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Balder

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See also: balder

English

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An illustration by Daniel Chodowiecki for Johannes Ewald, Balders Død (The Death of Balder), 1787
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Alternative forms

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Proper noun

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Balder

  1. (Norse mythology) The Norse god of light and purity, a son of Odin and Frigg, known for his beauty and near-invulnerability.
    • 2005, A. Bhatnagar, William Charles Livingston, Fundamentals of Solar Astronomy, page 3:
      Among the Norse, the god Balder is the most closely associated with the solstices. In a myth that explains the actions of the midsummer and midwinter Sun, Balder, the son of the god Odin, was said to die at the hands of his evil brother, who wielded a mistletoe stake each summer solstice. He was reborn at the winter solstice, or what is still known in Germany as Mother Night (the 'mother' in question being the goddess who brings the new born Sun back into existence).
    • 2008, Bernard Thomas Mees, The Science of the Swastika[1], page 175:
      It is difficult to understand how the author of The Traditions of the God Balder (Die Uberlieferungen vom Gone Balder) from 1920 in which he compared the Balder cult with earlier Mediterranean beliefs could come out so strongly in favor of Kossinna's ex Septentrione lux scarcely a decade later.
    • 2008, Michael Ward, Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C. S. Lewis, unnumbered page:
      What he does not mention is that Balder is the Norse counterpart of Helios (the Greek forerunner of Sol); he was the god of light, son of Odin and Frigg, as Helios was the son of Hyperion and Theia.
    • 2010, H. A. Guerber, Hammer of Thor: Norse Mythology and Legends[2], page 246:
      Balder, the radiant god of sunshine, reminds us not only of Apollo and Orpheus, but of all the other heroes of sun myths.

Anagrams

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Norwegian Nynorsk

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Norwegian Nynorsk Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia nn

Etymology

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From Old Norse Baldr, from the adjective baldr, ballr (brave).

Pronunciation

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Proper noun

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Balder m

  1. (Norse mythology) Balder
  2. a male given name from Old Norse

Old English

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Proper noun

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Balder

  1. a male given name

References

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  • Monumenta Historica Britannica Or Materials for the History of Britain

Volume 1, "Ethelwerdi Chronicorm" Lib. 111, A.D. 857, page 512 [3]

Old High German

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Etymology

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From the adjective bald (brave).

Proper noun

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Balder

  1. Balder
    • c. 9th-10th c, Unknown author, Second Merseburg Charm:
      du uuart demo Balderes uuolon sin uuoz birenkit
      and the foot of Balder's foal was sprained

Usage notes

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The Phol mentioned in the same charm where Balder is attested may be the same figure.

Swedish

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Swedish Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia sv

Proper noun

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Balder m (genitive Balders)

  1. (Norse mythology) Balder
  2. a male given name from Old Norse