This tattoo pictures Baldr’s death, a further step towards Ragnarok. Baldur’s death serves as the primary catalyst and first major sign of the events leading directly to Ragnarök in Norse mythology. (Baldr is the name in Old Norse language)
The beloved god of light and son of Odin and Frigg, had nightmares about his own death. Frigg extracted an oath from every living and inanimate thing in existence promising never to harm Baldur, but except for the mistletoe, which she deemed too small and harmless to bother asking. The trickster god Loki discovered this single weakness. He fashioned a dart or spear from Mistletoe and tricked Baldur’s blind brother, Höðr, into throwing it at Baldur, killing him instantly.
Odin sent Hermðr to the underworld (Hel) to plead for Baldur’s return. Hel agreed to release him only if every single thing in the world wept for him. Disguised as a giantess named Þökk (Thökk), Loki refused to cry, leaving Baldur trapped in the underworld. The gods recognized Baldur’s death as the point of no return.
It directly sets off the breakdown of the worlds order and we all experience right now what happens if the order is shattered. But the potential in creating something new after a certain event of death is high.
Ancientskin | Norse & Historical Tattoos | Specialized in Handpoke Tattoos but I also do Machine tattoos. Based in Svenljunga, Västra Götaland, Sweden.
Misteltoe Picture: ©Tubifex Creative Commons CC-BY-SA-3.0
norsetattoo #vikingart #norsemythology #handpoketattoo #historicaltattoo
