where does hel live in norse mythology

Full Answer

Where is Helheim located in Norse mythology?

Helheim (“house of Hel”) is one of the nine worlds of Norse mythology. It is ruled by Hel, the monstrous daughter of the trickster god Loki and his wife Angrboda. This cold, dark and misty abode of the dead is located in the world of Niflheim, on the lowest level of the Norse universe.

What is the House of Hel in Norse mythology?

In The Realms. Helheim (“house of Hel”) is one of the nine worlds of Norse mythology. It is ruled by Hel, the monstrous daughter of the trickster god Loki and his wife Angrboda.

Who is Hel's father in Norse mythology?

In the Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, and Heimskringla, Hel is referred to as a daughter of Loki. In the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, Hel is described as having been appointed by the god Odin as ruler of a realm of the same name, located in Niflheim.

Where is Hel located?

It is ruled by Hel, the monstrous daughter of the trickster god Loki and his wife Angrboda. This cold, dark and misty abode of the dead is located in the world of Niflheim, on the lowest level of the Norse universe.

What realm does Hel live in?

Description: Helheim, also known as Hel, is the primary Norse afterlife in the God of War series. It is the realm where people go when they die and is also where certain deities of the universe reside.

Where is Norse Hel?

NiflheimIn the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, Hel is described as having been appointed by the god Odin as ruler of a realm of the same name, located in Niflheim.

Does Hel live in Helheim?

Snorri writes that Hel was cast down into Hel by Odin who "made her ruler over Nine Worlds". Snorri further writes that there Hel is located in Niflheim.

Where was Hel born?

JotunheimThe first mention of Hel comes from the 13th-century Gylfaginning of the Prose Edda, chapter 34, where she is mentioned as one of Loki's three children, born of the giantess Angrboda, living in Jotunheim.

Is Hel good or evil?

Wrapping Up. Hel is a cold, uncaring character in Norse mythology who was neither good nor evil. As the ruler of one of the places where the Norse were believed to go after death, she had an important role. However, she doesn't feature prominently in many myths.

Are Hel and Hela the same?

Hel (also known as Hela), also referred to as the "Two-Faced Terror", is an ancient goddess of the dead within the Norse mythology who presides over the realm Niflheim within the place of the same name which serves a basis for the Christian concept of Hell, where she receives a portion of the dead.

Are Hel and Niflheim the same?

Niflheim, Old Norse Niflheimr, in Norse mythology, the cold, dark, misty world of the dead, ruled by the goddess Hel. In some accounts it was the last of nine worlds, a place into which evil men passed after reaching the region of death (Hel).

Who is the big bird in Hel?

It's possible that the giant eagle that gazes Helheim is Hræsvelgr/Hraesvelg (Old Norse "Corpse Swallower"), a Jötunn who takes the form of a bird and sits at the edge of the world overlooking Helheim and makes the wind blow with the flapping of his wings.

What lives in Helheim?

Helheim, which literally means “house of Hel” in Old Norse, was one of the nine worlds within the universe of Norse mythology. It was an underworld realm of the dead, where those who did not find themselves in Valhalla, the afterlife of brave warriors, were destined to spend eternity.

Who kills Hel Ragnarok?

Loki manages to kill Heimdall right back, a lot of mutual killing goes on at Ragnarok. Still, that's one fight I would love to see, whether in seal or in human form.

What does Hel goddess look like?

In appearance, Hel was fierce-looking and easily recognizable: half black and half flesh-covered. In demeanor, she was described as rather downcast. Occasionally she would leave Niflheim and roam over the Earth on a three-legged white horse, gathering up the many who perished in plague or famine.

Who is the most evil Norse god?

Loki is the Norse god that most people associate with being evil.

Where is Helheim located?

Helheim (“house of Hel”) is one of the nine worlds of Norse mythology. It is ruled by Hel, the monstrous daughter of the trickster god Loki and his wife Angrboda. This cold, dark and misty abode of the dead is located in the world of Niflheim, on the lowest level of the Norse universe.

Where is the Norse underworld?

Situated below one of the roots of the world tree, Yggdrasill, Niflheim contained a well, Hvergelmir, from which many rivers flowed. In the Norse creation story, Niflheim was the misty region north of the void (Ginnungagap) in which the world was created.

Who is the most evil Norse god?

Loki is the Norse god that most people associate with being evil.

What happens if a Viking dies without his sword?

Vikings did not have to die with a sword in hand to reach Valhalla. But only warriors killed in battle would be selected by Odin and his Valkyries to join them in the great halls of Valhalla, where they would spend the afterlife training by day and feasting by night until the arrival of Ragnarok.

What does Hel mean?

Hel ( Old Norse Hel, “Hidden” [1]) is a giantess and/or goddess who rules over the identically-named Hel, the underworld where many of the dead dwell. Her name’s meaning of “Hidden” surely has to do with the underworld and the dead being “hidden” or buried beneath the ground.

What did Hermod tell Hel?

Hermod pleaded with Hel, telling her how every living thing was in sorrow over the loss of Baldur. But Hel wouldn’t give up her prize so easily. She told Hermod – in a taunting way, we can imagine – that she would only consent to release Baldur if every last thing in the universe wept for him.

Why is Hel considered a late literary personification?

Because of how sparsely-defined her character is, many scholars view Hel as more of a late literary personification of the grave than a goddess who was actually worshiped or appeased in her own right. [4] Due to the lack of conclusive evidence either way, this must remain an open question.

Who refused to weep for Baldur?

Hermod and the other gods went around and got almost everything in the cosmos to weep for Baldur. Only one giantess, who was probably Loki in disguise, refused. But because of that one refusal, the terms of Hel’s offer weren’t met, and Hel kept Baldur in her cold clutches.

Who is Hel's sister?

According to the thirteenth-century Icelandic scholar Snorri Sturluson, Hel is the daughter of Loki and the giantess Angrboda (Old Norse Angrboða, “Anguish-boding”), and therefore the sister of the wolf Fenrir and the world serpent, Jormungand. [2] . This makes her part of a highly dangerous and disreputable family.

Who is the god that slain Baldur?

The beloved god Baldur was slain by none other than Hel’s father, Loki, and the gods sent an emissary named Hermod to Hel in hopes of retrieving Baldur.

Is Hel a greedy person?

Hel is generally presented as being rather greedy, harsh, and cruel, or at least indifferent to the concern s of both the living and the dead. However, her personality is little-developed in what survives of Old Norse literature. She’s mostly mentioned only in passing.

What does Odin do in Baldrs Draumar?

In Baldrs draumar, Odin rides to the edge of Hel to investigate nightmares that Baldr has had. He uses a spell to bring to life the corpse of a Völva. Odin introduces himself under a false name and pretense and asks for information from the völva relating to Baldr's dreams.

What is the location of Hel?

In Norse mythology, Hel ( Old Norse: [ˈhel]) is an afterlife location. It is ruled over by a being of the same name, Hel. In late Icelandic sources, varying descriptions of Hel are given and various figures are described as being buried with items that will facilitate their journey to Hel after their death. In the Poetic Edda, Brynhildr 's trip to Hel after her death is described and Odin, while alive, also visits Hel upon his horse Sleipnir. In the Prose Edda, Baldr goes to Hel on his death and subsequently Hermóðr uses Sleipnir to attempt to retrieve him.

What is the compound of the rune?

The compound is composed of two elements: * haljō and * rūnō, the Proto-Germanic precursor to Modern English rune. The second element in the Gothic haliurunnae may however instead be an agent noun from the verb rinnan ("to run, go"), which would make its literal meaning "one who travels to the netherworld".

What is the story of Hadingus in Gesta Danorum?

Book I of Gesta Danorum contains an account of what has often been interpreted as a trip to Hel. While having dinner, King Hadingus is visited by a woman bearing stalks of hemlock who asks him if he knows where such fresh herbs grow in winter. Hadingus wants to know; so the woman muffles him with her cloak, pulls him into the ground, and they vanish. Saxo reasons that the gods wished for Hadingus to visit in the flesh where he will go when he dies.

What is the name of the hall in Niflheim?

The hall is called - or inside of this huge hall there is a hall belonging to Hel called - Éljúðnir. Within this hall, Hel is described as having a servant, a slave and various possessions.

Where does the bloody Garmr go in the book?

Odin continues down the road and approaches Hel, which is described as the "high hall of Hel.". There he proceeds to the grave of the Völva near the eastern doors where the descriptions of Hel end.

Where is Niflhel in the poem?

Niflhel is mentioned as being just outside Hel.

What book does Hel mention in?

In chapter 5 of the Prose Edda book Skáldskaparmál, Hel is mentioned in a kenning for Baldr ("Hel's companion"). In chapter 16, "Hel's [...] relative or father" is given as a kenning for Loki. In chapter 50, Hel is referenced ("to join the company of the quite monstrous wolf's sister") in the skaldic poem Ragnarsdrápa.

What does the word "hel" mean in Norse mythology?

In her 1948 work on death in Norse mythology and religion, The Road to Hel, Hilda Ellis Davidson argued that the description of Hel as a goddess in surviving sources appeared to be literary personification, the word hel generally being "used simply to signify death or the grave", which she states "naturally lends itself to personification by poets". While noting that "whether this personification has originally been based on a belief in a goddess of death called Hel [was] another question", she stated that she did not believe the surviving sources gave any reason to believe so, while they included various other examples of "supernatural women" who "seem to have been closely connected with the world of death, and were pictured as welcoming dead warriors". She suggested that the depiction of Hel "as a goddess" in Gylfaginning "might well owe something to these".

What is the name of the dish in the Prose Edda?

Details include but are not limited to Hel's dish " hunger " and the knife " famine ".

What does the downward slope on Hel mean?

In particular the bracteates IK 14 and IK 124 depict a rider traveling down a slope and coming upon a female being holding a scepter or a staff. The downward slope may indicate that the rider is traveling towards the realm of the dead and the woman with the scepter may be a female ruler of that realm, corresponding to Hel.

What is myNDIR in Norse?

MyNDIR (My Norse Digital Image Repository ) —Illustrations of Hel from manuscripts and early print books. Clicking on the thumbnail will give the full image and information concerning it.

What does High say about Hel?

Upon their arrival, Odin threw Jörmungandr into "that deep sea that lies round all lands," Odin threw Hel into Niflheim, and bestowed upon her authority over nine worlds, in that she must "administer board and lodging to those sent to her, and that is those who die of sickness or old age." High details that in this realm Hel has "great Mansions" with extremely high walls and immense gates, a hall called Éljúðnir, a dish called "Hunger," a knife called "Famine," the servant Ganglati (Old Norse "lazy walker" ), the serving-maid Ganglöt (also "lazy walker" ), the entrance threshold "Stumbling-block," the bed "Sick-bed," and the curtains "Gleaming-bale." High describes Hel as "half black and half flesh-coloured," adding that this makes her easily recognizable, and furthermore that Hel is "rather downcast and fierce-looking."

What does "given to Hel" mean?

In a stanza from Ynglingatal recorded in chapter 72 of the Heimskringla book Saga of Harald Sigurdsson, "given to Hel" is again used as a phrase to referring to death.

Etymology

Hel’s name was taken directly from the Old Norse “Hel,” meaning “hidden.” Its name may have been a reference to its remote, subterranean location. The realm was sometimes referred to as “Helheim,” meaning “place of Hel,” or perhaps “hidden place.”

Mythology

Early on in Norse tradition, Hel was described as both the underworld and the final destination of the dead.

Pop Culture

Hel lived on in the popular imagination as Hell, a place of demons and fork-tailed devils, where fire, sulphur, and red-hot pincers tortured the souls of unrepentant sinners.

How did Baldur die?

In one of Norse mythology’s most well-known tales, the god Baldur was killed when Loki tricked his blind brother into hitting him with a weapon made of mistletoe, the only thing in the world that could harm him. The gods were all heartbroken at Baldur’s death.

Why did Snorri Sturluson find himself in Hel?

They found themselves in Hel after succumbing to illness, old age, misfortune, or hunger. Snorri Sturluson later amended the view of Hel. Influenced by medieval Christian notions of reward and punishment in the afterlife, he saw Hel as the place where those who committed terrible crimes were sent.

Why did Odin travel to Hel before Baldur's death?

The Volva: Odin traveled to Hel before Baldur’s death to speak to a long-dead volva, or seeress. He used a spell to revive her and received the prophecies of Ragnarok.

Why was Hel sent to a far off realm?

While later made more macabre, her only original connection to death was a blue pallor and dour expression. Hel’s relatively unthreatening nature is likely why she was not punished as harshly as her family members. While her father and brothers were all bound, Hel was sent to a far-off realm to be a ruler.

What is Hel's domain?

Hel’s domain was the grim, frozen land of death. She and her world were interchangeable in both name and characterization. Hel’s realm plays an important role in many of Norse mythology’s most well-known stories. From the first prophecy of Ragnarok to the battle’s brutal climax, Hel is at the center of events.

What is Odin's discovery of the Runes called?

Odin’s Discovery of the Runes. Sometimes it was known as Helheim, or “Hel’s Home.”. Occasionally, her hall is specifically referenced as Eljudnir. Most often, however, Hel’s realm is simply called Hel as well. Like the Greek Hades, the ruler of the dead was synonymous with the land she ruled.

When was Hel first mentioned?

The first clear attestations to a goddess of Hel are from the 10th and 11th centuries. Some historians believe that Hel was originally thought of as the grave rather than any fully realized Underworld. When Odin travels to meet the volva, for example, he has to revive her in order to communicate.

Where is the house of Helheim?

This cold, dark and misty abode of the dead is located in the world of Niflheim, on the lowest level of the Norse universe.

Can you leave Helheim?

No one can ever leave this place, because of the impassable river Gjoll that flows from the spring Hvergelmir and encircles Helheim. Once they enter Helheim, not even the gods can leave. Those who die of old age or disease, and those not killed in battle, go to Helheim while those who die bravely on the battlefield go to Valhalla.

Who guards the entrance to Helheim?

The entrance to Helheim is guarded by Garm, a monstrous hound, and Modgud. The giant Hraesvelg (“corpse eater”) sits at the edge of the world, overlooking Helheim. In the form of an eagle with flapping wings he makes the wind blow. goddess Helheim mythology.

Overview

Hel (Old Norse: [ˈhel]) is an afterlife location in Norse mythology and paganism. It is ruled over by a being of the same name, Hel. In late Icelandic sources, varying descriptions of Hel are given and various figures are described as being buried with items that will facilitate their journey to Hel after their death. In the Poetic Edda, Brynhildr's trip to Hel after her death is described and Odin, while alive, also visits Hel upon his horse Sleipnir. In the Prose Edda, Baldr goes to Hel on his deat…

Etymology

Attestations

Archaeological record

Scholarly reception

As a given name

In popular culture

Hel (Old Norse: [ˈhel]) is a female being in Norse mythology who is said to preside over an underworld realm of the same name, where she receives a portion of the dead. Hel is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century. In addition, she is mentioned in poems recorded in Heimskringla and Egils saga that date from the 9th and 10th centuries, respectively. An episode in the Latin work G…

See also