Hel (Nordic: ᚺᛖᛚ) is the daughter of Loki and Angrboða. She is the Goddess of Death and future ruler of Helheim, succeeding Hræsvelgr.
Norse Mythology[]
In Norse mythology, Hel is a being who presides over a realm of the same name, where she receives a portion of the dead. Hel is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. In addition, she is mentioned in poems recorded in Heimskringla and Egils saga that date from the 9th and 10th centuries, respectively. An episode in the Latin work Gesta Danorum, written in the 12th century by Saxo Grammaticus, is generally considered to refer to Hel, and Hel may appear on various Migration Period bracteates.
In the Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, and Heimskringla, Hel is referred to as a daughter of Loki. In the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, Hel is described as having been appointed by the God Odin as ruler of a realm of the same name, located in Niflheim. In the same source, her appearance is described as half blue and half flesh-coloured and further as having a gloomy, downcast appearance.
Like her two siblings Fenrir and Jormungandr, she was feared by the Aesir and was imprisoned by Odin. In her case, Odin decided banish her to Helheim, but not before he gave her complete authority over all the Nine Realms deceased, a decision he would later regret. Hel would then remain in Helheim for all eternity, residing in a hall known as Éljúðnir (Damp with sleet or rain/Sprayed with snowstorms) with great walls and immense gates.
Hel then ruled Helheim alone and had complete authority over all of the realms dead. Even the other Gods, including Odin himself, had to respect Hel's position as ruler of the underworld and her total control over the realms dead.
When Baldur was indirectly killed by her father Loki, Hel happily welcomed the God of Light into her hall within the underworld. However, the other Aesir were desperate to get Baldur back from Helheim and Hermóðr volunteered to journey into the realm of the dead to try and petition Hel to release him. The Goddess of the Dead welcomed the Messenger God into the hall and allowed him to spend the night, after which Hermóðr begged Hel to let him take his brother back to the realm of the living, saying that the Aesir and the world weep greatly for him. However, Hel instead decided test these claims and said she would only release Baldur if all things in the world, both living and dead, wept for him. However, if but one thing refused to cry or spoke ill of Baldur, then he will remain with her.
The Aesir then sent out messengers to all of the Nine Realms, explaining the terms of Hel's test. Nearly everything in the world wept for Baldur, except for one female Jötunn, known as Þökk (presumed to be Loki in disguise). Upon receiving a message from the Aesir, Þökk answered that she would cry waterless tears as she did not love Baldur in the slightest and told the Aesir to let Hel hold what she has. Subsequently, Hel refused to release the God of Light back to the Aesir and he remained in the realm of the dead.
At the onset of Ragnarök, Hel sends all of her dead to aid in the battle against the other Gods, giving her father Loki and another Jötunn Hrym control of the ship Naglfar, which they will use to ferry their forces into battle alongside the Fire Giants and the dead. Whether or not Hel herself takes part in the battle and her ultimate fate afterwards, is unknown. But according to some sources she is probably destroyed in the World Fire unleased by the Fire Giant Surtr that brings down all of the Nine Realms.
In the God of War Series[]
God of War (2018)[]
While she's never mentioned by any of the characters, Jörmungandr's Jötnar Shrines specifically names her in Elder Futhark: "ᛒᚱᛟᚦᚢᚱ ᚠᛖᚾᛁᛊ ᚺᛖᛚᛃᚨᚱ ᛟᚲ ᛃᚨᚱᚾᚹᚨᚱᚷᚨ" - "Son of Loki and Angrboða. Brother of Fenrir, Hel, and the Iron-Wolves."
God of War Ragnarök[]
Following the events of Ragnarök, Freya asks Mimir how he got Helheim's current ruler, Hræsvelgr, to lend them the realm's forces for their battle against Asgard. In response, he revealed that he promised to find someone who would take her place as "Hel", as she wished to "retire", revealing that Hel isn't actually a person but a title given to the current ruler of the dishonorable dead.[1]
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
Because of being descendant of the Olympian Gods of Greek World and the Frost Giants of Jötunheim, Hel possesses considerable superhuman physical abilities. Since it's her destiny to become the Goddess of Death, she will have full control over ghosts.
- Immortality: As the Norse Goddess, Hel is likely immortal, with only powerful beings and weapons being able to hurt or kill her.
- Necromancy: As Goddess of Death, Hel can summon ghosts.
Trivia[]
- Because Loki and Angrboda are still children in the game, Hel hasn't been born yet and probably she will be born in future.
- Her Greek equivalent is Hades.
- Like Hades, Hel also shares her name with the realm that she rules over.
- If Loki is or will be her father, that will make Hades her great-granduncle.
- The Jötunn Hræsvelgr is also known as "Hel" as he she rules over the lands of Helheim.
- Because "Hel" is more like title for Ruler of Helheim, it's possible that the future daughter of Loki and Angrboda will have a different name after her birth, and she will rename herself to Hel after she will one day replace Hræsvelgr as the tenth ruler of Helheim.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ God of War Ragnarök, Main Quest: "The Path" - Goal: Beyond Ragnarok, Mimir's conversation with Freya