Editing Hel (location) (section)

==Attestations==
===''Poetic Edda''===
In reference to Hel, in the poem ''[[Völuspá]]'', a [[völva]] states that Hel will play an important role in [[Ragnarök]]. The völva states that a crowing "sooty-red cock from the halls of Hel" is one of three cocks that will signal one of the beginning events of Ragnarök. The other two are Fjalar in [[Jotunheim]] and Gullinkambi in [[Valhalla]].<ref>The name of this rooster is nowhere stated. In ''[[Völuspá]]'', it is only referred to as a "sooty-red cock in the halls of Hel" that "crows down below the earth" (Larrington translation).</ref>

In ''[[Grímnismál]]'' stanza 31, Hel is listed as existing beneath one of the three roots of the world tree [[Yggdrasil]]. One of the other two leads to the [[Jötunn|frost jötnar]] and the third to Mankind. In ''[[Guðrúnarkviða I]]'', as Herborg tells of her grief in having prepared funeral arrangements for various members of her family, her children and her husbands, described it as "arranging their journey to Hel".<ref name=LARRINGTON>Larrington (1996).</ref>

In the short poem ''[[Helreið Brynhildar]]'', Hel is directly referenced as a location in the title, translating to "Brynhild's Hel-Ride". While riding along a road on the border of Hel in a lavish cart (the cart her corpse was burnt within), [[Brynhildr]] encounters a dead [[gýgr]] at a [[burial mound]] belonging to her. This results in a heated exchange, during which Brynhildr tells of her life.

In ''[[Baldrs draumar]]'', [[Odin]] rides to the edge of Hel to investigate nightmares that [[Baldr]] has had. He uses a spell to bring to life the corpse of a völva. Odin introduces himself under a false name and pretense and asks for information from the völva relating to Baldr's dreams. The völva reluctantly proceeds to produce prophecies regarding the events of [[Ragnarök]].

The poem gives some information regarding the geographic location of Hel in parallel to the description in the Prose Edda, which may be related to the fact that it was not included in the Codex Regius but is instead a later addition.<ref name=LARRINGTON/> [[Niflhel]] is mentioned as being just outside Hel. The bloody [[Garmr]] makes an appearance, encountering Odin on Odin's ride to Hel. Odin continues down the road and approaches Hel, which is described as the "high hall of Hel."<ref name=LARRINGTON/> There he proceeds to the grave of the völva near the eastern doors where the descriptions of Hel end.

===''Prose Edda''===
In the ''[[Prose Edda]]'', more detailed information is given about the location, including a detailed account of a venture to the region after the death of the god [[Baldr]]. [[Snorri Sturluson|Snorri]]'s descriptions of Hel in the ''Prose Edda'' are not corroborated outside ''[[Baldrs draumar]]'', which does not appear in the original [[Codex Regius]] but is a later addition often included with modern editions of the ''Poetic Edda''.

====''Gylfaginning''====
In the book ''[[Gylfaginning]]'', Hel is introduced in chapter 3 as a location where "evil men" go upon death, and into [[Niflhel]]. The chapter further details that Hel is in the ninth of the [[Norse cosmology|Nine Worlds]].<ref name=BYOCK12>Byock (2006:12).</ref>

In chapter 34, [[Hel (being)|Hel, the being]] is introduced. [[Snorri Sturluson|Snorri]] writes that Hel was cast down into Hel by Odin who "made her ruler over Nine Worlds". Snorri further writes that there Hel is located in [[Niflheim]]. Here it is related that she could give out lodging and items to those sent to her that have died of disease or old age. A very large dwelling is described as existing in Niflheim owned by Hel with huge walls and gates. The within of this place is called [[Éljúðnir]], where Hel is described as having a servant, a slave and various possessions.<ref name=BYOCK39>Byock (2006:39).</ref>

At the end of chapter 49, the death of Baldr and [[Nanna (Norse deity)|Nanna]] is described. [[Hermóðr]], described as Baldr's brother in this source, sets out for Hel on horseback to retrieve the deceased Baldr.<ref name=BYOCK67-69/> To enter Hel, Hermóðr rides for [[Numbers in Norse mythology|nine nights]] through "valleys so deep and dark that he saw nothing" until he arrives at the river [[Gjöll]] ("Noisy") and the [[Gjallarbrú|Gjöll bridge]]. The bridge is described as having a roof made of shining gold. Hermóðr then proceeds to cross it. Hermóðr encounters [[Móðguð]], who is the guard of the bridge ("Furious Battler").<ref name=BYOCK67-69>Byock (2006:67-69).</ref>

Móðguð speaks to Hermóðr and comments that the bridge echoes beneath him more than the entire party of five people who had just passed. This is a reference to Baldr, Nanna and those that were burnt in their funeral pyre passing over the bridge on death. Móðguð also says that the dead in Hel appear as a different color than the living and tells him that to get to Hel he must go "down and to the North" where he would find the Road to Hel.<ref name=BYOCK67-69/>

Continuing along the Road to Hel, Hermóðr encounters the Gates of Hel. Hermóðr remounts and spurs Sleipnir, and the two bound far over it. Hermóðr proceeds further beyond the gates for some distance before arriving at the hall, dismounting and entering. There Hermóðr sees Baldr sitting in a "seat of honor" and Hermóðr spends a night in Hel. The following day, Hermóðr presses Hel, the being, to allow Baldr to leave. Hel gives him an offer and then Baldr leads him out of the hall. Baldr then gives Hermóðr various gifts from Nanna and himself to bring from Hel to the living Æsir. Hermóðr then retraces his path back to the land of the living. Hel's offer fails and in chapter 50, [[Loki]] is blamed for Baldr remaining in Hel.<ref name=BYOCK67-69/>

In chapter 53, Hel is mentioned a final time in the ''Prose Edda''.<ref name=BYOCK77>Byock (2006:77).</ref> Here, [[Höðr]] and Baldr are mentioned as returning from Hel in a post-[[Ragnarök]] world:

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''Því næst koma þar Baldr ok Höðr frá Heljar, setjask þá allir samt ok talask við ok minnask á rúnar sínar ok rœða of tíðindi þau er fyrrum höfðu verit, of Miðgarðsorm ok um Fenrisúlf.'' - [http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/gg/ggrpar51.html Eysteinn Björnsson's edition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426052537/http://www3.hi.is/~eybjorn/gg/ggrpar51.html |date=2009-04-26 }}
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"After that Baldr shall come thither, and Hödr, from Hel; then all shall sit down together
and hold speech with one another, and call to mind their secret wisdom, and speak of those
happenings which have been before: of the [[Midgard Serpent]] and of [[Fenrir|Fenris-Wolf]]." - [http://www.northvegr.org/lore/prose/081085.php Brodeur's translation]
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===''Gesta Danorum''===
Book I of ''[[Gesta Danorum]]'' contains an account of what has often been interpreted as a trip to Hel. While having dinner, King [[Hadingus]] is visited by a woman bearing stalks of [[Conium|hemlock]] who asks him if he knows where such fresh herbs grow in winter. Hadingus wants to know; so the woman muffles him with her cloak, pulls him into the ground, and they vanish. [[Saxo Grammaticus|Saxo]] reasons that the gods wished for Hadingus to visit in the flesh where he will go when he dies.<ref name=FISHER30-31>Davidson (1998:30-31).</ref>

The two penetrate a dark and misty cloud, and then continue along a path worn from heavy use over the ages. The two see men wearing rich-looking robes, and nobles wearing purple. Passing them, they finally reach sunny regions where the herbs the woman presented Hadingus grow.<ref name=FISHER30-31/>

Hadingus and the woman continue until they arrived at a river of blue-black water that is fast-moving, full of rapids, and filled with various weapons. They cross the bridge, and see two "strongly-matched" armies meeting. Hadingus asks the woman about their identity, and she responds that they are men that have met their death by sword, and that they present an everlasting display of their destruction while attempting to equal the activity of their past lives.<ref name=FISHER30-31/>

Moving forward, the two encounter a wall that they cannot find a way over. The woman attempts to leap over it, but despite her slender and wrinkled body, cannot. The woman removes the head of a cock that she was carrying and throws it over the wall. The bird crows immediately; it has returned to life. Hadingus returns to his wife, and foils a threat by pirates.<ref name=FISHER30-31/>