Brewer's: Hel

or Hela (in Scandinavian mythology), queen of the dead, is goddess of the ninth earth or nether world. She dwelt beneath the roots of the sacred ash (yggdrasil), and was the daughter of Loki. The All-father sent her into Helheim, where she was given dominion over nine worlds, and to one or other of these nine worlds she sends all who die of sickness or old age. Her dwelling is Elvidnir (dark clouds), her dish Hungr (hunger), her knife Sullt (starvation), her servants Ganglati (tardy-feet), her bed Kör (sickness), and her bed-curtains Blikiandabol (splendid misery). Half her body was blue.

Down the yawning steep he rode That led to Hela's drear abode.

Gray: Descent of Odin

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