The daughter of Loki and a frost giantess, Hel was banished by Odin to the netherworld, which took its name, Helheim, from her. In her hall, Eljudnir, she ruled over those who died of sickness, old age, or capital punishment. While in her realm, Hel's power was such that she could defy other gods, including Odin. She was described as having half the body of a living woman and the other half of a corpse. Her throne was known as the sick bed. Christians later adopted Hel and her domain of unending suffering as the name of their destination for the damned.