Hel is a being who presides over Hel, the underworld in Norse mythology that shares her name, she is the daughter of Loki and the giantess Angroboda, and the sister of Fenrir and Jormungand. When the beloved Norse god Baldur died, the gods sent Hermod to Hel in hopes of retrieving Baldur. Hel told Hermod that she will only agree to release Baldur if every last thing in the universe wept for him. All the living beings cried for Baldur except for one giantess who refused, who is probably Loki in disguise, and Hel kept Baldur in her domain. This beautifully crafted cold-cast bronze statue of Hel measures 6 inches long, 3.5 inches wide, and 4.5 inches high, and depicts her standing with a pair of birds perched on her shoulder and a wolf standing at her feet. She wears a fur cape with skulls at the shoulders, and an antler helmet, and holds up a scythe in one hand while the other rests on her sword.