The Valkyries ("Choosers of the Slain") were female servants of Odin who brought those who were doomed to die in battle to Odin's hall in Asgard, Valhalla.^[1] They were described as beautiful young women that rode winged white horses armed in helmets and spears. Not only did they scout out the battlefields for slain warriors, but they were also Odin's messengers; wherever they rode, their armor would flicker light across the sky - this was later called "Aurora Borealis" ("Northern Lights").

Some of the known Valkyries (in alphabetical order) were: Brynhildr, Göll, Göndul, Gudr, Gunn, Herfjoturr, Hildr, Hladgunnr, Hlokk, Hrist, Sigrdrifa, Sigrún, and Svafa; although it's said there were many more.

The leader of the Valkyries was Freya, the goddess of love and fertility that was cursed with the domain of war.

Contents 1 In Mythology 1.1 The Death of Balder 1.2 Sigurd the Dragon-Slayer 2 See Also 3 Citations 4 References 5 Comments

In MythologyEdit

The Death of BalderEdit

Odin's Valkyries attended Balder's funeral after he was murdered by Loki. Some of the Valkyries were named at this gathering, although it is believed these were only second or symbolic names - the text refers to Odin as the "Father of Battle". These Valkyries were: "Shaker and Mist", "Axe Time and Raging", "Warrior and Might", "Shrieking", "Host Fetter and Screaming", "Spear Bearer", "Shield Bearer", and "Wrecker of Plans".^[2]

Sigurd the Dragon-SlayerEdit

The most notable Valkyrie from this story was Brynhildr.

See AlsoEdit

• Odin
• Norse Mythology

CitationsEdit

1. ↑ (Crossley-Holland 1980, p. 252)
2. ↑ (Crossley-Holland 1980, p. 156-7)

ReferencesEdit

• http://www.pantheon.org/
• Crossley-Holland, Kevin (1980), The Norse Myths, Pantheon Books, New York, ISBN 0-394-74846-8

Norse mythology articles
Major Deities	Odin | Thor | Freyr | Freya | Frigg | Loki | Balder | Tyr |
Races	Æsir | Vanir | Giants | Elves | Dwarves | Valkyries | Einherjar | Norns
Worlds	Álfheimr | Asgard | Jötunheimr | Midgard | Muspelheim | Niðavellir | Niflheim | Svartálfaheim | Vanaheimr
Locations	Bifröst | Utgard | Valhalla
Topics	Yggdrasil | Ginnungagap | Ragnarök | Poetic Edda | Prose Edda | The Sagas |

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