hel

Hel is a figure and a realm in Norse mythology. She is the daughter of Loki and Angrboða and the sister of Fenrir the wolf and Jörmungandr the world-serpent. Hel is also the name of the underworld she governs, making her both a goddess and the ruler of a realm.

The realm of Hel is described in medieval Norse sources as a dim, cold, and misty place in the underworld, often associated with Niflheim. It is the destination for those who die of illness, old age, or otherwise not in combat; those who die in battle are said to go to Valhalla or Freyja’s afterlife field, Folkvangr. The division between Hel and the halls for fallen warriors is a recurring theme in the myths, though survivors rarely interact with Hel directly.

In the Prose Edda, Hel is depicted as a stern and distant ruler who receives the dead and maintains order in her realm. Her hall is usually named Eljudnir, and she is described as a formidable presence within the world of the dead. One of the most notable myths involving Hel is the tale of Baldr’s death: after Baldr dies, Odin sends Hermod to Hel to plead for his return. Hel agrees that Baldr could come back if all things in the world weep for him, but a being, often identified as Loki in disguise, refuses to weep, and Baldr remains in Hel.

Etymology and legacy: the name Hel is cognate with the later English word hell. In modern usage, Hel is commonly associated with the underworld in Norse-inspired and broader mythological contexts.