Christoffer wilhelm eckersberg mythological creatures
Christoffer wilhelm eckersberg mythological creatures book...
This painting, by the Danish artist Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg (c.
Christoffer wilhelm eckersberg mythological creatures
1783 – 1853), was inspired by a painful myth involving the mischievous Norse god, Loki. Based on the chronological timeline of myths provided by the Icelandic scholar and historian, Snorri Sturluson (c. 1179-1241), this tortuous scene came as a consequence of one of Loki’s greatest crimes against his fellow gods—the killing of Baldr.
To understand the scene depicted in C.W. Eckersberg’s painting, we must begin our narrative with Loki’s dastardly scheme that ultimately led to his own hellish punishment.
Baldr (also spelled Baldur or Balder) was a near-invincible god whose mother, Frigg, obtained promises from fire, water, metals, stones, plant life, animal wildlife, poisons and even diseases and viruses, all swearing that they would not harm her son.
When all of the oaths were collected, Baldr was so invulnerable that the mighty gods amused themselves by punching, throwing stones, shooting arrows, even striking