Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
The Funeral of Baldur explained
The gods hold a grand funeral for Baldur, burning his body on his ship Hringham alongside his wife Nanna, who dies of grief.
What happens
The gods hold a grand funeral for Baldur, burning his body on his ship Hringham alongside his wife Nanna, who dies of grief. Loki, fearing punishment, flees and hides as a salmon but is captured by Thor, bound, and tormented by venom from a serpent, causing earthquakes.
Themes in this chapter
Mortality and Immortality
Baldur's death and funeral highlight the mortality of gods, while Loki's eternal punishment underscores the theme of immortal suffering.
Jealousy and Revenge
Loki's punishment by the gods is an act of revenge for his role in Baldur's death.
Characters to notice
- Baldur
Dead body placed on funeral pile aboard his ship Hringham.
- Odin
Came to Baldur's obsequies accompanied by Frigga, the Valkyrie, and his ravens; later found Loki's hiding place.
- Thor
Captured Loki by the tail when he tried to leap over the net as a salmon.
- Loki
Fled to the mountain, built a hut, invented a net, changed into a salmon, but was caught and bound with a serpent suspended over his head.
Key passages
“The gods took up the dead body and bore it to the seashore where stood Baldur’s ship Hringham , which passed for the largest in the world.”
The gods carried Baldur's corpse to the shore, where his enormous ship Hringham awaited.
Describes the start of the funeral procession.
“He invented a net to catch the fishes, such as fishermen have used since his time.”
Loki created the first fishing net, which fishermen still use today.
Explains the mythological origin of fishing nets.