[15][16], Hel is referred to in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. An episode in the Latin work Gesta Danorum, written in the 12th century by Saxo Grammaticus, is generally considered to refer to Hel, and Hel may appear on various Migration Period bracteates. In Norse mythology, Ragnarök (" fate of the gods ") is the battle at the end of the world. If anyone speaks against him or refuses to cry, then he will remain with Hel. He had three magical weapons: his hammer "Mjölnir" which burned red hot, could shatter locks, and always returned to its master's hand; an iron glove "Járnglófar" to catch the hammer when it returned; and a belt of power "Megingjörð" that doubled his strength when tightened. Her dominion over death and the underworld could make for some cool fighting moves. (2001). Ragnarok was the end; and it was the beginning. The Old English Gospel of Nicodemus, preserved in two manuscripts from the 11th century, contains a female figure referred to as Seo hell who engages in flyting with Satanand tells him to leave her dwelling (Old English ut of mynre onwununge). [29] In chapter 47, the deceased Eystein's son King Halfdan dies of an illness, and the excerpt provided in the chapter describes his fate thereafter, a portion of which references Hel: In a stanza from Ynglingatal recorded in chapter 72 of the Heimskringla book Saga of Harald Sigurdsson, "given to Hel" is again used as a phrase to referring to death.[31]. Gylfaginning, chapter 34. Two of the figures are understood to be Baldr and Odin while both Loki and Hel have been proposed as candidates for the third figure. Simek (2007:44); Pesch (2002:70); Bonnetain (2006:327). Staff A (2017). Davidson adds that "yet this is not the impression given in the account of Hermod's ride to Hel later in Gylfaginning (49)" and points out that here Hel "[speaks] with authority as ruler of the underworld" and that from her realm "gifts are sent back to Frigg and Fulla by Balder's wife Nanna as from a friendly kingdom." [28] In chapter 46, King Eystein Halfdansson dies by being knocked overboard by a sail yard. "[22] In chapter 51, High describes the events of Ragnarök, and details that when Loki arrives at the field Vígríðr "all of Hel's people" will arrive with him. It was called Niflheim, or the World of Darkness, and appears to have been divided into several sections, one of which was Náströnd, the shore of corpses. Snorri describes her appearance as being half-black, half-white, and with a perpetually grim and fierce expression on her face.[3]. This in relation to the Viking Age, meant if you didn’t die in battle you would simply just go to Hel. "Queen Hel" is not mentioned elsewhere in the saga. In the first place we must understand that Ragnarok may not be a totally pagan myth, for there is clear evidence of Christian influence on the sources (example: Völuspá and Gylfaginning). The Prose Edda. Hel (Old Norse Hel, “Hidden”[1]) is a giantess and/or goddess who rules over the identically-named Hel, the underworld where many of the dead dwell. [2] This makes her part of a highly dangerous and disreputable family. The final stanza of the poem contains a mention of Hel, though not by name: In the account of Baldr's death in Saxo Grammaticus' early 13th century work Gesta Danorum, the dying Baldr has a dream visitation from Proserpina (here translated as "the goddess of death"): The following night the goddess of death appeared to him in a dream standing at his side, and declared that in three days time she would clasp him in her arms. 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