Hel (sometimes spelled Hela) is a goddess in Norse mythology who rules over the realm of the dead, also known as Helheim. She is one of the children of the trickster god Loki and the giantess Angrboda.
In Norse mythology, Hel is described as a being with half of her body living and half of it dead, and she is often depicted as having a gloomy and forbidding appearance. Her realm, Helheim, is a dark and somber place where the souls of the dead who did not die in battle are sent.
Despite being associated with death and the afterlife, Hel was not necessarily considered an evil goddess. Instead, she was seen as a neutral figure who simply carried out her duties as the ruler of the dead. According to some accounts, Hel was also said to have the power to resurrect the dead, which could be seen as a positive aspect of her character.
In some versions of Norse mythology, Hel is also described as being instrumental in the events leading up to Ragnarok, the end of the world. According to these accounts, Hel is said to play a role in raising an army of the dead to fight against the gods and bring about the final battle.
Overall, Hel is a complex and intriguing figure in Norse mythology, representing both the inevitability of death and the possibility of rebirth and renewal.