Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • In Norse mythology, Hel is the goddess who rules over the realm of the dead that shares her name. She is described as a daughter of the trickster god Loki and the giantess Angrboða, and is the sister of the wolf Fenrir and the serpent Jörmungandr. She presides over those who die of sickness or old age.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • In the ancient stories, the souls of those who did not die in battle were said to go to Hel.
  • The god Baldr was sent to Hel after his death, and Hermóðr rode to plead for his release.

Advanced Usage

• "Hel" as a place: The word is also used to refer to the underworld realm itself, over which the goddess Hel rules. This is a distinct but directly related usage.
  • The Vikings believed that warriors who died bravely went to Valhalla, while others descended to Hel.

Variants and Related Words

• Helheim (n): Another name for the realm of Hel, meaning "Home of Hel."
  • Helheim is one of the Nine Worlds in Norse cosmology.
• Hell (n): The modern English word for a place of punishment after death, which derives linguistically and conceptually from the Norse "Hel."

Synonyms

• Queen of the underworld: A descriptive synonym emphasizing her role.
• Goddess of the dead: A descriptive synonym emphasizing her domain.

Related Phrases

• "Hel's grasp": A poetic phrase referring to death or the state of being in the underworld.
  • The warrior feared falling not in battle, but to sickness and Hel's grasp.

Noun

1. (Norse mythology) goddess of the dead and queen of the underworld