Hodr

Höðr (Old Norse: Hǫðr [ˈhɔðz̠]; often anglicised as Hod, Hoder, or Hodur) is a god in Norse mythology. He is the blind son of Odin and Frigg, who is tricked by Loki into shooting a mistletoe arrow that kills the otherwise invulnerable Baldr.

According to both the Prose Edda and Poetic Edda, Frigg, Baldr’s mother, had everything in existence swear an oath not to harm Baldr, except for mistletoe, which she deemed too insignificant to ask for a pledge (or too young to ask for one). The gods amused themselves by testing weapons on Baldr, seeing that none could harm him. When Loki, the mischief-maker, discovered Baldr’s only vulnerability, he crafted a mistletoe spear and tricked Höðr into shooting it at Baldr. The arrow struck Baldr, killing him, and this was considered the greatest misfortune to ever befall gods and men.

In an alternate version of the myth recorded by the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus in his Gesta Danorum, the mortal hero Høtherus and the demigod Balderus compete for the hand of Nanna, and in this version, Høtherus kills Balderus.

Name
Andy Orchard, Professor of Anglo-Saxon, argues that the name Hǫðr means "warrior," similar to the Old English heaðu-deór ("brave, valiant in war"). The Old Norse noun hǫð ("war, battle") is derived from Proto-Germanic haþuz ("battle"; cf. Old English heaðo-, Old High German hadu-, Old Saxon hathu-).

However, etymological sources like the Old Norse dictionary of the University of Copenhagen and the Árni-Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies show that Hǫðr may also refer to a legendary king of Hadeland in Norway, and could also mean "eagle." Icelandic etymologists link Hǫðr with Hauðr (meaning 'heath,' 'meadow') and Hoð (meaning 'battle').

The Prose Edda
In the Gylfaginning section of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, Höðr is introduced in an ominous manner.

"One of the Æsir is called Höðr. He is blind. He is strong enough, but the gods wish that no occasion arises to name this god, for the work of his hands will long remain in the memories of gods and men." (Eysteinn Björnsson’s edition)

Höðr is only mentioned again when the prelude to Baldr's death is described. Everything except mistletoe (which was considered harmless) had sworn an oath not to harm Baldr, so the Æsir began playfully throwing objects at him.

Then Loki took a mistletoe and split it, and went to the assembly. Höðr stood outside the circle of people because he was blind. Then Loki said to him: "Why don't you shoot at Baldr?" He replied: "Because I cannot see where Baldr is, and also because I am without weapons." Then Loki said: "Do as the others do, and show Baldr the honour that others do. I will show you where he stands. Shoot at him with this missile."

Höðr took the mistletoe and shot at Baldr, guided by Loki. The shaft flew through Baldr and he fell dead to the ground. This was the greatest misfortune ever done among gods and men. (Brodeur's translation)

In the Gylfaginning, it is not said what happens to Höðr afterward, but it is expressly stated that Baldr cannot be avenged, at least not immediately.

When Baldr fell, the Æsir were at a loss for words and also hands to take him, and each looked at the other, and all were of one mind about who had done the deed. But no one could take revenge, for there was such a great peace in that place. (Brodeur's translation)

However, it seems that Höðr ends up in Helheim, as the last mention of him in Gylfaginning is in the description of the world after Ragnarök:

Then Baldr and Höðr will come from Hel, and all will sit together and speak, remembering their runes and discussing the events that happened earlier, including the Midgard Serpent and Fenris-Wolf. (Brodeur's translation)

Snorri’s source for this knowledge is clearly the Völuspá, as quoted below.

In the Skáldskaparmál section of the Prose Edda, several kennings for Höðr are mentioned.

How should Höðr be described? Thus: as the blind god, Baldr’s slayer, the shooter of mistletoe, the son of Odin, companion of Hel, enemy of Váli. (Brodeur’s translation)

Theories
Shamanic Origins
Hilda Ellis Davidson notes that the existence of nine worlds around Yggdrasil is mentioned more than once in Old Norse sources, but the identity of the worlds is never directly stated, although it can be derived from various sources. Davidson observes that it is unclear where the nine worlds are situated in relation to the tree; they may either exist stacked one above the other or perhaps be grouped around it. There are indications of worlds beneath the tree, while the gods are depicted as existing in the sky, connected to the tree by the rainbow bridge Bifröst. Davidson suggests that "those who have attempted to create a convincing diagram of the Scandinavian cosmos from the sources have only contributed to confusion."

The Poetic Edda
Höðr is mentioned multiple times in the Poetic Edda, always in connection with the death of Baldr. The following stanzas are from the Völuspá:

"I saw Baldr,
the blood-red god,
Odin's son,
his fate concealed.
Around him stood
on the fields high,
slender and very fair,
the mistletoe.
From that branch,
which appeared so lovely,
came the harmful shaft:
Höðr began to shoot."
(Eysteinn Björnsson’s edition)

This narrative fits well with the information in the Prose Edda, but it emphasizes the role of Baldr’s avenging brother.

Baldr and Höðr are also mentioned in the Völuspá’s description of the world after Ragnarök:

"Unsewn fields shall grow,
all ill will change for the better,
Baldr shall return.
Höðr and Baldr
will dwell in Hropt's glorious hall,
the battle gods,
do you know yet, or what?"
(Thorpe’s translation)

The poem Vafþrúðnismál informs us that the gods who survive Ragnarök are Viðarr, Váli, Móði, and Magni, without mentioning Höðr and Baldr.

The myth of Baldr’s death is also mentioned in another Eddic poem, Baldrs draumar:

Óðinn said:
"Be silent, völva,
I wish to ask you,
until all is known,
I want to know:
Who shall cause Baldr’s death
and Odin’s son
never rob him of life?"
The völva said:
"Höðr will strike him
with a fatal shaft,
he shall cause Baldr’s death
and Odin’s son
rob him of life.
I spoke under duress,
now I shall be silent."
(Thorpe’s translation)

Höðr is not mentioned again in the Eddas by name, but he is briefly referred to in the Völuspá.

Skaldic Poetry
The name Höðr appears several times in skaldic poetry as part of warrior kennings, such as "Höðr brynju" ("Höðr of the byrnie") or "Höðr víga" ("Höðr of battle"). Some scholars have found the comparison of warriors to Höðr incompatible with Snorri's depiction of him as a blind god, suggesting that poets may have known other myths about Höðr in which he played a more active role.

Gesta Danorum
In Gesta Danorum, Hotherus is a human hero from the Danish and Swedish royal lines. He is skilled in swimming, archery, combat, and music, and Nanna, the daughter of King Gevarus, falls in love with him. However, at the same time, Balderus, Odin's son, sees Nanna while bathing and becomes intensely infatuated with her. He decides to kill his rival, Hotherus.

In the hunt, Hotherus is misled by a fog and meets forest maidens who control the fates of wars. They warn him that Balderus has set his sights on Nanna, but they also advise him not to attack him in battle, as he is a demigod. Hotherus goes to King Gevarus and asks for his daughter. The king responds that he would be happy to grant him a favor, but Balderus has already made a similar request and does not want to incur his wrath.

Gevarus tells Hotherus that Balderus is invincible, but he knows of a weapon that can defeat him: a sword kept by Mimingus, the satyr of the forest. Mimingus also possesses another magical artifact, a bracelet that increases its owner’s wealth. Hotherus captures Mimingus and forces him to give up the artifacts.

When Gelderus, the king of Saxony, hears of Hotherus' artifacts, he prepares a fleet to attack him. Gevarus warns Hotherus and tells him where to meet Gelderus in battle. When the battle begins, Hotherus and his men hold off Gelderus' rockets with a tortoise formation. As their rockets are depleted, Gelderus is forced to ask for peace and is graciously treated by Hotherus, eventually becoming his ally.

Meanwhile, Balderus, armed, enters King Gevarus' land and courts Nanna. Gevarus urges him to probe Nanna's mind. Balderus flatters her but is rejected. Nanna explains that she cannot marry him due to the great difference in their natures, as he is a demigod.

When Hotherus hears of Balderus' attempts, he and his allies decide to attack him. A great naval battle occurs, with the gods fighting on Balderus' side. Thor especially shatters all resistance with his mighty hammer. As the battle seems lost, Hotherus manages to strike Thor’s hammer and the gods are forced to retreat. Gelderus is killed in the battle, and Hotherus builds a funeral pyre for him.

Hotherus eventually marries Nanna after the battle. However, Balderus returns shortly thereafter and defeats Hotherus on the battlefield. His victory is in vain, as he remains without Nanna. Overcome by love, Balderus is haunted by ghosts in Nanna's form, and his health deteriorates so much that he can no longer walk, being carried in a cart.

After some time, a third battle between Hotherus and Balderus occurs, and once again, Hotherus is forced to retreat. Despondent, he desires to wander in the wilderness. In a cave, he meets the same maidens he had encountered at the beginning of his career. They tell him that he can defeat Balderus if he tries an extraordinary food that will increase Balderus' strength.

Encouraged by this, Hotherus returns from exile and meets Balderus again on the battlefield. After a day of fruitless fighting, he sneaks out at night to spy on the enemy. He finds the place where Balderus' magical food is prepared and plays the lyre for the maidens who are cooking it. Although they refuse to give him the food, they gift him a belt and a girdle that will secure his victory.

On his way back to camp, Hotherus encounters Balderus and stabs him in the side with his sword. After three days, Balderus dies from his wound. Many years later, Bous, the son of Odin and Rindr, avenges his brother by killing Hotherus in single combat.

Chronicon Lethrense and Annales Lundenses
These two Danish-Latin chronicles, Chronicon Lethrense and Annales Lundenses, contain a second, lesser-known account of Balder's murder by Höðr.

According to this version, Hother is the king of the Saxons, son of Hothbrod, the daughter of Hadding. Hother initially kills Balder, Odin’s son, in battle and then pursues Odin and Thor. Eventually, Odin's son kills Hother. Hother, Balder, Odin, and Thor are mistakenly thought to be gods.

Rydberg’s Theories
Swedish mythologist and Romantic poet Viktor Rydberg theorized that the story of Baldr's death originates from Húsdrápa, a poem composed by Úlfr Uggason around 990 AD, written to celebrate the completion of a new house by Icelandic chieftain Óláfr Höskuldsson. The walls of the house were adorned with symbolic representations of the Baldr myth. Rydberg suggested that Höðr was depicted with closed eyes, and Loki directed his aim, indicating that Loki was the true cause of Baldr’s death, with Höðr as his "blind instrument." Rydberg theorized that Snorri confused the symbolic artwork in Húsdrápa with the actual story of Baldr’s death.