The Prose Edda on Balder

The Younger Edda: > Snorre'S Edda, Or The Prose Edda. > Preface.

• attestation: Balder returns to life after Ragnarok, reuniting with the Aesir

  "The asas awake to a new life, Balder is with them again"

The Younger Edda: > Chapter Iv. > Foreword.

• attestation: Odin's son Beldegg is identified with Balder and ruled Vestfal (Westphalia)

  "Another son of Odin hight Beldegg, whom we call Balder; he possessed the land which now hight Vestfal"

• relationship: Beldegg/Balder's descendant line includes Brander, Frjodigar (Froda), Freovit, Yvigg, Gevis (Gave)

  "his son was Brander, and his son Frjodigar, whom we call Froda (Frode). His son was Freovit, his son Yvigg, his son Gevis, whom we call Gave"

The Younger Edda: > Chapter Viii. > The Asas.

• attestation: Balder is the wisest, mildest, and most eloquent of the asas, whose judgments none can alter; he dwells in Breidablik where nothing unclean can enter

  "He is the wisest, mildest and most eloquent of all the asas; and such is his nature that none can alter the judgment he has pronounced. He inhabits the place in heaven called Breidablik, and there nothing unclean can enter."

• attestation: A plant as white as Balder's brow is the whitest of all plants

  "there is a plant so white that it is likened unto Balder's brow, and it is the whitest of all plants."

The Younger Edda: > Chapter Xv. > The Death Of Balder.

• attestation: Balder dreamed dangerous dreams about his life; the asas took counsel and decided to seek peace for him against all harm

  "Balder dreamed dreams great and dangerous to his life. When he told these dreams to the asas they took counsel together, and it was decided that they should seek peace for Balder against all kinds of harm."

• attestation: The asas made a sport of shooting, hewing, and throwing stones at Balder since nothing could harm him

  "it became the pastime of Balder and the asas that he should stand up at their meetings while some of them should shoot at him, others should hew at him, while others should throw stones at him; but no matter what they did, no harm came to him"

• attestation: Balder's horse, fully caparisoned, was led to the funeral pile

  "Balder's horse, fully caparisoned, was led to his master's pile"

• attestation: Balder gave Hermod the ring Draupner to return to Odin; Nanna sent Frigg a linen robe

  "Balder accompanied him out of the hall. He took the ring Draupner and sent it as a keepsake to Odin. Nanna sent Frigg a kerchief and other gifts, and to Fulla she sent a ring"

The Younger Edda: > Chapter Ix.

• attestation: The notes discuss Balder's death, Hermod's ride to Hel, and the punishment of Loke

  "Freyja's ornament Brising. In the saga of Olaf Tryggvason, there is a rather awk"