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In Norse mythology, Hel, the location, shares a name with Hel, a female figure associated with the location. Death in Norse paganism was associated with varying customs and beliefs Hell, according to many Religious beliefs, is a location in the Afterlife, which may be described as a place of suffering In the study of Mythology and Religion, the underworld (gr κάτω κόσμος) is a generic term approximately equivalent to the lay term Afterlife Hades (from Greek, Hadēs, originally, Haidēs or, Aidēs, probably from Indo-European *n̥-wid- 'unseen' refers both to the ancient Niflheimr or Niflheim (" Mist Home" the "Abode of Mist" or "Mist World" Nifl being cognate with the Old English Naraka नरक ( Sanskrit) or Niraya निरय ( Pāli) ( Ch 那落迦 (variant 捺落迦 Nàlùojiā or 地獄 Dì Diyu ( literally "earth prison" is the realm of the dead or " Hell " in Chinese mythology. Naraka is the Sanskrit word for the Underworld; literally of man. Jahannam (جهنم(in Turkish: cehennem in Bosnian: džehennem is the Islamic equivalent to Gei Hinnom, or Hell. for the Polish film see Gehenna (film See also Jewish eschatology Gehennam (or gehenom or gehinom (גהינום is Diyu ( literally "earth prison" is the realm of the dead or " Hell " in Chinese mythology. In Egyptian mythology, Duat (or Tuat (also called Akert, Amenthes, or Neter-khertet) is the Underworld. for the Polish film see Gehenna (film See also Jewish eschatology Gehennam (or gehenom or gehinom (גהינום is Hades (from Greek, Hadēs, originally, Haidēs or, Aidēs, probably from Indo-European *n̥-wid- 'unseen' refers both to the ancient See also Death in Norse paganism In Norse mythology, Hel, the location shares a name with Hel, a female figure associated with the location Jahannam (جهنم(in Turkish: cehennem in Bosnian: džehennem is the Islamic equivalent to Gei Hinnom, or Hell. See also Intermediate state Purgatory|Heaven|Sheol|Hades in Christianity|Hell in Christianity In Roman Catholic theology Limbo (Latin limbus Naraka is the Sanskrit word for the Underworld; literally of man. See also Intermediate state Limbo|Heaven|Sheol|Hades in Christianity|Hell in Christianity Purgatory, in the original sense is the condition or process of purification Sheol (pronounced "Sheh-ole" in Hebrew שאול (Sh'ol is the "abode of the dead" the " Underworld " "the common In classic Greek mythology below Heaven, Earth, and Pontus is Tartarus, or Tartaros ( Greek Τάρταρος deep place Yomi (黄泉 the Japanese word for the underworld in which horrible creatures guard the exits according to Shinto mythology as related in Kojiki The Devil is the The Harrowing of Hell is a doctrine in Christian theology referenced in the Apostles' Creed and the Athanasian Creed (Quicumque vult, which states that The problem of hell is an argument against the existence of God. In Christianity, the outer darkness is a place referred to three times in the Gospel of Matthew (812 2213 and 2530 into which a person may be "cast out" Satan, ( Standard Hebrew Satan'el, English accuser) is a term that originates from the Abrahamic faiths, being traditionally Norse mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and Legends of the Scandinavian peoples including those who settled on Iceland See also Death in Norse paganism In Norse mythology, Hel (sometimes Anglicized or Latinized as Hela) is the ruler of Hel, the Norse In late Icelandic sources, varying descriptions of Hel are given and various figures are described as being buried with items that will facilitate their journey to Hel after their death. Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( In the Poetic Edda, Brynhildr's trip to Hel after her death is described and Odin, while alive, also visits Hel upon his horse Sleipnir. The Poetic Edda is a collection of Old Norse poems primarily preserved in the Icelandic mediaeval Manuscript Codex Regius. Brynhildr is a Shieldmaiden and a Valkyrie in Norse mythology, where she appears as a main character in the Völsunga saga and some Odin (ˈoʊdɪn from Old Norse Óðinn) is considered the chief god in Norse paganism. In Norse mythology, Sleipnir is Odin 's eight-legged steed and the greatest of all Horses His name means smooth or gliding, and is In the Prose Edda, Baldr goes to Hel upon death and subsequently Hermóðr uses Sleipnir to attempt to retrieve him. The Prose Edda, also known as the Younger Edda, Snorri's Edda ( Snorra Edda) or simply Edda, is an Hermóðr the Brave ( Old Norse "war-spirit" is a figure in Norse mythology. "Hel-shoes" are described in Gísla saga. Gísla saga Súrssonar (Gisli Sursson's Saga is one of the Sagas of Icelanders, written between 1270-1320 A
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Etymology
The old Old Norse word Hel derives from Proto-Germanic *khalija, which means "one who covers up or hides something", which itself derives from Proto-Indo-European *kel-, meaning "conceal". Old Norse is the North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age The term may have later spawned the English word Hell. Hell, according to many Religious beliefs, is a location in the Afterlife, which may be described as a place of suffering Related terms are Old Frisian, helle, German Hölle and Gothic halja. Old Frisian was the West Germanic language spoken between the 8th and 16th centuries by the people who had settled in the area between the Rhine The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Holle is theorized as an ancient Germanic supreme goddess of birth death and reincarnation who predates most of the Germanic pantheon dating back to the Neolithic before Indo-European Gothic is an extinct Germanic language that was spoken by the Goths.
Poetic Edda
Hel is described or referred to a number of times in the Poetic Edda. The Poetic Edda is a collection of Old Norse poems primarily preserved in the Icelandic mediaeval Manuscript Codex Regius.
Völuspá
In reference to Hel, Völuspá states that Hel will play an important role in Ragnarök by emphasizing a crowing "sooty-red cock from the halls of Hel" in Hel as one of three that will signal one of the beginning events of Ragnarök. Völuspá ( Prophecy of the Völva) is the first and best known poem of the Poetic Edda. In Norse mythology, Ragnarök (rɑgnɑrɔk Old Norse "Final destiny of the gods" refers to a series of major events including a great battle foretold The other two are Fjalar in Jotunheim and Gullunkambi in Valhalla. Jötunheimr (often anglicized Jotunheim) is the world ( Heim 'home homeland' of the Jötunn (two types rock (or hill giants and frost (or See also Death in Norse paganism In Norse mythology, Valhalla (from Old Norse Valhöll "hall of the slain" is a majestic enormous [1]
Grímnismál
In Grímnismál stanza 31, Hel is listed as existing beneath one of three roots of the world tree Yggdrasil. Grímnismál ( Sayings of Grímnir) is one of the mythological poems of the Poetic Edda. In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil ( Old Norse Yggdrasill, ˈyɡˌdrasilː the extra -l is a Nominative case marker is the World One of the other two leads to the Frost Giants and the third to Mankind. A jötunn, sometimes anglicized as jotun (pronounced yotun is a giant in Norse mythology, a member of a race of nature spirits with superhuman strength
Guðrúnarkviða I
Hel is referenced as a location 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"[2]. Guðrúnarkviða I or the First Lay of Guðrún is simply called Guðrúnarkviða in Codex Regius where it was found together with
Helreið Brynhildar
In the short poem Helreið Brynhildar, Hel is directly referenced as a location in the title, translating to "Brynhild's Hel-Ride". Helreið Brynhildar or Brynhild's Hel -Ride is a short Old Norse poem that is found in the Poetic Edda. 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 giantess at a burial mound belonging to her. Brynhildr is a Shieldmaiden and a Valkyrie in Norse mythology, where she appears as a main character in the Völsunga saga and some A tumulus (plural tumuli) is a Mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves This results in a heated exchange, during which Brynhildr tells of her life.
Baldrs draumar
In Baldrs draumar, Odin rides to the edge of Hel to investigate nightmares Baldr has had. Baldrs draumar ( Baldr 's dreams) or Vegtamskviða is an Eddic poem, contained in the manuscript AM 748 I 4to. Odin (ˈoʊdɪn from Old Norse Óðinn) is considered the chief god in Norse paganism. He brings to life the corpse of a Völva with a spell. A Völva (also Vala, Spákona) is a priestess in Norse paganism, and a recurring motif in Norse mythology. Odin introduces himself under a false name and pretense and asks for information from the Völva relating to Baldr's dreams. The Völva proceeds to give reluctantly produce prophecies regarding Ragnarök. In Norse mythology, Ragnarök (rɑgnɑrɔk Old Norse "Final destiny of the gods" refers to a series of major events including a great battle foretold
The poem gives some information regarding the geographic location of Hel in parallel to 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. [2] Niflhel is mentioned as being just outside of Hel. Niflhel ("Misty Hel " Nifel being cognate with Nebel, a German and Latin root meaning Cloud) is the name of a location in The bloody Garmr makes an appearance, encountering Odin on Odin's ride to Hel. In Norse mythology, Garmr or Garm ( Old Norse "rag" is a dog associated with Ragnarök. Odin continues down the road and approaches Hel, which is described as the "high hall of Hel". [2] There he proceeds to the grave of the Völva near the eastern doors where the descriptions of Hel end.
Prose Edda
In Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, more detailed information is given about the location, including a detailed account of a venture to the region after the death of the god Baldr. Snorri Sturluson (1178 – September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian poet and politician The Prose Edda, also known as the Younger Edda, Snorri's Edda ( Snorra Edda) or simply Edda, is an Snorri's descriptions of Hel in the Prose Edda are not corroborated outside of Baldrs draumar, which does not appear in the original Codex Regius but is a later addition often included with modern editions of the Poetic Edda. Baldrs draumar ( Baldr 's dreams) or Vegtamskviða is an Eddic poem, contained in the manuscript AM 748 I 4to. Codex Regius (which is Latin for "King's Book" in Icelandic Konungsbók) (GKS 2365 4to is an Icelandic Manuscript (
Gylfaginning
In the book Gylfaginning, Hel is introduced in chapter 3 as a location where "evil men"[3] go upon death and from there into Niflhel. Gylfaginning, or the Tricking of Gylfi (c 20000 words is the first part of Snorri Sturluson 's Prose Edda after Niflhel ("Misty Hel " Nifel being cognate with Nebel, a German and Latin root meaning Cloud) is the name of a location in The chapter further details that Hel is in the ninth of the Nine Worlds. In Norse Cosmology the World Tree Yggdrasil unifies nine worlds ( Old Norse: níu heimar) that represent all that exists
In chapter 34, the Hel, the being is introduced. See also Death in Norse paganism In Norse mythology, Hel (sometimes Anglicized or Latinized as Hela) is the ruler of Hel, the Norse Snorri writes that Hel was cast down into Hel by Odin who "made her ruler over Nine Worlds"[3]. Snorri further writes that there Hel is located in Niflheim. Niflheimr or Niflheim (" Mist Home" the "Abode of Mist" or "Mist World" Nifl being cognate with the Old English 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 hall is called - or inside of this huge hall there is a hall belonging to Hel called - Éljúðnir. In Norse mythology, Éljúðnir (sometimes Anglicized to Eljudnir) is Hel's hall located in Niflheim as described in chapter 34 of Snorri Within this hall Hel is described as having a servant, a slave and various possessions.
At the end of chapter 49, the death of Baldr and Nanna (according to Snorri) is described. Nanna is a Goddess in Norse mythology, the daughter of Nepr and wife of Baldr (Balder Hermód, described as Baldr's brother in this source, sets out to Hel on horseback to retrieve the deceased Baldr. Hermóðr the Brave ( Old Norse "war-spirit" is a figure in Norse mythology. To enter Hel, Hermód rides for nine nights through "valleys so deep and dark that he saw nothing"[3] until he arrives at the river Gjöll ("Noisy"[3]) and the Gjöll bridge. In Norse mythology, Gjöll ( Old Norse meaning "resounding" is one of the eleven rivers traditionally associated with the Élivágar, according The bridge is described as having a roof made of shining gold. Hermód then proceeds to cross it. The bridge is guarded by the maiden Móðguð ("Furious Battler"[3]), whom he there encounters. In Norse mythology, Móðguðr ( Modgud) was the giantess guardian of the Gjallarbrú.
Móðguð speaks to Hermód and comments that the bridge echoed 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 upon death. She also reveals 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"[3] where he would find the Road to Hel.
Continuing along the Road to Hel, Hermód encounters the Gates of Hel. He then remounts, spurs Sleipnir and the two bound far over it. He proceeds further beyond the gates for some distance before arriving at the hall, dismounting and entering. There he sees Baldr sitting in a "seat of honor"[3] and subsequently spends a night in Hel. The following day, Hermód 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 Hermód various gifts from Nanna and himself to bring from Hel to the living Æsir. Hermód 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 Cryptography, LOKI89 and LOKI91 are Block ciphers designed as possible replacements for the Data Encryption Standard (DES
In chapter 53, Hel is mentioned a final time in the Prose Edda; Höðr and Baldr are mentioned as returning from Hel in a post-Ragnarök world:
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Því næst koma þar Baldr ok Höðr frá Heljar, setjask þá allir samt ok talask við ok minnask á rúnar sínar ok rœða of tíðindi þau er fyrrum höfðu verit, of Miðgarðsorm ok um Fenrisúlf. Höðr (often anglicized as Hod) is the brother of Baldr in Norse mythology. In Norse mythology, Ragnarök (rɑgnɑrɔk Old Norse "Final destiny of the gods" refers to a series of major events including a great battle foretold - Eysteinn Björnsson's edition |
"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. Jörmungandr, alternately referred to as the Midgardsormr or World Serpent, is a Sea serpent of the Norse mythology, the middle child of the Fenris redirects here See Fenrir (disambiguation for other uses " - Brodeur's translation |
Theories
H.R. Ellis Davidson, writing on Snorri's unique description of Hel in his Prose Edda, states that "it seems likely that Snorri's account of the underworld is chiefly his own work" and that the idea that the dead entering Hel who have died of sickness and old age may have been an attempt on Snorri's part to reconcile the tradition with his description of Valhalla, citing that "the one detailed account of Hel" that Snorri gives is that of Baldr entering Hel without dying of old age or sickness. Dr Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson (born Hilda Roderick Ellis, 1 October 1914 - January 2006 was a British Antiquarian and academic writing in particular See also Death in Norse paganism In Norse mythology, Valhalla (from Old Norse Valhöll "hall of the slain" is a majestic enormous
Davidson writes that Snorri was potentially using a "rich source" unknown to us for his description of Hel, though it may not have told him very much about the location outside of that it was a hall and that Snorri's description of Hel may at times be influenced by Christian teachings about the after-life. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings [4]
See also
References
- ^ The name of this rooster is nowhere stated. In Norse mythology, Náströnd ( Corpse Shore) is a place in Hel where Níðhöggr lives and sucks corpses Niflheimr or Niflheim (" Mist Home" the "Abode of Mist" or "Mist World" Nifl being cognate with the Old English Niflhel ("Misty Hel " Nifel being cognate with Nebel, a German and Latin root meaning Cloud) is the name of a location in In Völuspá it is only referred to as a "sooty-red cock in the halls of Hel" that "crows down below the earth" (Larrington translation). Völuspá ( Prophecy of the Völva) is the first and best known poem of the Poetic Edda.
- ^ a b c Larrington, Carolyne. The Poetic Edda: A new translation by Carolyne Larrington (1996) ISBN 0192839462
- ^ a b c d e f g Byock, Jesse. Trans. The Prose Edda (2006) Penguin Classics ISBN 0140447555
- ^ Ellis, Hilda Roderick. Dr Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson (born Hilda Roderick Ellis, 1 October 1914 - January 2006 was a British Antiquarian and academic writing in particular The Road to Hel: A Study of the Conception of the Dead in Old Norse Literature (1968) ISBN 0837100704
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