Study › Runes & Norse › Hel
Hel is the Norse goddess of the dead, a daughter of Loki. Odin gave her rule over all who die of sickness or old age. She is half living flesh and half dark blue-black, and what death takes, she does not give back.
Who is Hel in Norse mythology?
Hel is the ruler of the dead, a daughter of Loki and the giantess Angrboda. When the gods learned what Loki's children would become, Odin cast her down into Niflheim and gave her rule over the nine worlds of those who die not in battle but of sickness or of old age.
She is called Ruler of Nine Worlds because the Prose Edda says Odin gave her power over nine worlds. There she gives a place to everyone who dies of sickness or old age.
Hel and her hall
Snorri describes her as half the colour of living flesh and half dark blue-black, grim and fierce to look upon. Her hall is called Eljudnir, and her domain lies below one of the roots of Yggdrasil, reached by the road that Hermod rode for nine nights.
Hel and Baldr
When Baldr died, Hel agreed to let him return on one condition: that everything in the world should weep for him. All things wept but one giantess, so Baldr stayed in her hall. Hel is not evil in the old stories. She is simply the one who keeps what she is given, and what death takes, she does not give back.
Her world is Helheim; her father is Loki; her brothers are Fenrir and Jormungandr.
Questions
Is Hel evil?
No. In the old stories she is not evil: she keeps what she is given.
Who are Hel's parents?
Loki and the giantess Angrboda.
Why did Baldr stay with Hel?
She would let him go only if everything wept for him. One giantess would not.