BALDER is the son of Odin and Frigga, the most beloved of his father and mother, the most benevolent among the Asar, the sun personified, the god of light, piety and poesy. He was slain by his twin brother Hædur, born blind, with a branch of the mistletoe. His fate and its consequences have been related at length in the preliminary discourse to this poem. Balder typifies the sun at the summer solstice, and his death the disappearance of the sun from the horizon during the winter months in the north, while Hædur, type of darkness, reigns. The word in Icelandic means brilliant, beautiful, powerful. Balder has an evident analogy with the Baal of the Assyrians, the Apollo of the Greeks, the Horus of the Egyptians, the Krïshna of the Hindoos, all of which are types of the sun in its highest splendour.
BAUGE, name of a giant, who procured for Odin entrance into the bower of Gunliod, when he sought to make himself master of the vase containing the precious liquor called Suttung’s mead, which was confided to the care of Gunliod. Bolverk was the name assumed by Odin on that occasion. Baug in Icelandic means a “ring,” and among the northern nations in the Gothic time promises were made by holding a ring; and this mythe may mean Odin’s seduction of Gunliod by means of a promise given on the ring.
BERGELMER, name of the giant who, with his wife, were the only ones of that race who escaped being drowned in the blood of Ymer. He and his consort escaped on a wreck, and landed on the top of a mountain. From these two descended the second generation of giants. This mythe reminds one of the deluge of Noah and that of Deucalion and Pyrrha, and the mountain, mount Ararat; for Bergelmer means the ancient of the mountain, from berg (mountain), and gamla (old).
BERSERK (bare sark), name given to a sort of combatants among the ancient Scandinavians, who affected peculiar ferocity, and fought with their fists and teeth, in the absence of other weapons, and in no other clothing but their shirt; hence their name. Berserkgang is a term used to signify a combat of life and death, and is often applied to the exploits of Thor, to denote their peculiar danger and difficulty.
BETSLA, name of a beautiful giantess, the wife of Bor, and mother of Odin, Vil and Ve.
BIFROST, name of the vast bridge which unites heaven to earth, and typifies the rainbow. Over this bridge the Asar must pass when they descend to the world below; over it must likewise pass the heroes slain in battle, when they ascend to Valhalla, escorted by the Valkyrior. Etym.: from the Icelandic words bifa (to move) and röst (stone). The bridge Bifrost was supposed to be constructed of stones of various colours.
BILSKIRNIR, name of the palace or castle of Thor, in Trudvang. It is tiled with copper shields, its halls are inlaid with gold and silver, and it has five hundred and forty gates. Etym.: Icelandic words billd (aspect, image), and skirna (make bright).
BOLVERK, name assumed by Odin when he served Bauge, disguised as a labourer. The etymology of this word may be böll (a bolt) and verk (work).
BOR, or Bör, name of the son of Bure; by his union with the beautiful giantess Betsla, he became the father of the Scandinavian triad, Odin, Vil, and Ve. Bor, in Icelandic, means son. But I suspect the word to be of Hebrew origin, meaning beginning; for böra is precisely the Hebrew word wherewith the first book of Genesis begins.