hela

Hela, or Hel, is a term with several distinct uses in myth, popular culture, and geography.

In Norse mythology, Hel (often rendered as Hela in some languages) is the goddess and personification of the underworld realm called Helheim. She is the daughter of Loki and Angrboða and rules over the dead who do not die in battle. The realm and its ruler are part of a broader cosmology that also includes Valhalla and Folkvangr, places associated with warriors and the honored dead. The figure of Hel/Hela is a central element in Norse mythological narratives and later adaptations.

In modern popular culture, Hela is a fictional character in Marvel Comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Depicted as the Asgardian Goddess of Death and a powerful antagonist to Thor, she draws on the mythic name and concept while being adapted to fit contemporary superhero storytelling. Her portrayal emphasizes themes of death, power, and rebellion against Asgardian authority.

Geographically, Hela Province is a province in Papua New Guinea. Created in the 2010s from parts of the Southern Highlands region, its capital is Tari. The province is named after the indigenous Hela people who inhabit the area. The establishment of Hela Province reflects Papua New Guinea’s administrative reorganization in the Highlands, and it is part of the country’s diverse cultural and linguistic landscape.

The term Hela thus encompasses a mythological deity, a fictional comic book character, and a contemporary geographic region, reflecting how a single name can traverse different domains. See also Hel for related spellings and interpretations.