Valkyrie

The Divine Warrior Maidens of Odin

## Profile

### Aliases and Epithets

Valkyr, Valkyrja, Walkyrie, Valkyrior, Warrior Maidens of Asgard, Chooser of the Slain, Funerary Warrior

### Personify

War, Battle, Warriors, Loyalty, the Afterlife

## Other

### Status

Active

A **Valkyrie** is a Norse lesser divinity, or lesser deity, that serves the Aesir and is who guide souls of the dead in Odin's hall Valhalla. They are also a race of female warriors who loyally serves the rulers of Asgard, Odin and his wife Frigg, as well as Freyja who stands as queen of the Valkyries.

## Overview

Name coming from Old Norse valkyrja ("chooser of the slain"), the Valkyries would bring their chosen dead to one of two locations in the afterlife, being either the hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin, where the deceased warriors become einherjar, or the hall and ship Sessrúmnir, ruled over by Freyja, where Freyja receives half of those who die in battle (with Odin taking the other half).

There, when the einherjar are not preparing for the events of Ragnarök, the Valkyries bear them mead. Valkyries also appear as lovers of heroes and other mortals, where they are sometimes described as the daughters of royalty, sometimes accompanied by ravens, and sometimes connected to swans.

## Description

The Valkyries have always had such characteristics, but during the heathen times, they were far more sinister. The meaning of their name, "choosers of the slain," refers not only to their choosing who gains admittance to Valhalla, but also to their choosing who dies in battle and using malicious magic to ensure that their preferences in this regard are brought to fruition.

The Valkyries' gruesome side is illustrated most vividly in the *Darraðarljóð*, a poem contained within Njal’s Saga. Here, twelve Valkyries are seen prior to the Battle of Clontarf, sitting at a loom and weaving the tragic destiny of the warriors (an activity highly reminiscent of the Norns). They use intestines for their thread, severed heads for weights, and swords and arrows for beaters, all the while chanting their intentions with ominous delight.

Whether in their loving or bloodthirsty modalities, the Valkyries are best understood as part of the extensive and dynamic complex of shamanism that permeates pre-Christian Germanic religion. Much like the ravens Hugin and Munin, they’re projections of parts of Odin, semi-distinct beings that are parts of his larger being.

## Notable Valkyries

* Alruna
* Brunhild
* Eir
* Geiravör
* Geirdriful
* Göndul
* Gunnr
* Herfjötur
* Herja
* Hlaðguðr svanhvít
* Hildr
* Hervör alvitr
* Hlökk
* Kára
* Mist
* Olrun
* Reginleif
* Róta
* Sigrdrífa
* Sigrún
* Skögul and Geirskögul
* Skuld
* Svipul
* Thrúd

## Trivia

* A lot of their portrayal in pop culture is helped along by the epic theatrical drama The Ring of the Nibelung, where they are portrayed as large, armored women.
	+ The colloquialism *"it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings"* is generally agreed to originate from the portrayal of the Valkyrie Brunhild.
* Because of their iconic nature, many things have been named after them, especially weapons of war.

## Images Sources

* (Valkyr.jpg) Valkyr by lorlandchain
* (Valkyrie.png) Valkyrie from ???
* (Winged Valkyrie Shawlette.jpg) Winged Valkyrie Shawlette by Ilovepearls
* (Valkyrie-by-Lulu-Zhang.jpg) character\_design\_valkyrie by Lulu Zhang
* (Valkyrie by deanhsieh d5so2ul.jpg) Valkyrie by deanhsieh