In Nordic religious history, the god Balder appears not just as the shining God of Light but also as a ruthless warrior and half-human hero. At the same time, the fact that he is doomed to die is his most striking characteristic. This study brings together these contradictions for the first time, providing plausible reasons for them that go beyond narrative logics in mythical and ritual ideas of the body.

Autorentext

Irina Kößlinger, Ludwig-Maximilans University Munich, Germany.