--- title: Hel - Norse Queen of the Underworld author: Tara Ryzebol source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14582/hel---norse-queen-of-the-underworld/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) updated: 1970-01-01 --- # Hel - Norse Queen of the Underworld _Authored by Tara Ryzebol_ ## Image File [![Hel - Norse Queen of the Underworld](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/14582.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/14582.jpg) ## Image Caption [Hel](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hel/), the Norse Queen of the Underworld, as portrayed by the Australia-based artist [Tara](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tara_(Goddess)/) Ryzebol in 2006. Hel was a female character in [Norse mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/Norse_Mythology/) who ruled the realm of the dead of the same name. Her kingdom was said to be a gloomy and dark place located in a land called *Niflheim*. Hel was the daughter of the trickster [Loki](https://www.worldhistory.org/Loki/) and the giantess Angrboda. As such, she was not recognised as a proper goddess but rather a *jötunn*. She is usually portrayed as an intimidating figure. None, even a [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/), can escape her realm. The image portrays Hel as half skeleton, half human. Other sources depict her as being half flesh-coloured and half blue. This represents her dual nature as existing between life and [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/). ## Cite This Work ### APA Ryzebol, T. (2021, September 06). Hel - Norse Queen of the Underworld. *World History Encyclopedia*. ### Chicago Ryzebol, Tara. "Hel - Norse Queen of the Underworld." *World History Encyclopedia*, September 06, 2021. . ### MLA Ryzebol, Tara. "Hel - Norse Queen of the Underworld." *World History Encyclopedia*, 06 Sep 2021, . ## License & Copyright [Original image](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hel.jpg) by [**Tara Ryzebol**](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hel.jpg). Submitted by [Celina Bebenek](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/celinacyprianbe/ "User Page: Celina Bebenek"), published on 06 September 2021. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon a work even for commercial reasons, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.