Editing Hel (mythological being) (section)

===''Prose Edda''===
[[Image:Loki's children by Frølich.jpg|thumb|A depiction of a young Hel (center) being led to the assignment of her realm, while her brother Fenrir is led forward (left) and Jörmungandr (right) is about to be cast by Odin (1906) by [[Lorenz Frølich]].]]
[[Image:Hermod before Hela.jpg|right|thumb|"[[Hermóðr|Hermod]] before Hela" (1909) by [[John Charles Dollman]].]]
[[Image:The children of Loki by Willy Pogany.png|thumb|"The children of Loki" (1920) by [[Willy Pogany]].]]
[[Image:Lokis Gezücht.jpg|thumb|"Loki's Brood" (1905) by [[Emil Doepler]].]]

Hel receives notable mention in the ''[[Prose Edda]]''. In chapter 34 of the book ''[[Gylfaginning]]'', Hel is listed by [[High, Just-As-High, and Third|High]] as one of the three children of [[Loki]] and [[Angrboða]]; the wolf [[Fenrir]], the serpent [[Jörmungandr]], and Hel. High continues that, once the gods found that these three children are being brought up in the land of [[Jötunheimr]], and when the gods "traced prophecies that from these siblings great mischief and disaster would arise for them" then the gods expected a lot of trouble from the three children, partially due to the nature of the mother of the children, yet worse so due to the nature of their father.<ref name="FAULKES26-27">Faulkes (1995:26–27).</ref>

High says that Odin sent the gods to gather the children and bring them to him. Upon their arrival, Odin threw Jörmungandr into "that deep sea that lies round all lands", Odin threw Hel into [[Niflheim]], and bestowed upon her authority over [[Norse cosmology|nine worlds]], in that she must "administer board and lodging to those sent to her, and that is those who die of sickness or old age". High details that in this realm Hel has "great Mansions" with extremely high walls and immense gates, a hall called [[Éljúðnir]], a dish called "Hunger", a knife called "Famine", the servant Ganglati (Old Norse "lazy walker"<ref name="ORCHARD79">Orchard (1997:79).</ref>), the serving-maid Ganglöt (also "lazy walker"<ref name="ORCHARD79" />), the entrance threshold "Stumbling-block", the bed "Sick-bed", and the curtains "Gleaming-bale". High describes Hel as "half black and half flesh-coloured", adding that this makes her easily recognizable, and furthermore that Hel is "rather downcast and fierce-looking".<ref name="FAULKES27">Faulkes (1995:27).</ref>

In chapter 49, High describes the events surrounding the death of the god [[Baldr]]. The goddess [[Frigg]] asks who among the [[Æsir]] will earn "all her love and favour" by riding to Hel, the location, to try to find Baldr, and offer Hel herself a ransom. The god [[Hermóðr]] volunteers and sets off upon the eight-legged horse [[Sleipnir]] to Hel. Hermóðr arrives in Hel's hall, finds his brother Baldr there, and stays the night. The next morning, Hermóðr begs Hel to allow Baldr to ride home with him, and tells her about the great weeping the Æsir have done upon Baldr's death.<ref name="FAULKES49-50">Faulkes (1995:49–50).</ref> Hel says the love people have for Baldr that Hermóðr has claimed must be tested, stating:

<blockquote>If all things in the world, alive or dead, weep for him, then he will be allowed to return to the Æsir. If anyone speaks against him or refuses to cry, then he will remain with Hel.<ref name="BYOCK68">Byock (2005:68).</ref></blockquote>

Later in the chapter, after the female [[jötunn]] [[Þökk]] refuses to weep for the dead Baldr, she responds in verse, ending with "let Hel hold what she has".<ref name="BYOCK69">Byock (2005:69).</ref> In chapter 51, High describes the events of [[Ragnarök]], and details that when Loki arrives at the field [[Vígríðr]] "all of Hel's people" will arrive with him.<ref name="FAULKES54">Faulkes (1995:54).</ref>

In chapter 12 of the ''Prose Edda'' book ''[[Skáldskaparmál]]'', Hel is mentioned in a [[kenning]] for Baldr ("Hel's companion").<ref name="FAULKES74">Faulkes (1995:74).</ref> In chapter 23, "Hel's [...] relative or father" is given as a kenning for Loki.<ref name="FAULKES76">Faulkes (1995:76).</ref> In chapter 50, Hel is referenced ("to join the company of the quite monstrous wolf's sister") in the [[skald]]ic poem ''[[Ragnarsdrápa]]''.<ref name="FAULKES123">Faulkes (1995:123).</ref>