NorsePlay.

Last week someone anonymously dropped off this 6" x 6" art print featuring Hel, the Norse Goddess of Death , in my mailbox: While I haven't truck with Hel Lokisdottir , I can't help but admire the designwork in this semi-Art Nouveau-inspired circular format. The braids inventively used as blade frogs, the bone & ring linked daggertailed chainwhip, her "H" monogrammed shoulder brooch, the horned crownhelm (which is possibly Marvel Hela derived), and Hel's modest coverage of her half-deathly side with the exception of sharp boned left arm, while intentionally  revealing her living leg & top, all of which makes her both seductive & Goddess-level dauntingly formidable .  Searching online, I can't seem to find any artistic attributions, so if you know who drew this do comment below, as I would love to see if they've done a series of other Norse Gods to match. And to NorsePlay's secret admirer, thank you! [3/5/2023 Addenda: Thank yo...

In reading The War Of The Realms story arc in Marvel's The Mighty Thor , the formidable NorsePlay creation of Sindr, the Queen of Cinders, daughter of Surt , usurps Helheim , much to the dismay of the Thunder God and the rage of Hela herself . In the actual Norse Lore, Surtr has the consort Sinmara mentioned in the Fjölsvinnsmál , interpreted by some to be his wife. In running with that, it would stand to reason that Surtr has children. Using that possibility, this ally of the Dark Elf Malekith invades Helheim and solidifies her power in a meeting with the various factions of the land of the dead. Hela is understatedly displeased, and conflict ensues. Unlike the predestination of the Lore, at this point in the Marvel Comics Thor story the fate weaving Norns are are almost all dead, and it would seem that it's anyone's ball game as to how the ending will ultimately turn out, but it seems that Sindr is one to watch out for. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena ...

  The Hordes of Death are Summoned Forth (2015 CE) by Christian Sloan Hall, who does much illustration work in the realm of metal music, particularly commissions for renowned Viking Metal band Amon Amarth ! Survive the Jive uses this image in a YT video as a visual reference to Norse Death Goddess  Hel , and there seems to be some influence from Kirby 's green-dominant deathly yet sexy Hela from The Mighty Thor . [go buy prints or hire this artist at https://www.deathlord.co.uk/] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative my...

A rune-skinned Hel from Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice from developer Ninja Theory on PS4 & Windows. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Amon Amarth goes 16-bit style with a self-titled mobile videogame ! Play as Thor facing off against Surtur , Fenris, Nídhögg, and Hel , all to midi versions of the Viking Metal tracks you already know & love. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Highly detailed Marvel Thor art of Hela & Fenris Wolf   penciled  by Jay Anacleto. The Death Goddess seems more than able to take care of business with that sword. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

This modern Helheim meme shows a lifeless rockscape with a mist flowing through its desolate peaks, a chilling & seemingly joyless setting for one of the Norse afterlives. [From dreamers often lie (Sarah)'s Nine Worlds of Norse Mythology series.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

A map of Hel! We think the Ancestral Plains of Bliss could be promising, and there's room down there for some adventuring, too. [ Helmap created by Carla O'Harris & Siegfried Goodfellow.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Author (or survivor of secret caverns under the earth depending what you believe) Richard Sharpe Shaver wrote Cave City Of Hel  in this Amazing Stories pulp from September 1945, the cover asking "Did the Norse Gods Really Live?" [ Read it here !] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

A provocative photo manipulation of enthroned Death Goddess Hel . The idea of death being both repellent and attractive continues to find expression, and Hel's half-and-half appearance here embodies this idea. [Rendering by Norway's GoddessOvDoom/Mia on Deviant Art.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

The Cook Islands have issued a few newly designed Norse Gods themed 2 oz .999 silver coins . While the asking's $200 USD (wayyy over current market price), it's neat to see what they're coming up with. Perth Mint 's also recently put out their own line of Norse Gods silver high-profile rounds. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

So for Halloween we went to a craft party and using what what was there, I NorsePlay 'd a treat bag with all the baddies: a two-tone bloody living & grey bone dead Hel suspended from the handle, painted a full Mani, the Moon, chased by Hati, the wolf who relentlessly pursues him, a pipe cleaner Jörmungandr coiled around a sanguine outpouring of red raffia, and at the bottom the hall of Náströnd, where the most dishonourable oath-breakers end up in Niflhel. Yes, Norse Lore has more than its share of cosmological monsters and spooky places to find them in. [Special thanks to Mitch Proctor & Natalie Carey for the event, resources, and good time.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú...

Hel, a goddess of death , ends this Norse Goddess meme series. Consigned to take those who do not die in battle, she's described as half-dead & half-alive, as depicted by contrasting panels 2 & 7. There's an adoption of medieval reaper imagery here with the beckoning hand & cowl of panels 1 & 8. The solitary figure on the misted land in panel 3 could be her initially arriving in Niflheim before setting up her eponymous realm for the dead. [Found on a VK Wall. This was the last of this series we could find, but if you know of more, do let us know. And if any of you know who made these, or the particular #Meme generator used, do tell, as we'd love to make more ourselves.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately...