Helheim ("House of Hel") is the cold, dark and misty land of the dead located in the world of Niflheim, on the lowest level of the Norse universe. This realm is ruled by the goddess Hel, the daughter of the trickster god Loki and the giantess Angrboda.

The way to this realm was through the land of the mountain giants. The entrance to Helheim is guarded by the monstrous hound Garm and Modgud.

No one, not even the gods, can leave this place once they enter, because of the impassable river Gjoll which flows from the spring Hvergelmir and encircles Helheim.

Those who die of old age or disease, and those not killed in battle, go to Helheim while those who die bravely on the battlefield go to Valhalla.

The giant Hraesvelg [corpse eater] sits at the edge of the world, overlooking Helheim. In the form of an eagle with flapping wings he makes the wind blow.