Hel in Norse Mythology – Who is the Ruler of the World of the Dead?

In the pantheon of Norse deities and monsters, few figures inspire such a mixture of horror and fascination as Hel. Ruler of the land of the dead, daughter of Loki, a creature with a double face. Her name, which has permanently entered many languages as a term for hell, carries the weight of finality. But was Hel merely a soulless guardian of a grim realm? Or was her role much more complex? Take a journey into the frigid depths of Helheim to uncover the secrets of one of the most intriguing figures of Norse mythology.

Who was Hel? Origins, family, and appearance

To understand Hel, we must go back to her unusual birth. She was one of three terrifying children begotten by the god chaos and deception, Loki with the giantess Angrboda. Her siblings were the wolf Fenrir, destined to devour Odin on the day of Ragnarok, and the serpent Jormungandr, so large that he circles the entire world of men, Midgard. This dark heritage marked her fate from the very beginning.

The Gods of Asgard, disturbed by the predictions about Loki’s offspring, decided to intervene. Odin cast Hel down to the lowest of worlds, Niflheim, and gave her dominion over the realm of the dead. Her appearance perfectly reflected her dual nature:

• Double face: On the one hand, her body, and face had the appearance of a beautiful woman, while the other half had colors that were blue and putrid, like that of a decaying corpse. Originally, the description of Hel was fragmentary, depicting only a woman half white, half black. Later interpretations developed the depiction of Hel, as a result of which her image acquired numerous variants.
• Image: She is described as having a perpetually grim, stern and unapproachable expression.

This appearance, described most accurately in The Younger Edda by Snorri Sturluson, is a powerful symbol – Hel embodied both the life that once existed and the inevitable fate of every mortal. She was the boundary, the personification of transition.

Role of Hel in the Nordic world of the dead

The kingdom of Hel, called Helheim, was not the equivalent of the Christian hell, a place of eternal punishment for sinners. Rather, it was a bleak, misty and cold place destined for those who did not die a glorious death in battle. The seat of Hel is the palace of Eljudne. Inside is a bowl called “Hunger”, a knife called “Craving” and a “Bed of Sorrows”. Ganglati and Ganglot (slaves or slow-moving wanderers) serve under her orders. To Helheim went the dead due to illness, old age or unfortunate accident. This was the fate of most ordinary people.

What makes Helheim different from the other hereafter?

• Valhalla: The seat of Odin to which Valkyries brought fallen warriors (Einherjars) to train for the final battle during the Ragnarok.
• Folkwang: The realm of the goddess Freya where the other half of heroes fallen in battle were sent.

Helheim was thus a neutral place, though devoid of joy and glory. Hel reigned there indivisibly. Her power was absolute, and her decisions could not be undermined even by the most powerful gods. The best proof of this is the story of the death of Baldur, the beloved son of Odin and Frigg. When he died, the gods begged Hel for his return. She agreed on one condition:.

“If everything in this world indeed mourns him and wants him to return, I will send Balder back to Asom and give him to the sun. However, if even one essence would not weep or speak against him, he will stay with me forever.”

The quote was translated from the Polish version of the book “Norse Mythology” by Neil Gaiman.

Hel in the sources — The Elder Edda, The Younger Edda and other texts

Our knowledge of Hel comes mainly from two medieval Icelandic works, which form the foundation of knowledge of Norse mythology..

1. The Younger (Prose) Edda: Written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, it is the richest source of information. In a section called Gylfaginning (“The Enchantment of Gylfi”) there is a detailed description of Hel’s origin, appearance and kingdom.
2. The Elder (Poetic) Edda: A collection of songs in which Hel appears less frequently, but at key moments. In the song Völuspá (“The Bard’s Prophecy”) her kingdom is mentioned in the context of Ragnarok. In Baldrs draumar (“Dreams of Baldur”) Odin travels to Helheim to learn the fate of his son.

Did you know that? The English word “hell” and the German word “Hölle” come directly from the Old Norse name Hel. Originally, it simply meant “a hidden place” or “the hereafter,” which fits perfectly with the concept of the underground world of the dead..

Is Hel a goddess?

The status of Hel as a goddess in Norse mythology is somewhat controversial among scholars. In literary sources, particularly Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda, Hel is sometimes referred to as the ruler of the hereafter, but there is no evidence of her religious cult in Viking age. Her power over Helheim is territorial, not divine in the sense of worship or sacrifices. In older accounts, Hel was a personification of the destination of the dead rather than an individual goddess. It was only in later literary interpretations that her character took on personal qualities and was depicted as a woman of extraordinary power. Therefore, Hel can be considered a goddess in the literary and symbolic sense, but not in the traditional cultic sense of the word.

Symbolism and interpretations of the character Hel

Hel is a much deeper figure than just a ghostly ruler of the underworld. She symbolizes fundamental truths of the Nordic worldview:.

• Duality and balance: Her half-living, half-dead body is the perfect embodiment of the cycle of life and death. It is neither good nor bad – it is a necessity. She keeps the balance, making sure the dead stay in their realm.
• The inevitability of fate:In contrast to the glory of Valhalla, her realm represents a more common, inevitable fate. It is a reminder that death comes to everyone, not just warriors on the battlefield.
• Stern justice:Hel is not cruel by nature or choice. She is a harsh but fair ruler. She enforces the rules of her kingdom whether it involves a mere mortal or the son of Odin himself.

Researchers often compare her to other underworld deities like the Greek Hades, however, emphasizing her unique, more passive and functional nature. She is not the goddess who actively brings death, but the one who manages its consequences..

Hel in culture and pop culture

The figure of Hel, with her dark aesthetics and powerful role, has inspired creators for centuries. Her modern depictions often deviate from the mythological original, but attest to her enduring power of influence..

• Cinema and comics:The most famous example is Hela from the Marvel universe (movie Thor: Ragnarok), portrayed as a power-hungry, powerful sister of Thor. Although fictional far from myth, her image has established the character in the mass consciousness.
• Video games: Hel and her kingdom are a frequent motif. In God of War (2018) and God of War: Ragnarok (2022) Kratos and Atreus travel through frigid Helheim. In Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrificethe heroine’s entire journey is a symbolic expedition to the Norse beyond. It also appears in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
• Literature:Neil Gaiman in his book Nordse Mythology in an accessible and colorful way presents the history of Hel, staying true to the sources.
  

Interesting facts and little-known facts about Hel

The world of Hel was full of grim details that highlighted its character:

• The palace of Hel: According to Snorri, the dining hall of Hel was called Eljudnir (Moist from rain). In the passageway was the Fallandaforað threshold, which was a trap for visitors to the place.
• Watchdog: The gates of Helheim were guarded by the monstrous dog Garmr, much like Cerberus in Greek mythology.
• The River Gjöll: To enter her realm, the dead had to cross the River Gjöll on the Gjallarbrú Bridge, which was guarded by the giantess Modgud.

Summary — why Hel still fascinates?

Hel remains one of the most magnetic figures of Norse mythology because he embodies the inevitable and the unknowable. She is not a simple villain, but a complex character performing a crucial, albeit thankless, role. Her harshness, intransigent power and symbolic duality make her a perfect reflection of the Nordic view of death – as a cold, inevitable but natural part of the world order. It is this dark depth that makes her story resonate with us to this day, encouraging us to further explore the mysteries of the North.