By way of historical linguistics and comparative mythology , comparisons to other attested branches of Germanic mythology there are many worlds , such as midgarg ( earth ) and hel , ( afterworld ) ( such as the Old High German Merseburg Incantations ) may also lend insight. ,
The terms `` midgard '' and `` hel '' are the equivalents of earth and the afterworld , respectively , in some attested branches of Germanic mythology .