Hermóðr (Old Norse:[ˈhermˌoːðz̠], "war-spirit";[1] anglicized asHermod) is a figure inNorse mythology, a son of the godOdin and brother ofBaldr.
Hermóðr appears distinctly in section 49 of theProse Edda bookGylfaginning. There, it is described that the gods were speechless and devastated at the death ofBaldr, unable to react due to their grief. After the gods gathered their wits from the immense shock and grief of Baldr's death, Frigg asked the Æsir who amongst them wished "to gain all of her love and favor"[2] by riding the road toHel. Whoever agreed was to offerHel a ransom in exchange for Baldr's return to Asgard. Hermóðr agreed to this and set off withSleipnir to Hel.
Hermóðr rode Odin's horse Sleipnir for nine nights through deep and dark valleys to theGjöll bridge covered with shining gold, the bridge being guarded by the maidenMóðguðr 'Battle-frenzy' or 'Battle-tired'. Móðguðr told Hermóðr that Baldr had already crossed the bridge and that Hermóðr should ride downwards and northwards.
Upon coming to Hel's gate, Hermóðr dismounted, tightened Sleipnir's girth, mounted again, and spurred Sleipnir so that Sleipnir leapt entirely over the gate. So at last Hermóðr came to Hel's hall and saw Baldr seated in the most honorable seat. Hermóðr begged Hel to release Baldr, citing the great weeping for Baldr among theÆsir. Thereupon Hel announced that Baldr would only be released if all things, dead and alive, wept for him.
Baldr gave Hermóðr the ringDraupnir which had been burned with him on his pyre, to take back to Odin.Nanna gave a linen robe forFrigg along with other gifts and a finger-ring forFulla. Thereupon Hermóðr returned with his message.
Hermóðr is called "son" of Odin in most manuscripts, while in theCodex Regius version—normally considered the best manuscript—Hermóðr is calledsveinn Óðins 'Odin's boy', which in the context is as likely to mean 'Odin's servant'. However Hermóðr in a later passage is called Baldr's brother and also appears as son of Odin in a list of Odin's sons. SeeSons of Odin.
The name Hermóðr seems to be applied to a mortalhero in theeddic poemHyndluljóð (stanza 2):
The favour of the Highfather we seek to find,
To his followers gold he gladly gives;
To Hermóðr he gave helm and mail-coat,And toSigmund he gave a sword as a gift.
In theskaldic poemHákonarmál (stanza 14) Hermóðr andBragi appear inValhalla receivingHákon the Good. It is not certain that either Hermóðr or Bragi is intended to be a god in this poem.
In theOld English poemBeowulf,Heremod is aDanish king who was driven into exile and in Old English genealogies Heremod appears appropriately as one of the descendants ofSceafa and usually as the father ofScyld.