Valkyrie
Valkyrie · Warrior Maidens — Choosers of the Slain in Norse Mythology
The Valkyrie (Valkyrja) is a female demi-divine being in Norse mythology guiding warriors' souls to Odin, god of war. The name means 'chooser of the slain' (Val-kyrja) in Old Norse — they decide who falls gloriously in battle, then guide the heroes' souls to Valhalla, the gods' hall, gathering an army for the final battle of Ragnarok. In Valhalla, Valkyries pour mead and serve the fallen heroes. Traditionally thirteen Valkyries existed. The most famous is Brunhilde — her tragic love for the hero Sigurd became central to Wagner's opera Der Ring des Nibelungen. Depicted in shining armor, winged helmets, mounted on horses or swans, they appear in all Norse fantasy from Marvel's Valkyrie to the Diablo series and God of War Ragnarok.
Origin
The concept of the valkyrie originates from ancient Scandinavian traditions. They appear in numerous myths and epic poems as beings who determine victory and death in battle.
Features
- Silver armor and helmets
- Riding flying horses
- Deciding the fate of battles
- Transcendent beauty and strength
Usage
Served as psychopomps for slain warriors and as symbols of divine intervention in warfare.
Weakness
Bound by the will of the gods and limited in directly intervening in the mortal world.
