Yggdrasil · Cold and the Dead

Baldr and Nanna in Hel

Snorri’s account of Baldr in Hel’s hall, Nanna’s gifts and the ring Draupnir sent back to Odin.

Myth and literature · Quotation

In Blackwell’s translation

“Hermod then rode on to the palace, where he found his brother Baldur occupying the most distinguished seat in the hall…”

“…Baldur led him out of the hall and gave him the ring Draupnir, to present as a keepsake to Odin. Nanna also sent Frigga a linen cassock and other gifts, and to Fulla a gold finger-ring.”

  • I. A. Blackwell (translator), The Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson (the Prose Edda) (opens in a new tab) (19th c.; Norroena ed. 1906), Gylfaginning, Hermóðr’s journey to Hel (Blackwell’s translation; chapter numbers are not given) Rights: Public domain. Nineteenth-century translation, in the public domain. Text as published online by Project Gutenberg (ebook #14726).
Myth and literature

What the sources say

In Gylfaginning Baldr is killed and the gods burn his body on his ship. Odin lays the ring Draupnir on the pyre, and Nanna’s heart breaks with grief and she is burned beside her husband. In Hel’s hall Hermóðr finds Baldr in the seat of honour. When Hermóðr leaves, Baldr gives him Draupnir to take back to Odin, and Nanna sends Frigga a linen cassock and other gifts and Fulla a gold finger-ring. Hel says Baldr may go home only if everything weeps for him.

The poem Baldrs draumar differs. Its seeress speaks of mead brewed for Baldr, but the poem does not tell of his stay in Hel or of Nanna.