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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Hel (realm). (Discuss) |
In Norse mythology, Hel (sometimes Anglicized or Latinized as Hela) is the ruler of Hel, the Norse underworld. This word is the root of the English word hell. Hel's hall is named Eliudnir.
In the Gylfaginning, she is described as the daughter of Loki and Angrboða – a giantess (gýgr, see jotun) – and thus sister of the Fenrisulfr and the sea serpent Jörmungandr. Since her father is often described as a god, although both his parents were giants, the same might be said of Hel.
When Odin became aware of the existence of Loki's children, he banished them to remote places. Hel he cast down to her realm in the underworld and gave her authority over all those in the nine worlds who do not die gloriously in battle but of sickness or of old age.
Heimskringla relates that she procured herself a spouse by having the Swedish king Dyggvi die a natural death.
Appearance and possessions
Hel's appearance and possessions are described:
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Hon á þar mikla bólstaði ok eru garðar hennar forkunnar hávir ok grindr stórar. Éljúðnir heitir salr hennar,
Hungr diskr hennar, Sultr knífr hennar, Ganglati þrællinn, Ganglöt ambátt, Fallandaforað þresköldr
hennar er inn gengr, Kör sæing, Blíkjandaböl ársali hennar. Hon er blá hálf en hálf með hörundarlit, því er hon
auðkend ok heldr gnúpleit ok grimmlig. |
She has great possessions there; her walls are exceeding high and her gates great. Her hall is called
Sleet-Cold; her dish, Hunger; Famine is her knife; Idler, her slave; Sloven, her maidservant;
Pit of Stumbling, her threshold, by which one enters; Disease, her bed; Gleaming Bale, her bed-hangings. She
is half blue-black and half flesh-color (by which she is easily recognized), and very lowering and fierce. —Brodeur translation
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The path to Hel is known as the Helvegr and the gates Helgrindr or Nágrind ("Corpse Gate"). Here Garmr is fastened, Hel's watchdog, who is bloody both on chest and neck.
Baldr and Hel
Later in the same source is described how Hermóðr tries to retrieve the dead Baldr's soul from Hel.
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En þat er at segja frá Hermóði at hann reið níu nætr døkkva dala ok djúpa svá at hann sá ekki fyrr en hann kom
til árinnar Gjallar ok reið á Gjallarbrúna. Hon er þökt lýsigulli. Móðguðr er nefnd mær sú er gætir
brúarinnar. |
Now this is to be told concerning Hermóðr, that he rode nine nights through dark dales and deep, so that he saw not before he was come to the river Gjöll (or Gjallar-river) and rode onto the Gjöll-Bridge (or Gjallar-bridge); which bridge is thatched with glittering gold. Móðguðr is the maiden called who guards the bridge. |
Hel agrees to release Baldr, but only if every being in the world cries over his death. All do, except for one giantess---sometimes said to be Loki in disguise---and thus Baldr remains in Hel, though he will supposedly be resurrected after Ragnorok.
Theories
It has been suggested that this description of Hel is of later date, and that she originally was a much more neutral goddess over the realm of shadows, where all, despite their deeds, gather after death. This can be seen as being supported by the etymology of Hel (Lat. Celāre, Ger. hehlen), meaning the "hider". It is important to note that also the noble Baldr and the brave Sigurd are sent to Hel after their deaths. Bishop Wulfila uses the Gothic word Halja to translate the Greek "Hades."
Viktor Rydberg, in particular, advocated this view. In the book "Our Fathers' Godsaga"
he theorizes that the correct name for Loki's daughter is in fact "Leikn" and that, in Christian times, she was confused with
Urðr, one of the three
Modern popular culture
Mikhail Bulgakov named the devil's witch Hela, in his work "The Master and Margarita".
In the Boktai videogame series, Hel is the queen of immortals and serves as the final boss in the first game.
In the Everworld series by K.A. Applegate Hel is a psychotic and sadistic goddess. Half of her body is a beautiful woman, while the other half is of a disgusting, decayed corpse; she enjoys forcing men to sleep with her, as she seems enchanted so that they find her living side unbelievably beautiful, but her dead side just as disgusting, so that they are mentally destroyed by looking at her. Women are less affected by her powers.
Hel is a minor character in the webcomic, Brat-halla, whose lower half is that of a corpse while her upper half is that of a beautiful woman. She is noted for being cruel and eager to hand out punishment, attributed to the fact that she got a job as a teacher.
Hel serves as the main villain in the upcoming game Viking: Battle for Asgard.
In The Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok, Hel takes on the form of a bespectacled young girl who has a scary complex with her father (who is the central character of the series and has taken the form of a child.)
In Marvel Comics' "Thor" series, Hel appears (named Hela) as an occasional antagonist, although she appears as a normal human woman with none of the cadaverous features of mythology.
In Amon Amarth's newest album, With Oden on Our Side, they retell the story of Hermóðr's attempt to rescue Baldr in the song "Hermod's Ride to Hel - Loke's Treachery Part 1."
| Norse mythology | ||
|---|---|---|
| List of
Norse gods • Æsir • Vanir • Giants • Elves • Dwarves • |
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| Sources | Poetic Edda • Prose Edda • The Sagas • Volsung Cycle • Tyrfing Cycle • Rune stones • Old Norse language • Orthography • Later influence | |
| Society | Viking Age • Skald • Kenning • Blót • Seid • Numbers | |
| People, places and things | ||
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