Breidablik

In Norse mythology, Breiðablik^[1] (Broad-gleaming) is the home of Baldr. It is briefly described in Snorri Sturluson's Gylfaginning as one of the halls of Asgard:

"Then there is also in that place the abode called Breidablik, and there is not in heaven a fairer dwelling."^[2]

Later in the work, when Snorri describes Baldr, he gives a longer description, citing Grímnismál, though he does not name the poem:

"He dwells in the place called Breidablik, which is in heaven; in that place may nothing unclean be, even as is said here:

Breidablik 't is called, | where Baldr has

A hall made for himself:

In that land | where I know lie

Fewest baneful runes."^[3]

Breiðablik is not otherwise mentioned in the Eddic sources.

See also

• Breiðablik UBK, an Icelandic sports club.
• Breidablik Peak, a mountain named after Breidablik.

Notes

1. The name can be Anglicized as Breidablik, Breithablik or Breidhablik.
2. Gylfaginning XVII, Brodeur's translation.
3. Gylfaginning XXII, Brodeur's translation. The strophe is Grímnismál 12.

References

• Bellows, Henry Adams (transl.) (1936). The Poetic Edda. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Available online
• Brodeur, Arthur Gilchrist (transl.) (1916). The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson. New York: The American-Scandinavian Foundation. Available online