Hel - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Hel: More than a Shadowed Realm
Hel, often mistakenly depicted as a singular entity of pure darkness, is, in Norse cosmology, both a place and a being. She presides over Helheim, one of the nine worlds in Norse mythology, a realm typically (though not exclusively) reserved for those who die of sickness or old age, those who did not fall valiantly in battle. She is the daughter of Loki, the trickster god, and the giantess Angrboda, sister to the monstrous wolf Fenrir and the world serpent Jormungandr. Yet, is Hel truly a goddess of death in the modern sense, or something far more complex than a simple personification of the afterlife?
Our earliest glimpses of Hel are gleaned from the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century but containing much older material, and the Prose Edda, written by Snorri Sturluson around 1220. These texts, however, were recorded well after the Viking Age, a period of significant cultural upheaval and Christian influence. Consider the lens through which these tales have been passed and written, and how that affects modern perceptions. Imagine the sagas whispered through generations, changing with each telling, and how those changes subtly molded the image of Hel.
Over time, interpretations of Hel have shifted. From a neutral (though formidable) ruler of a specific afterlife realm, she has, in some modern depictions, morphed into a more malevolent figure. This evolution is likely due to the conflation with Judeo-Christian notions of Hell. Figures like Neil Gaiman, in works such as Sandman, have explored more nuanced portrayals, prompting a re-evaluation of Hel’s motivations and character. Her role in Balder's attempted resurrection, where she sets a seemingly impossible condition, raises questions about her agency and the extent of her power. Was she acting out of malice, adhering to cosmic laws, or simply testing the resolve of the gods?
Hel’s legacy persists, not just in the etymological link between her name and the English word "hell," but also in contemporary art, literature, and popular culture. She has become a symbol of the inevitable, the unseen forces that govern mortality, and the mystery of what lies beyond. Is Helheim a place of punishment, or a necessary part of the cosmic balance? Her story invites us to contemplate not just death, but the intricate, often misunderstood, tapestry of Norse mythology itself.