What is Hel like in Norse mythology?

What is Hel like in Norse mythology?

Hel (Old Norse Hel, “Hidden;” pronounced like the English word “Hell”) is the most general name for the underworld where many of the dead dwell. ... Like physical graves, Hel was thought to be located underground. Some sources also place it in the north, the direction which is cold and dark like the grave.

How is Hel described?

Hel (Old Norse Hel, “Hidden”) is a giantess and/or goddess who rules over the identically-named Hel, the underworld where many of the dead dwell. ... Hel is generally presented as being rather greedy, harsh, and cruel, or at least indifferent to the concerns of both the living and the dead.

Is Hel evil in Norse mythology?

2019-08-26 2020-06-15 by Jessica S. Hel, goddess of death, could there be a more fearsome being in the world of Norse mythology? But don't be taken-in by the portrayal of the Norse goddess of death in the Marvel universe. While the Norse goddess was the ruler of the underworld, she was never represented as pure evil.

Is Hel cold in Norse mythology?

The term Hel (meaning "to bury," and "grave") is used in Norse mythology to refer to both the realm of the dead and to its queen. As a realm, Hel is described as a cold, shadowy place, inhabited by the souls of individuals who died in a so-called 'cowardly manner' (i.e., not in battle).

Is Hel a bad place?

So, in the actual contents of Norse mythology, there is little or no indication that the Hel (hall) of the goddess Hel is a bad place to be. Specifically, the reference to Hel being a bad place is in chapter 3 of Gylfaginning, which also says it is the place where evil people go after death.

Where does Hel live in Norse mythology?

Niflheim Hel was one of the children of the trickster god Loki, and her kingdom was said to lie downward and northward. It was called Niflheim, or the World of Darkness, and appears to have been divided into several sections, one of which was Náströnd, the shore of corpses.

Who goes to Hel in Norse mythology?

Once they enter Helheim, not even the gods can leave. Those who die of old age or disease, and those not killed in battle, go to Helheim while those who die bravely on the battlefield go to Valhalla. The entrance to Helheim is guarded by Garm, a monstrous hound, and Modgud.

What did Odin do to Hel?

Odin had the most important task, imbuing the first people with spirit and life, while Vili and Ve gave the power of movement and the capability of understanding, as well as clothing and names. Because of Odin's role in creating the Norse universe, he became known as the Giver of Life.

Is Niflheim a Hel?

Niflheim, Old Norse Niflheimr, in Norse mythology, the cold, dark, misty world of the dead, ruled by the goddess Hel. In some accounts it was the last of nine worlds, a place into which evil men passed after reaching the region of death (Hel).

Who lived in Hel?

Helheim (“house of Hel”) is one of the nine worlds of Norse mythology. It is ruled by Hel, the monstrous daughter of the trickster god Loki and his wife Angrboda. This cold, dark and misty abode of the dead is located in the world of Niflheim, on the lowest level of the Norse universe.

What is the meaning of Hel in Norse mythology?

• Hel (Goddess) Hel (Old Norse Hel, “Hidden”[1]) is a giantess and/or goddess who rules over the identically-named Hel, the underworld where many of the dead dwell. Her name’s meaning of “Hidden” surely has to do with the underworld and the dead being “hidden” or buried beneath the ground.

What is the meaning of Norse mythology?

• Norse mythology. Norse mythology is the body of myths of the North Germanic peoples stemming from Norse paganism and continuing after the Christianization of Scandinavia and into the Scandinavian folklore of the modern period. The northernmost extension of Germanic mythology, Norse mythology consists of tales of various deities, beings,...

What is the underworld called in Norse mythology?

• Hel (The Underworld) Hel (Old Norse Hel, “Hidden;” [1] pronounced like the English word “Hell”) is the most general name for the underworld where many of the dead dwell.

What is the afterlife like in Norse mythology?

• The afterlife is a complex matter in Norse mythology. The dead may go to the murky realm of Hel. It is a realm ruled over by a female being of the same name. The dead may also be ferried away by Valkyries to Odin's Great Hall called Valhalla, or the dead may be chosen by the goddess Freyja to dwell in her field Fólkvangr.