Hel is the Norse goddess who rules over the realm of the same name, where she receives those who die of illness, old age, or accident—rather than in battle. She is the daughter of the trickster god Loki and the giantess Angrboða, and she is described in the Prose Edda as half black and half flesh-colored, with a grim, fearsome appearance.
Who Is Hel in Norse Mythology?
Hel is one of three monstrous children born to Loki and the giantess Angrboða, alongside the wolf Fenrir and the world serpent Jörmungandr. The gods, led by Odin, foresaw great trouble from these offspring. While Fenrir was bound and Jörmungandr was cast into the ocean, Hel was given authority over the underworld realm that would come to bear her name. The Prose Edda, written by the Icelandic scholar Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century, describes her as having a half-blue, half-flesh-colored body, and says she is “gloomy and downcast.” Her hall is called Éljúðnir (“Sprayed with Snowstorms”), her dish is called Hunger, her knife is Famine, and her bed is named “Disease.”
Hel’s Role and the Realm She Rules
Hel’s primary role is to be the caretaker of the dead who did not die in battle. In Norse belief, warriors who fell in combat were taken to Valhalla by the valkyries, or to the goddess Freyja’s field Fólkvangr. Everyone else—the sick, the elderly, those who drowned, and those who died of natural causes—went to Hel. This was not necessarily a punishment; Hel’s realm was a neutral, shadowy place, not a fiery hell. The Old Norse word hel itself simply means “hidden” or “underworld,” and it is the source of the English word “hell,” though the Christian concept of eternal torment is quite different.
Hel in the Poetic Edda and Other Sources
Hel appears in several poems of the Poetic Edda, a collection of anonymous Old Norse poems compiled in the 13th century. In the poem Baldrs draumar (“Baldr’s Dreams”), Odin rides to Hel’s hall to question a seeress about his son Baldr’s ominous dreams. The seeress tells him that Baldr will indeed die, and that Hel is preparing a lavish welcome for him. In Grímnismál, Odin, disguised as Grímnir, mentions that Hel’s hall is “roofed with shields” and that its gates face north. The most detailed description comes from the Prose Edda’s Gylfaginning, where the enthroned figure High describes Hel’s appearance, her hall, and her role. It is also in Gylfaginning that we learn Hel’s father Loki will break free at Ragnarök, and that Hel herself will side with the forces of chaos against the gods.
Hel at Ragnarök
At Ragnarök, the end of the world in Norse mythology, Hel is not described as fighting in any battle. Instead, the dead from her realm are said to be among the forces that sail with Loki on the ship Naglfar, which is made from the nails of the dead. The Prose Edda states that when the giant Hrym steers the ship, “the giants all go with Loki,” and the inhabitants of Hel follow. This suggests that Hel’s realm contributes its dead to the final conflict, though Hel herself is not mentioned as a combatant. After the world is destroyed and reborn, the surviving gods—including Baldr, who returns from Hel—gather in a new world, and Hel’s realm fades from the narrative.
Hel vs. Hades: A Comparison
Hel is often compared to Hades, the Greek god of the underworld, but there are key differences. Hades is a powerful Olympian who also rules over the dead, but he is not depicted as monstrous; he is a stern but just god. Hel, by contrast, is a giantess and a daughter of Loki, and her appearance is half-corpse. Both figures preside over a realm that bears their name, and both are associated with the inevitability of death. However, in Greek myth, Hades is not evil, and his realm is a place of judgment with distinct areas like Elysium and Tartarus. In Norse myth, Hel’s realm is more uniform—there is no reward or punishment, just a shadowy continuation of life. The Norse also had a separate concept of Niflhel (“Misty Hel”), a deeper level where the worst oath-breakers were sent, but this is mentioned only in the Prose Edda and may be a Christian-influenced addition.
Common Misconceptions About Hel
A frequent misconception is that Hel is the same as the Christian devil or that her realm is a place of fire and torment. In fact, the Old Norse sources describe Hel as cold and misty, not fiery. Another misconception is that Hel is evil. She is simply the ruler of the dead, and she does not actively seek to harm the living. She is dutiful in her role, and even the beloved god Baldr must go to her after his death, as she is the one who decides whether he can return. In the Prose Edda, when Hermóðr rides to Hel to beg for Baldr’s release, Hel says she will let Baldr go only if all things in the world weep for him—a test that ultimately fails, as one giantess (likely Loki in disguise) refuses to weep. This shows that Hel follows her own rules, but she is not malicious.
Hel’s Cultural Legacy
Hel has left a significant mark on modern culture. The English word “hell” derives from her name, and she appears in countless books, games, and films. In Marvel Comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hel is portrayed as a powerful villainess, though this version is heavily adapted and not faithful to the original mythology. In the video game God of War (2018), Hel is a realm of the dead that the protagonist Kratos and his son Atreus traverse, again with creative liberties. These modern portrayals often emphasize her half-dead appearance and her connection to the dead, but they sometimes overlook her role as a neutral caretaker. For those interested in the original sources, the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda are available in modern English translations, and they offer a more nuanced picture of Hel than most popular media.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hel the same as Loki?
No, Hel is Loki’s daughter. Her mother is the giantess Angrboða, and her siblings are the wolf Fenrir and the world serpent Jörmungandr. Loki is her father, but he does not rule over the dead; that is Hel’s domain.
Is Hel a goddess or a giantess?
Hel is both, in a sense. She is the daughter of a giantess, and she is often referred to as a giantess in the sources. However, she is also counted among the gods (the Æsir) in some contexts, and she holds a position of authority over the dead. The Prose Edda calls her “the ruler of the realm of the dead,” and she is treated as a powerful being in her own right.
Where is Hel located?
Hel is located in the underworld, beneath one of the roots of the world tree Yggdrasil. The Prose Edda says that the root that extends into Niflheim (the realm of mist and cold) is where Hel resides. Her realm is surrounded by a river called Gjöll, and her gate is called Helgrind (“Hel’s Gate”).
Does Hel punish sinners?
In the original Norse sources, Hel does not punish anyone. Her realm is not a place of torment; it is simply the abode of the dead who did not die in battle. The concept of punishment after death is more prominent in the Prose Edda’s description of Niflhel, where perjurers and murderers are said to be sent, but this is a minor detail and may reflect Christian influence. Hel herself is not depicted as a judge or torturer.
Can the dead leave Hel?
In Norse mythology, it is extremely rare for anyone to leave Hel. The only notable exception is Baldr, who is allowed to return to the world of the living after Ragnarök, when the new world is created. Hermóðr also rides into Hel and returns, but he does so as a living messenger, not as a dead soul. In general, Hel is a one-way destination for the dead.
Related
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- Amun in Egyptian Mythology: Origins & Role
- Horus in Egyptian Mythology: Roles & Myths
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