thinking it too young and weak.
Why did Baldr stay with Hel?
All things wept for him except the giantess Thokk, who was Loki.