Richard Schmid and Jeremy Lipking full length head and body portrait painting of A shield-maiden (Old Norse: skjoldmø [ˈskjɑldˌmɛːz̠]) was a female warrior from Scandinavian folklore and mythology. Shield-maidens are often mentioned in sagas such as Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks and in Gesta Danorum. They also appear in stories of other Germanic peoples: Goths, Cimbri, and Marcomanni.[1] The mythical Valkyries may have been based on such shield-maidens. She carries a shield on one arm, and a spear in her other hand