- Hringhorni
In
Norse mythology , Hringhorni is the name of the ship ofBaldr , described as the "greatest of all ships". According to "Gylfaginning ", following the murder of Baldr byLoki the other gods brought his body down to the sea and laid him to rest on the ship. They would have launched it out into the water and kindled a funeral pyre for Baldr but were unable to move the great vessel without the help of the giantessHyrrokkin , who was sent for out ofJötunheim . She then flung the ship so violently down the rollers at the first push that flames appeared and the earth trembled, much to the annoyance ofThor .Along with Baldr, his wife Nanna was also borne to the funeral pyre after she had died of grief. As Thor was consecrating the fire with his hammer
Mjolnir , a dwarf namedLitr began cavorting at his feet. Thor then kicked him into the flames and he was burned up as well. The significance of this seemingly incidental event is speculative but may perhaps find a parallel in religious ritual. Among other artifacts and creatures sacrificed on the pyre of Hringhorni wereOdin 's golden arm ringDraupnir and thehorse of Baldr with all its trappings.
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