---
title: Hel, Norse Ruler of the Dead
author: Mkasahara
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14583/hel-norse-ruler-of-the-dead/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2024-12-12
---

# Hel, Norse Ruler of the Dead

_Authored by Mkasahara_

## Image File

[![Hel, Norse Ruler of the Dead](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/14583.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/14583.jpg)

## Image Caption

[Hel](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hel/), queen of the underworld in [Norse mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/Norse_Mythology/), artwork by Mkasahara, 2019.

Hel was a female character in Norse [mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/mythology/) who ruled the realm of the dead of the same name. Her kingdom was said to be a hopeless, 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 an entity called *jötunn*.

The image portrays Hel as being half flesh-coloured and half blue. This represents her dual role as existing between realms of [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/) and life.

## Cite This Work

### APA
Mkasahara. (2021, September 06). Hel, Norse Ruler of the Dead. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14583/hel-norse-ruler-of-the-dead/>
### Chicago
Mkasahara. "Hel, Norse Ruler of the Dead." *World History Encyclopedia*, September 06, 2021. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14583/hel-norse-ruler-of-the-dead/>.
### MLA
Mkasahara. "Hel, Norse Ruler of the Dead." *World History Encyclopedia*, 06 Sep 2021, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14583/hel-norse-ruler-of-the-dead/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hel-by-Zarubina.jpg) by [**Mkasahara**](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hel-by-Zarubina.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-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, 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.