| “ | His spirit was taken to Hel, while all of the gods and mortals wept. [src] | ” |
| — Fishlegs narrating the legend of Baldr |
Helheim, also known as Hel, is one of several possible locations a spirit could go after death in Norse Mythology.
Mythology[]
The exact nature of Helheim, or where it stands within the worlds of Norse Mythology, are not fully understood by scholars. Some historical writings of Norse mythology equate it to Niflheim, whereas others indicate it is a separate realm next to Niflheim. Still others speak that Hel is a place inside Nifleim, and others yet speak of a combination location called Niflhel. In all of these possibilities, the fact that is is a location for, at a minimum, non-warrior mortals remains the same. However, some writings imply it is meant to be a dark place where evil-doers are sent, while Niflheim is indicated for anyone who died of sickness or old age (as opposed to dying in battle, in which case they’d go to Valhalla). Hel is presided over by a goddess of the same name, Hel, who is the daughter of Loki and Angrboda, and sister to Fenrir and Jormungandr.
Appearances[]
How to Train Your Dragon[]
The physical location, Helheim's Gate, is introduced in the first film, as a dangerous place for ships to sail due to jagged rocks, fog, and shipwrecks. This location also appears later in various Franchise media.
Games[]
School of Dragons[]
Hel is mentioned twice in this game. In the "Curse of the Hobgobbler" Expansion, Gobber anxiously rails about how Hobgobbler dragons are bad omens and that they "must come from Hel itself, from the way that they poof into being and just multiply."
Hel is mentioned again during Snoggletog (2021), as Fishlegs narrated the Legend of Baldur for the Snoggletog pageant on New Berk.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The “Underworld” section of the Hidden World is possibly based off of Helheim.
External Links[]
Hel (location) on Wikipedia
Hel (mythological being) on Wikipedia
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