Norse Mythology

 

 

 

 

Valkyries

"Maidens excellent in beauty,
Riding their steeds in shining armour,
Solemn in deep thought,
With their white hands beckoning."  --Elder Edda

Valkyrie picture
("Valkyrie on Oil Canvas" by John Gruse)

The Valkyries were the ultimate in women, because they decided who lived or died and what would happen to people after they died.

a lot of people think that the valkyries were fighting women, but there is no reference to them as fighting.  The valkyries serve odin.  They decide who will win the battle, and then, after the battle has been fought, they decide who will go to Valhalla.  Those who are not chosen to go to valhalla are sent to hel.

The most frquently mentioned Valkyries are:
• Brynhild "(Mail coat of Battle)
• Geironul
• Geirskogul
• Goll (Loud cry/battle cry)
• Gondul (Magic wand/enchanted staff/she-were-wolf)

One of the most famous Valkyries, Gondul is sent to earth to bring back the spirits of famous kings who fall in battle.

• Gunn
• Guth
• Herfjotur (War Fetter)
• Hervor (Warder of the Host)
• Hild (Battle)
• Hlathguth (Necklace-Adorned Warrior-Maiden)
• Hlokk (Noise/din of battle)
• Hrist (The Shaker)
• kara
• Mist
• Olrun (One Knowing Ale Rune)
• Randgrith (Shielf of Peace)
• Reginleif (Heritage of the gods)
• Rota (She who causes turmoil)
• Sigrdrifa (Victory Blizzard)

Sigurdrifta is the wisest of the Valkyries, who once stole from battle a hero that Odin had promised victory. As punishment, Odin stung her with sleeping thorns. As she sank into a trance, Sigurdrifta said she would never awake until a man utterly without fear came to claim her as his wife.

• Sigrun (Victory Rune)
• Skeggjold (Wearing a War Axe)
• Skogul (Battle)
• Skuld (Necessity/she who-is-becoming)
• Svava
• Thruth

However, the number of valkyries varies from 3 to 16, depending on your source.

Valkyries picture
"Valkyries" copyrighted 1989 Boris Vallejo

Freya is usually thought to be the leader of the valkyries.  (Most think that Friday is named after her: Freya's Day)  When the valkyries ride, she got to pick the first half of the dead for her Sessrumnir, her area Asgard.  The other half that they choose went to Odin in Valhalla.  Freya is the goddess of love, beauty and romance.  She rides in a chariot pulled by cats.  She has a cloak of falcon feathers that allows her to change into a falcon.  She also has the necklace made Brisingamen necklace, which she got  by sleeping with four dwarves.
 

~The Valkyries are also Odins messengers, and when they ride forth on their winged horses, their armor shines and flickers causing the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).

~The Valkyries also had duties in the great hall. There, after exchanging armor for white robes, they served the warriors they had chosen. Freya poured ale at the feasts of the Aesir .

~It is said that if you see a valkyrie before battle, you will die.

~Valkyries often appeared in a troop of nine.

~A girl who becomes a valkyrie will be immortal for as long as she's a virgin.