Baldr is a god in Germanic mythology. In Norse mythology, he is a son of the god Odin and the goddess Frigg, and has numerous brothers, such as Thor and Váli. In wider Germanic mythology, the god was known in Old English as Bældæġ, and in Old High German as Balder, all ultimately stemming from the Proto-Germanic theonym *Balðraz.
"Each arrow overshot his head" (1902) by Elmer Boyd Smith.
"Mímir and Baldr Consulting the Norns" (1821–1822) by H. E. Freund.
Baldr in an illustration to a Swedish translation of the Elder Edda.
A depiction of Loki quarreling with the gods (1895) by Lorenz Frølich.
Æsir or ēse are gods in Germanic paganism. In Old Nordic religion and mythology, the precise meaning of the term "Æsir" is debated, with it being able to refer to both the gods in general or specifically to one of the main families of gods, in contrast to the Vanir, with whom they waged war, ultimately leading to a joining of the families. The term can further be used to describe local gods that were believed to live in specific features in the landscape such as fells. In the Old English Wið færstice, the Ēse are referred to, along with elves, as harmful beings that could cause a stabbing pain, although exactly how they were conceived of by the author of the text is unclear.
Æsir gathered around the body of Baldr. Painting by Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg 1817
The Eyrarland Statue, typically interpreted as depicting Thor. Thor's riding across the sky is likely reflected in the modern Swedish word for "thunderstorm" - Swedish: åska, deriving from an earlier form meaning "the driving of the áss".
Óðinn throws his spear in the Æsir-Vanir war, illustration by Lorenz Frølich (1895)
Snæfell in Iceland, where according to Barðar saga, Barðr Snæfellsáss became an áss who was worshipped in the region and protected those who lived there.
