# The Funeral of Baldur explained — Bulfinch’s Mythology

> Chapter companion for Bulfinch’s Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/the-funeral-of-baldur
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters