9 Worlds, niflheim - April 3, 2021

Niflheim: The Realm of Ice and Death

Niflheim ("nebulous world"), Niflhel or Helheim ("kingdom of Hel")

Niflheim is the kingdom of ice, the dead of sickness and old age, and of the goddess Hel

According to Snorri, Niflheim existed before the creation of the world, separated from the warmth of Muspelheim by the Ginnungagap, and is located under one of the roots of Yggdrasill which extends northward and under which is the Hvergelmir spring that gives birth to the Elivágar rivers.

Is niflheim a HEL?

According to Snorri, Niflheim is also the equivalent of Hel, where the goddess of the same name reigns, who only takes in those who die on land from sickness or old age and from whom there is no way out.

niflheim

The fence surrounding Hel is called Helgrind ("gates of Hel", cf Gyl 1 48) or Nagrind ("gates of the dead", cf Skm35, Ls 63) or Valgrind ("gate of the occis", cf Grm 22).