Hel

helThe goddess of the dead and the afterlife was Hel (Holle, Hulda), and was portrayed by the Vikings as being half-dead, half alive herself. The Vikings viewed her with considerable trepidation. The Dutch, Gallic, and German barbarians viewed her with some beneficence, more of a gentler form of death and transformation. She is seen by them as Mother Holle; a being of pure Nature, being helpful in times of need, but vengeful upon those who cross her or transgress natural law.

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9 Comments

  1. Dave

    Is there a “god of fear” in Norse mythology?

    • N

      The only one I can think of is Phobos the GREEK God of fear. No mention of a God of fear in the Prose or Poetic Eddas.
      Marvel Comics has a God of Fear that is a serpent and will be featured in a 2011 release of “Fear Itself”. Then there is Dark Man who is the embodiment of fear and showed up in the 80’s in a Thor comic (#323).

      • is Hel a goddess and ruler of niffhiem oe helhiem?

        • N

          Niflheim lies underneath the third root of Yggdrasil, close to the spring Hvergelmir. Helheim is part of this vast, cold region.

        • Jiyu

          Hel is a giantess from Jotunheim, and the daughter of Loki (who was also born to a giantess in Jotunheim. She rules over Helheim (the Land of the Dishonored Dead), which is located within Niflheim (the Realm of ice and cold). Hel was banished to Niflheim and condemned to rule over Helheim by Odin.

          • knowyourshit

            well know your history before making comment the goddess of death hel is Thors sister so how is she loki daughter she his odins daughter and loki was fostered by odin

          • Norman

            Hel is Thor’s sister in THE MOVIE only.
            I LOVE Stan Lee’s work!! Stan is(was) a comic book writer who “borrowed” a very interesting character from ancient Scandinavian texts. Stan was selling comic books to kids … in the 60s. Thor has muscles, a big hammer, a cape and long hair, perfect for the era, perfect for a comic book adventure.

            In the myths and Edda’s Hel is not mentioned very often however there is a passage that states Hel is Loki’s child.

  2. Nick

    daughter of loki cast to be the guard of those who passed in old age or by ill means had a hell hound to help find those who hid frome her sister to the serpent and the wolf

  3. helen

    Hel is the god of death and the daughter of Loki. The lower part of her body is exposed with bones and flesh.

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