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The Poetic Edda on Hel

The > Volume I > Introductory Note

attestation: The stanza describes death or destruction involving Hel.

"52. Surt fares from the south | with the scourge of branches, The sun of the battle-gods | shone from his sword; The crags are sundered, | the giant-women sink, The dead throng Hel-way, | and heaven is cloven."
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Hel, Surt.

"52. Surt fares from the south | with the scourge of branches, The sun of the battle-gods | shone from his sword; The crags are sundered, | the giant-women sink, The dead throng Hel-way, | and heaven is cloven."
attestation: Hel is characterized by grimness in the verse.

"35. "Hrimgrimnir is he, | the giant who shall have thee In the depth by the doors of Hel; To the frost-giants' halls | each day shalt thou fare, Crawling and craving in vain, (Crawling and having no hope.)"
attestation: The stanza contains a reference to fate or prophecy concerning Hel.

"27. "On the eagle's hill | shalt thou ever sit, And gaze on the gates of Hel; More loathsome to thee | than the light-hued snake To men, shall thy meat become."

attestation: Hel was the offspring of Loki and the giantess Angrbotha, as were the wolf Fenrir and Mithgarthsorm

"Hel: offspring of Loki and the giantess Angrbotha, as were the wolf Fenrir and Mithgarthsorm"
attestation: Hel ruled the world of the unhappy dead, either those who led evil lives or those who did not die in battle

"She ruled the world of the unhappy dead, either those who had led evil lives or, according to another tradition, those who had not died in battle"

attestation: The stanza describes death or destruction involving Hel.

"8. "Then third I will chant thee, | if threatening streams The danger of death shall bring: Yet to Hel shall turn | both Horn and Ruth, And before thee the waters shall fail."
attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Hel.

"8. "Then third I will chant thee, | if threatening streams The danger of death shall bring: Yet to Hel shall turn | both Horn and Ruth, And before thee the waters shall fail."

attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Hel, Fjolsvith.

"41. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, | the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: What weapon can send | Vithofnir to seek The house of Hel below?"

Fjolsvith spake:"

attestation: The stanza describes death or destruction involving Hel.

"21. "Thy counsel is given, | but go I shall To the gold in the heather hidden; And, Fafnir, thou | with death dost fight, Lying where Hel shall have thee."

Fafnir spake:"

attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Hel.

"21. "Thy counsel is given, | but go I shall To the gold in the heather hidden; And, Fafnir, thou | with death dost fight, Lying where Hel shall have thee."

Fafnir spake:"

attestation: Hel is characterized by greatness in the verse.

"51. "There were five of us brothers | when Buthli we lost, Now Hel has the half, | and two smitten lie here; A great kinship had I,— | the truth may I hide not,— From a wife bringing slaughter | small joy could I win."
attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Hel.

"51. "There were five of us brothers | when Buthli we lost, Now Hel has the half, | and two smitten lie here; A great kinship had I,— | the truth may I hide not,— From a wife bringing slaughter | small joy could I win."

attestation: The gate of Hel's domain closes so fast it catches those attempting to pass; Brynhild intends to keep it open for Sigurth's retinue

"The door: The gate of Hel's domain, like that of Mengloth's house (cf. Svipdagsmol, 26 and note), closes so fast as to catch any one attempting to pass through. Apparently the poet here assumes that the gate of Valhall does likewise, but that it will be kept open for Sigurth's retinue."
attestation: The giantess mentioned in stanza 17 presumably refers to Hel, goddess of the dead

"The giantess: presumably the reference is to Hel, goddess of the dead"