In Norse mythology, Helheim is the realm of the dead, ruled over by the goddess Hel. Located deep in the underworld, Helheim is a cold and bleak place where the souls of those who die of old age or disease are said to go. The realm is a desolate and dreary place, where those who enter are doomed to remain for eternity.
The origins of Helheim can be traced back to the ancient Norse beliefs about the afterlife. According to these beliefs, the world was divided into three realms: Asgard, home of the gods; Midgard, the realm of humans; and Helheim, the realm of the dead. Hel, the goddess who rules over Helheim, is the daughter of Loki, the trickster god, and is said to be half alive and half dead herself.
Helheim is said to be located beneath one of the roots of Yggdrasil, the World Tree that connects the nine realms of Norse mythology. It is a dark and forbidding place, where the souls of the dead are said to wander aimlessly in eternal torment. The realm is described as being cold and dark, with swirling mists and icy winds that chill the bones of those who enter.
Those who enter Helheim are said to be greeted by the goddess Hel herself, who sits on a throne made of the bones of the dead. She is described as a half-decayed figure, with half of her body appearing as a beautiful young woman and the other half as a rotting corpse. She is a fearsome and powerful deity, known for her merciless judgment of the souls who enter her realm.
In Helheim, the souls of the dead are said to reside in a vast and shadowy hall, where they await the final judgment of Hel. Those who are deemed worthy are allowed to feast and celebrate in the hall, while those who are deemed unworthy are cast into the depths of the underworld, where they are subjected to eternal torment and suffering.
One of the most famous stories involving Helheim is the tale of Baldur, the beloved son of Odin and Frigg. According to the story, Baldur is killed by his brother Loki, who tricks him into standing in front of a mistletoe arrow. After his death, Baldur is sent to Helheim, where he languishes in darkness and despair.
Hearing of his son’s fate, Odin sends the god Hermóðr to Helheim to plead with Hel for Baldur’s release. Hermóðr bravely rides his horse Sleipnir into the underworld, where he is confronted by the fierce guardian Modgud. After a fierce battle, Hermóðr gains entrance to the realm and meets with Hel herself.
Upon entering Hel’s hall, Hermóðr begs for Baldur’s release, promising great rewards in return. Hel agrees to release Baldur on one condition: that all living things in the world weep for him. Hermóðr returns to the land of the living and delivers Hel’s message. The gods and all living creatures weep for Baldur, except for one giantess named Thokk, who refuses to shed a tear. As a result, Baldur remains in Helheim, where he will remain until the end of days.
Helheim is a realm shrouded in mystery and darkness, where the souls of the dead reside in eternal torment. It is a place of judgment and punishment, where the goddess Hel rules with an iron fist. Though it is a bleak and desolate place, Helheim plays a crucial role in Norse mythology as the final resting place of the dead.
