Hel (Old Norse: Hel) is the ruler of the realm of the dead that shares her name — the realm Hel, which receives those who die of illness, old age, and circumstances other than battle. She is the daughter of Loki and the giantess Angrboða, and is described in Gylfaginning as having a body that is half living-flesh color and half the blue-black of a corpse. Odin cast Hel into Niflheimr and gave her authority over the nine worlds and over those who are sent to her. Her hall is named Éljúðnir, her dish Hungr (Hunger), her knife Sultr (Famine), and her threshold Fallandaforað (Stumbling-Block).

Hel’s most significant narrative role is in the episode following Baldr’s death, when Hermóðr rides to her realm to negotiate Baldr’s return. Hel agrees to release Baldr on the condition that all things in creation weep for him — a condition that fails when Loki, disguised as the giantess Þökk, refuses. Hel’s characterization here is relatively neutral and transactional rather than malevolent.

The realm of Hel as a destination for the non-battle-dead is attested across multiple Eddic poems, including Völuspá, Baldrs draumar, and Helgakviða Hundingsbana II.