Höðr ( , Latin Hotherus;Saxo Grammaticus, Gesta Danorum, book 3, ch. 1. often anglicized as Hod, Hoder, or Hodur) is a god in Norse mythology. The blind son of Odin, he is tricked and guided by Loki into shooting a mistletoe arrow that kills the otherwise invulnerable Baldr.
According to the Prose Edda and the Poetic Edda, the goddess Frigg, Baldr's mother, made everything in existence swear never to harm Baldr, except for the mistletoe, which she found too unimportant to ask (alternatively, which she found too young to demand an oath from). The gods amused themselves by trying weapons on Baldr and seeing them fail to do any harm. Loki, the mischief-maker, upon finding out about Baldr's one weakness, made a dart from mistletoe, and helped Höðr shoot it at Baldr. In reaction to this, Odin conceived a son by Rindr, Váli, who grew to adulthood within a day and slew Höðr.
The Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus recorded an alternative version of this myth in his Gesta Danorum. In this version, the mortal hero Hotherus and the demi-god Balderus compete for the hand of Nanna. Ultimately, Hotherus slays Balderus.
Name The theonym Hǫðr can be translated as 'warrior' or 'battle'. Jan de Vries and Vladimir Orel write that is related to Old Norse hǫð ('war, slaughter') and to Old English heaðu-deór ('brave, stout in war'), from Proto-Germanic *haþuz ('battle'; cf. Old High German hadu-, Old Saxon hathu-, Old Frisian -had, Burgundian *haþus).
Attestations Prose Edda In the Gylfaginning part of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, Höðr is introduced in an ominous way.
Höðr heitir einn ássinn, hann er blindr. Œrit er hann styrkr, en vilja mundu goðin at þenna ás þyrfti eigi at nefna, þvíat hans handaverk munu lengi vera höfð at minnum með goðum ok mönnum. "One of the Æsir is named Hödr: He is blind. He is of sufficient strength, but the gods would desire that no occasion should rise of naming this god, for the work of his hands shall long be held in memory among gods and men."
Höðr is not mentioned again until the prelude to Baldr's death is described. All things except the mistletoe (believed to be harmless) have sworn an oath not to harm Baldr, so the Æsir throw missiles at him for sport.
En Loki tók mistiltein ok sleit upp ok gekk til þings. En Höðr stóð útarliga í mannhringinum, þvíat hann var blindr. Þá mælti Loki við hann: "Hví skýtr þú ekki at Baldri?" Hann svarar: "Þvíat ek sé eigi hvar Baldr er, ok þat annat at ek em vápnlauss." Þá mælti Loki: "Gerðu þó í líking annarra manna ok veit Baldri sœmð sem aðrir menn. Ek mun vísa þér til hvar hann stendr. Skjót at honum vendi þessum."
Höðr tók mistiltein ok skaut at Baldri at tilvísun Loka. Flaug skotit í gögnum hann ok fell hann dauðr til jarðar. Ok hefir þat mest óhapp verit unnit með goðum ok mönnum. "Loki took Mistletoe and pulled it up and went to the Thing.
Hödr stood outside the ring of men, because he was blind. Then spake Loki to him: 'Why dost thou not shoot at Baldr?' He answered: 'Because I see not where Baldr is; and for this also, that I am weaponless.' Then said Loki: 'Do thou also after the manner of other men, and show Baldr honor as the other men do. I will direct thee where he stands; shoot at him with this wand.' Hödr took Mistletoe and shot at Baldr, being guided by Loki: The shaft flew through Baldr, and he fell dead to the earth; and that was the greatest mischance that has ever befallen among gods and men."
The Gylfaginning does not say what happens to Höðr after this. In fact it specifically states that Baldr cannot be avenged, at least not immediately.
Þá er Baldr var fallinn, þá fellusk öllum ásum orðtök ok svá hendr at taka til hans, ok sá hverr til annars ok váru allir með einum hug til þess er unnit hafði verkit. En engi mátti hefna, þar var svá mikill griðastaðr. "Then, when Baldr was fallen, words failed all the Æsir, and their hands likewise to lay hold of him; each looked at the other, and all were of one mind as to him who had wrought the work, but none might take vengeance, so great a sanctuary was in that place."
It does seem, however, that Höðr ends up in Hel one way or another for the last mention of him in Gylfaginning is in the description of the post-Ragnarök world.
Því næst koma þar Baldr ok Höðr frá Heljar, setjask þá allir samt ok talask við ok minnask á rúnar sínar ok rœða of tíðindi þau er fyrrum höfðu verit, of Miðgarðsorm ok um Fenrisúlf. "After that Baldr shall come thither, and Hödr, from Hel; then all shall sit down together and hold speech with one another, and call to mind their secret wisdom, and speak of those happenings which have been before: of the Midgard Serpent and of Fenris-Wolf."
Snorri's source of this knowledge is clearly Völuspá as quoted below.
In the Skáldskaparmál section of the Prose Edda, several kennings for Höðr are listed.
Hvernig skal kenna Höð? Svá, at kalla hann blinda ás, Baldrs bana, skjótanda Mistilteins, son Óðins, Heljar sinna, Vála dólg. "How should one periphrase Hödr? Thus: by calling him the Blind God, Baldr's Slayer, Thrower of the Mistletoe, Son of Odin, Companion of Hel, Foe of Váli."
None of those kennings, however, are actually found in surviving skaldic poetry. Neither are Snorri's kennings for Váli, which are also of interest in this context.
Hvernig skal kenna Vála? Svá, at kalla hann son Óðins ok Rindar, stjúpson Friggjar, bróður ásanna, hefniás Baldrs, dólg Haðar ok bana hans, byggvanda föðurtófta. "How should Váli be periphrased? Thus: by calling him Son of Odin and Rindr, Stepson of Frigg, Brother of the Æsir, Baldr's Avenger, Foe and Slayer of Hödr, Dweller in the Homesteads of the Fathers."
It is clear from this that Snorri was familiar with the role of Váli as Höðr's slayer, even though he does not relate that myth in the Gylfaginning prose. His emphasis is rather on the impossibility of restoring Höðr to life, despite his godhood.
Poetic Edda
Höðr is referred to several times in the Poetic Edda, always in the context of Baldr's death. The following strophes are from Völuspá.
Ek sá Baldri, blóðgom tívur, Óðins barni, ørlög fólgin: stóð um vaxinn völlum hærri mjór ok mjök fagr mistilteinn.
Varð af þeim meiði, er mær sýndisk, harmflaug hættlig: Höðr nam skjóta. Baldrs bróðir var of borinn snemma, sá nam, Óðins sonr, einnættr vega.
Þó hann æva hendr né höfuð kembði, áðr á bál um bar Baldrs andskota. En Frigg um grét í Fensölum vá Valhallar - vituð ér enn, eða hvat?
- Eysteinn Björnsson's editionI saw for Baldr, the bleeding god, The son of Othin, his destiny set: Famous and fair in the lofty fields, Full grown in strength the mistletoe stood.
From the branch which seemed so slender and fair Came a harmful shaft that Hoth should hurl; But the brother of Baldr was born ere long, And one night old fought Othin's son.
His hands he washed not, his hair he combed not, Till he bore to the bale-blaze Baldr's foe. But in Fensalir did Frigg weep sore For Valhall's need: would you know yet more?
- Bellows' translationI saw for Baldr— for the bloodstained sacrifice, Óðinn's child— the fates set hidden. There stood full-grown, higher than the plains, slender and most fair, the mistletoe.
There formed from that stem which was slender-seeming, a shaft of anguish, perilous: Hǫðr started shooting. A brother of Baldr was born quickly: he started—Óðinn's son— slaying, at one night old.
He never washed hands, never combed head, till he bore to the pyre Baldr's adversary— while Frigg wept in Fen Halls for Valhǫll's woe. Do you still seek to know? And what?
- Ursula Dronke's translation
This account seems to fit well with the information in the Prose Edda, but here the role of Baldr's avenging brother is emphasized.
Baldr and Höðr are also mentioned in Völuspá'''s description of the world after Ragnarök.
Munu ósánir akrar vaxa, böls mun alls batna, Baldr mun koma. Búa þeir Höðr ok Baldr Hropts sigtóptir vel, valtívar - vituð ér enn, eða hvat? – Eysteinn Björnsson's editionUnsown shall the fields bring forth, all evil be amended; Baldr shall come; Hödr and Baldr, the heavenly gods, Hropt's glorious dwellings shall inhabit. Understand ye yet, or what? – Thorpe's translation
The poem Vafþrúðnismál informs us that the gods who survive Ragnarök are Viðarr, Váli, Móði and Magni, with no mention of Höðr and Baldr.
The myth of Baldr's death is also referred to in another Eddic poem, Baldrs draumar.
Óðinn kvað: "Þegj-at-tu, völva, þik vil ek fregna, unz alkunna, vil ek enn vita: Hverr mun Baldri at bana verða ok Óðins son aldri ræna?"
Völva kvað: "Höðr berr hávan hróðrbaðm þinig, hann mun Baldri at bana verða ok Óðins son aldri ræna; nauðug sagðak, nú mun ek þegja."
Óðinn kvað: "Þegj-at-tu, völva, þik vil ek fregna, unz alkunna, vil ek enn vita: Hverr mun heift Heði hefnt of vinna eða Baldrs bana á bál vega?"
Völva kvað: Rindr berr Vála í vestrsölum, sá mun Óðins sonr einnættr vega: hönd of þvær né höfuð kembir, áðr á bál of berr Baldrs andskota; nauðug sagðak, nú mun ek þegja." – Guðni Jónsson's editionVegtam "Be thou not silent, Vala! I will question thee, until I know all. I will yet know who will Baldr's slayer be, and Odin's son of life bereave."
Vala "Hödr will hither his glorious brother send, he of Baldr will the slayer be, and Odin's son of life bereave. By compulsion I have spoken; I will now be silent."
Vegtam "Be not silent, Vala! I will question thee, until I know all. I will yet know who on Hödr vengeance will inflict or Baldr's slayer raise on the pile."
Vala "Rind a son shall bear, in the western halls: he shall slay Odin's son, when one night old. He a hand will not wash, nor his head comb, ere he to the pile has borne Baldr's adversary. By compulsion I have spoken; I will now be silent." – Thorpe's translation
Höðr is not mentioned again by name in the Eddas. He is, however, referred to in Völuspá in skamma.
Váru ellifu æsir talðir, Baldr er hné, við banaþúfu; þess lézk Váli verðr at hefna, síns of bróður sló hann handbana. – Guðni Jónsson's editionThere were eleven Æsir reckoned, when Baldr on the pile was laid; him Vali showed himself worthy to avenge, his own brother: he the slayer slew. – Thorpe's translation
Skaldic poetry
The name Höðr occurs in skaldic poetry as a part of warrior-kennings. Thus Höðr brynju, "Höðr of a byrnie", is a warrior and so is Höðr víga, "Höðr of battle". Some scholars have found the fact that the poets should want to compare warriors with Höðr to be incongruous with Snorri's description of him as a blind god, unable to harm anyone without assistance. It is possible that this indicates that some of the poets were familiar with other myths about Höðr than the one related in Gylfaginning – perhaps some where Höðr has a more active role. On the other hand, the names of many gods occur in kennings and the poets might not have been particular in using any god name as a part of a kenning.
Gesta Danorum
In Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus, Hotherus is a human hero of the Danish and Swedish royal lines. He is the son of Hothbrodd (or Hodbrodd) and brother of Athisl, both Kings of Sweden before him. Hotherus himself became ruler of both Sweden and Denmark after the death of the usurper Hiartuar, but most of the story about him as related in Gesta Danorum relates to his early life before becoming king.