Hel and the underworld Helheim

Hel, daughter of Loki and Angerboda, ruled over Helheim, the Viking realm of the dead located in Nifelheim for those who did not fall in battle . She symbolized the transition between life and death and was believed to be able to both protect and punish souls. She was both feared and respected, and was particularly linked to illness, old age and natural death, while the bravest warriors often ended up in Valhalla or Sessrumnir.

Helheim was not necessarily a place of punishment – it was rather a reflection of the lives of people on Middle-earth, where life continued in a different form. The dead continued to exist with their possessions and could sometimes influence the living through omens, dreams or signs. Stories about Hel remind us of the importance of respect for the dead and the natural place of death in the world.

The Vikings often performed funeral rituals and sacrifices to honor the deceased . Grave offerings could include weapons, jewelry, and food, so that the deceased could continue their journey in Helheim. Places associated with the underworld became sacred to the community – sometimes rites were held at sacred springs or stones to ask for guidance, protection, or good fortune.

Stories of Hel and Helheim show that life and death were intertwined in the Viking worldview. Death was not the end, but part of a larger cosmic balance, where respect for the dead ensured prosperity and security for the living.