Hel (location): the story on HearLore

Hel (location)

The Old Norse word Hel appears as a feminine proper noun identical to the name of the entity that presides over the realm. This term shares cognates across all branches of the Germanic languages, including Old English hell and Modern English hell. Old Frisian helle, Old Saxon hellia, Old High German, and Gothic ½¼½½ also derive from this root. All forms ultimately trace back to the reconstructed Proto-Germanic feminine noun haljō meaning concealed place or the underworld. The Proto-Germanic form itself derives from the o-grade form of the Proto-Indo-European root kel- or kol- which means to cover, conceal, or save. The word is etymologically related to Modern English hall and therefore also Valhalla an afterlife hall of the slain in Norse Mythology. Hall and its numerous Germanic cognates derive from Proto-Germanic hallō meaning covered place or hall from Proto-Indo-European kol-. Related early Germanic terms include Proto-Germanic halja-rūnō(n) a feminine compound noun and halja-wītjan a neutral compound noun. This form is reconstructed from the Latinized Gothic plural noun haliurunnae attested by Jordanes according to philologist Vladimir Orel meaning witches. Old English helwite means sorceress or necromancer according to Orel while Old High German helwiti means magic. The compound is composed of two elements: haljō and rūnō the Proto-Germanic precursor to Modern English rune. The second element in the Gothic may however instead be an agent noun from the verb rinnan meaning to run or go which would make its literal meaning one who travels to the netherworld. Proto-Germanic halja-wītjan is reconstructed from Old Norse hell Old English hell-torment hell Old Saxon helli-wīti hell and Middle High German feminine noun. The compound is a compound of haljō discussed above and *wītjan reconstructed from forms such as Old English right mind wits Old Saxon gewit understanding and Gothic foolishness understanding.

Poetic Edda Attestations

In reference to Hel in the poem Völuspá a völva states that Hel will play an important role in Ragnarök. The völva states that a crowing sooty-red cock from the halls of Hel is one of three cocks that will signal one of the beginning events of Ragnarök. The other two are Fjalar in Jotunheim and Gullinkambi in Valhalla. The name of this rooster is nowhere stated. In Völuspá it is only referred to as a sooty-red cock in the halls of Hel that crows down below the earth according to Larrington translation. In Grímnismál stanza 31 Hel is listed as existing beneath one of the three roots of the world tree Yggdrasil. One of the other two leads to the frost jötnar and the third to Mankind. In Guðrúnarkviða I as Herborg tells of her grief in having prepared funeral arrangements for various members of her family her children and her husbands described it as arranging their journey to Hel according to Larrington 1996. In the short poem Helreið Brynhildar Hel is directly referenced as a location in the title translating to Brynhild's Hel-Ride. While riding along a road on the border of Hel in a lavish cart the cart her corpse was burnt within Brynhildr encounters a dead gýgr at a burial mound belonging to her. This results in a heated exchange during which Brynhildr tells of her life. In Baldrs draumar Odin rides to the edge of Hel to investigate nightmares that Baldr has had. He uses a spell to bring to life the corpse of a völva. Odin introduces himself under a false name and pretense and asks for information from the völva relating to Baldr's dreams. The völva reluctantly proceeds to produce prophecies regarding the events of Ragnarök. The poem gives some information regarding the geographic location of Hel in parallel to the description in the Prose Edda which may be related to the fact that it was not included in the Codex Regius but is instead a later addition. Niflhel is mentioned as being just outside Hel. The bloody Garmr makes an appearance encountering Odin on Odin's ride to Hel. Odin continues down the road and approaches Hel which is described as the high hall of Hel. There he proceeds to the grave of the völva near the eastern doors where the descriptions of Hel end.

What is the etymological origin of the word Hel in Norse mythology?

The Old Norse word Hel derives from the reconstructed Proto-Germanic feminine noun haljō meaning concealed place or the underworld. This term ultimately traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root kel- or kol- which means to cover, conceal, or save.

Where is the location of Hel situated within the Nine Worlds according to Snorri Sturluson?

Snorri writes that Hel is located in Niflheim and exists beneath one of the three roots of the world tree Yggdrasil. The Prose Edda places this realm in the ninth of the Nine Worlds where evil men go upon death.

How does Hermóðr travel to the hall of Hel to retrieve Baldr from the dead?

Hermóðr rides for nine nights through valleys so deep and dark until he arrives at the river Gjöll and crosses the bridge with a roof made of shining gold. He then passes the Gates of Hel and enters the high hall of Hel where Baldr sits in a seat of honor.

Who rules over the realm of Hel and what are her duties regarding the dead?

Hel the being was cast down into Hel by Odin who made her ruler over Nine Worlds. She gives out lodging and items to those sent to her that have died of disease or old age.

What role does Hel play in the events of Ragnarök as described in Völuspá?

A völva states that Hel will play an important role in Ragnarök when a sooty-red cock crows from its halls to signal the beginning of the event. This rooster is one of three cocks that will announce the start of the final battle alongside Fjalar in Jotunheim and Gullinkambi in Valhalla.

Prose Edda Narratives

In the book Gylfaginning Hel is introduced in chapter 3 as a location where evil men go upon death and into Niflhel according to Byock 2006 page 12. The chapter further details that Hel is in the ninth of the Nine Worlds. In chapter 34 Hel the being is introduced. Snorri writes that Hel was cast down into Hel by Odin who made her ruler over Nine Worlds. Snorri further writes that there Hel is located in Niflheim. Here it is related that she could give out lodging and items to those sent to her that have died of disease or old age. A very large dwelling is described as existing in Niflheim owned by Hel with huge walls and gates. The within of this place is called Éljúðnir where Hel is described as having a servant a slave and various possessions according to Byock 2006 page 39. At the end of chapter 49 the death of Baldr and Nanna is described. Hermóðr described as Baldr's brother in this source sets out for Hel on horseback to retrieve the deceased Baldr. To enter Hel Hermóðr rides for nine nights through valleys so deep and dark that he saw nothing until he arrives at the river Gjöll meaning Noisy and the Gjöll bridge. The bridge is described as having a roof made of shining gold. Hermóðr then proceeds to cross it. Hermóðr encounters Móðguð who is the guard of the bridge meaning Furious Battler according to Byock 2006 pages 67-69. Móðguð speaks to Hermóðr and comments that the bridge echoes beneath him more than the entire party of five people who had just passed. This is a reference to Baldr Nanna and those that were burnt in their funeral pyre passing over the bridge on death. Móðguð also says that the dead in Hel appear as a different color than the living and tells him that to get to Hel he must go down and to the North where he would find the Road to Hel. Continuing along the Road to Hel Hermóðr encounters the Gates of Hel. Hermóðr remounts and spurs Sleipnir and the two bound far over it. Hermóðr proceeds further beyond the gates for some distance before arriving at the hall dismounting and entering. There Hermóðr sees Baldr sitting in a seat of honor and Hermóðr spends a night in Hel. The following day Hermóðr presses Hel the being to allow Baldr to leave. Hel gives him an offer and then Baldr leads him out of the hall. Baldr then gives Hermóðr various gifts from Nanna and himself to bring from Hel to the living Ásir. Hermóðr then retraces his path back to the land of the living. Hel's offer fails and in chapter 50 Loki is blamed for Baldr remaining in Hel. In chapter 53 Hel is mentioned a final time in the Prose Edda according to Byock 2006 page 77. Here Höðr and Baldr are mentioned as returning from Hel in a post-Ragnarök world: After that Baldr shall come thither and Hödr from Hel; then all shall sit down together and hold speech with one another and call to mind their secret wisdom and speak of those happenings which have been before: of the Midgard Serpent and of Fenris-Wolf according to Brodeur's translation.

Hel (location)

Poetic Edda Attestations

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