Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

hel

Noun

/hɛl/

Definition

Hel is a figure in Norse mythology, associated with the afterlife and the realm of the dead.

Examples

In Norse myths, warriors who fall in battle go to Valhalla, while others may find themselves in Hel.
The goddess Hel is often described as half alive and half a corpse, embodying the inevitability of death.

Meaning

In Norse belief, Hel governs the domain where those who did not die a heroic or honorable death reside, often depicted as a separate and distinct place from Valhalla.