In Norse mythology, the goddess associated with death is Hel. As the ruler of the realm of the dead, also named Hel, she oversees those who do not die a heroic death in battle. Hel's character embodies both fear and inevitability, representing the balance between life and death within Norse cosmology. She is often depicted as half-living and half-corpse, symbolizing the limits of mortality and the fate that awaits all. Her presence influences various myths and legends, emphasizing the harsh realities of existence and the afterlife.