Hodr is the blind god of darkness and winter. Son of Odin and Frigga, he is also one of the twelve ruling Aesir gods. Hodr is accidently responsible for Baldur’s death.
Hodr responsibilities
Coming of winter, cold, darkness, eclipses, obstacles, shadows, sightlessness, battle-hardened warriors, and winter solstice
Associated Animals with Hodr
A hoary bat
Hodr weapon/domain of power
Ice, biting and chilling winds, powers of winter, an unnamed dark sword, the mistletoe spear handed to him by the trickster Loki
Slayer of Baldur
Hodr is the blind son of Odin and Frigga. He is associated with darkness and winter. Hodr seems to be the exact opposite force of his brother Baldur, the god of light. His name means warrior or strong in war in Old Norse, and Baldur is a strong and skilled warrior, second to none in battle.
Although he’s one of the twelve leading Norse gods, the rest of the Aesir don’t hold him in high esteem. That is because Hodr was the one who killed the beloved Baldur. For that, the blind god bears the rather disgraceful names of ‘Baldur’s Slayer’ and ‘Mistletoe Thrower’.
After everything (except for the mistletoe) in the world swore not to harm Baldur, a feast was held in Asgard. A contest soon began when everyone threw weapons at Baldur, only to watch them bounce off his body harmlessly. Loki, however, sly as a snake, had fashioned a spear out of the mistletoe and decided to make a joke. He tricked Hodr into participating in the throwing game. But, the blind god didn’t know what he was doing. Fooled by Loki, Hodr hurled the mistletoe spear at his brother, Baldur, and accidentally killed him.
Death and Rebirth
After Baldur’s death, the Aesir fell into despair. Not only the brightest among them was dead, but the coming of Ragnarok seemed now inevitable. Hodr was devastated and asked for forgiveness, even though it was clear that it wasn’t his fault. He atoned for his crime, but the Norse custom of blood for blood was still upheld. Vali, the newborn son of Odin, killed Hodr and avenged Baldur’s death.
In Helheim, Hodr is forgiven for his misdeed. He remains by Baldur’s side and soon becomes his closest companion. It is said that after Ragnarok, Baldur and Hodr shall return and rule the new earth together.
Play Fun Norse Quiz
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In the old texts
In the Prose Edda, in the Gylfaginning book, Hodr is brought up as a blind and powerful god. He is shunned however by the rest of the Aesir because of his direct involvement in Baldur’s death. Here it is described in full the tragic tale of Baldur, and his return with Hodr after Ragnarok.
In the Skaldskaparmal book, various appellations of Hodr are mentioned.
In the Poetic Edda, Hodr is cited several times concerning Baldur’s death.
Hodr is also mentioned in Eddic and skaldic poems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why Hodr is so different from Baldur?
A. Baldur is the god of light while Hodr is the god of darkness. However it seems reasonable enough to view these two deities as the opposing forces of nature; light and dark. And, in a sense, it does sound natural that Hodr is the one to kill Baldur. Dark consumes Light. But, in the end, the balance matters no more, and the two apparently opposing powers are united. Hence, all conflicts end, and peace finally reigns in the world. Between the lines, Baldur’s death is a great story with traces of hope at the end.
Q. Why does Loki trick Hodr into killing Baldur?
A. It’s like asking why the sun rises and sets. Loki is the god of mischief. He takes pleasure in wreaking havoc and laughs at the pain of others. Loki despises Baldur so much, that he doesn’t miss the opportunity to put him out of the picture. Yet, he pays for it in the end when the Aesir imprisons him up under a mountain.
Q. Was Hodr married?
A. According to the old texts, Hodr never had childer, nor was he married. However, there is a tale that mentions Hodr and Nanna being a couple, but they are both mortals. It cannot be taken into consideration as far as the Norse mythos is concerned.
