dauðan

Dauðan is a term that appears in Old Norse literature and mythology. It translates to "death" or "dead" in modern English. The concept of death in the Old Norse worldview was complex and multifaceted, involving not just the cessation of life but also the fate of the soul and the individual's legacy.

In Old Norse sagas and poems, dauðan is often depicted as an inevitable force, a destination for all beings, whether mortal or divine. While gods could sometimes avoid death through specific means or interventions, it was a constant threat. The manner of one's dauðan was also significant, with a glorious death in battle often being idealized.

The mythological realm associated with death was primarily Hel, ruled by the goddess Hel. Those who died of sickness or old age, or without honor, were often said to go to Hel, a gloomy underworld. Conversely, warriors who fell bravely in combat might be chosen by the Valkyries to dine in Valhalla, Odin's hall, preparing for the final battle of Ragnarök. The concept of dauðan was therefore intertwined with notions of fate, honor, and the afterlife.