A Helhest, photograph of a pencil drawing made in 2009 and retouched with GIMP.
A Helhest or Helhesten ("horse of the underworld" or "horse of the goddess of the underworld") is, in the folklore of Denmark and Schleswig, a three-legged horse associated with the reign of the dead, Hel, as well as to the Scandinavian goddess of this kingdom that also bears the name of Hela.This horse is mentioned by Jakob Grimm in his study of Norse mythology and throughout the nineteenth century when, according to popular belief, Helhest, death-mounted ghost horse, announced the disease, accidents and especially the deaths. It could also be the ghost of a horse buried alive under the cemeteries following an ancient tradition, in order to return to guide the dead as a Psychopompo. Legend holds that anyone who sees the Helhest is about to "close his eyes and go," that is, to die. The sight of the horse or the simple fact of hearing its steps would be mortal, being clearly identifiable the sound of the steps of Helhest on its three legs.
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