ORIGIN: Nordic [Icelandic]
TYPE: Messenger god
INFORMATION: One of the sons of the Viking god Othin, he was sent to Hel on a mission to obtain the release of the god Balder who had been slain by the blind god Hod. The mission failed because only one creature in the world, a hag (probably Loki in disguise), failed to weep at Balder's loss and Hermod returned empty handed. It may be argued that Hermod is less a deity than a demigod hero modeled on the Danish king of the Beowulf Saga. Also Heremod; Hermoth.