In Norse lore, Hel is the goddess who presides over the realm of the dead, also named Hel. She is often depicted as a figure with half of her body appearing human and the other half as decayed, symbolizing the dual nature of life and death. Hel is responsible for guiding souls to her domain, where they spend eternity based on their earthly deeds. Unlike many myths where the afterlife is often portrayed positively, Hel's realm is associated with gloom and cold, emphasizing themes of mortality and the inevitability of death within Norse cosmology.