Hel and her Kingdom

The Wanderer Anglo Saxon History, mythology, Folklore and religion

Hel and her kingdom

In Germanic mythology, Hel is a figure associated with the realm of the dead, also known as Helheim. Hel is the daughter of the trickster god Loki and the giantess Angrboda. She is described as having a half-living, half-dead appearance, with one side of her body appearing normal and the other side being decaying or skeletal.

Helheim, or "Hel's realm," is one of the nine realms in Germanic mythology and is often depicted as an underworld or afterlife realm. It is a cold and desolate place where those who die of old age or illness are said to go. It is ruled over by Hel, who governs the realm and determines the fate of the deceased.

According to Germanic mythology, those who died honorably in battle were taken to Valhalla, a majestic hall in Asgard ruled by Woden. Meanwhile, those who died dishonorably or in a less glorious manner were sent to Helheim. It is important to note that Helheim is distinct from the Christian concept of Hell, as it is not a place of punishment for sinners but rather a neutral realm for the deceased.