Valkyries (Norse mythology)
In Norse mythology, Valkyries are revered female warrior figures who play a crucial role in determining the fate of fallen warriors during battle. Their name translates to "chooser of the slain," reflecting their function of selecting which warriors will die and guiding their souls to Valhalla, the hall of the slain, where these heroes prepare to fight alongside the god Odin in the prophesied final battle of Ragnarök. Originating from possibly earlier myths about death spirits, Valkyries evolved into heroic figures depicted as spear-wielding women on horseback.
The earliest written accounts of Valkyries are found in thirteenth-century Icelandic texts, which were based on oral traditions. As Christianity spread in Scandinavia, concepts of the afterlife and Valhalla were influenced, leading to the Valkyries' transformation into noble figures rather than mere harbingers of death. Various myths depict Valkyries weaving the fates of warriors and sometimes resurrecting the dead for continued battle practice. Among them, Brynhildr stands out as a prominent character in the Völsunga saga, linked to the famous tale of "Sleeping Beauty." The cultural legacy of Valkyries extends into modern interpretations, including operas and literature, highlighting their enduring impact on both history and mythology.
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Valkyries (Norse mythology)
In Norse mythology, Valkyries are female warrior figures who decide the fate of warriors who fall in battle. According to myth, the Valkyries, a name meaning “chooser of the slain,” select the warriors who will die in battle and guide their souls to Valhalla, the hall of fallen heroes. There, the slain warriors await the god Odin’s call to fight at his side during the final battle of Ragnarök. The concept of the Valkyries possibly originated from the Greek notion of female “death demons,” who were drawn to the carnage of the battlefield. In Norse myths, they evolved to become spear-wielding female warriors, most often pictured riding on horseback. The modern idea of Valkyries was first described in thirteenth-century Icelandic texts, although these were based on older oral tales.
Background
The exact origin of the Norse Valkyrie myth remains unknown, but scholars speculate that it may have evolved from older tales about demons and spirits who were drawn to battlefields and places of violent death. The most likely inspiration for the Valkyrie myth is the Greek death demon known as the Keres.
To the Ancient Greeks, the term “demon” did not necessarily refer to evil supernatural creatures. Demons were considered “lesser spirits” and could be good, evil, or indifferent to human concerns. The Keres were female spirits who were attracted to the carnage of the battlefield or other places where violent death had occurred. These places might be where someone was murdered or areas that had been devastated by disease. The Keres were portrayed as having sharp fangs and talons and clad in bloody robes. These demons did not have the power to kill but would hover over the battlefield, waiting for a mortally wounded soldier to approach death. When death was imminent, they would tear the soul from the body and send it to the underworld. Then they would feast upon the corpse.
Overview
Prior to about the year 1000, tales of Norse heroes, gods, and legends were passed down solely by word of mouth. As Scandinavia began to convert to Christianity in the tenth and eleventh centuries, missionaries and priests also introduced writing and literacy to the region. In the thirteenth century, Norse history, myth, and legend were compiled by Icelandic authors into two primary volumes: the Prose Edda and Poetic Edda. The oldest known written accounts of the Valkyries come from these works.
The concept of the Valkyries seemed to evolve with the changing ideas of the Norse afterlife. It is believed that the idea of Valhalla, the hall of slain heroes governed by the supreme god Odin, developed around the time when Christianity arrived in Scandinavia and was possibly influenced by the Christian idea of heaven. Valhalla is one of five realms of the Norse afterlife. Those who died of old age or sickness were said to have gone to Hel, a foggy, gray land ruled by the goddess Hel. Sailors who drowned at sea went to a realm ruled by the giantess Rán. Some souls remained tied to their burial mounds and became evil spirits. Fólkvangr is a realm ruled by the goddess Freyja, who claimed the souls of fallen warriors who were not selected by Odin.
Scholars believe that at one time, Valkyries were seen as more generic harbingers of death, carrying away all souls of the departed at the moment of death. As the idea of Valhalla developed, the Valkyrie was transformed into a more noble figure, a heroic, spear-carrying warrior woman riding a horse who took the souls of those killed in battle. In some myths, Valkyries were also said to have ridden boars or wolves.
The name Valkyrie comes from the Norse valkyrjur, or “chooser of the slain,” a fitting name since early myths held that Valkyries chose the warriors who would die in battle beforehand, and even helped to ensure that fate came to pass. When a warrior died, the Valkyrie would ride down onto the battlefield and carry his soul to Valhalla. There, he would spend his days fighting and drinking until Odin called him and his fellow warriors to fight by his side at Ragnarök, the final battle at the end of the world.
The total number of Valkyries varies by myth but is often placed at nine, twelve, thirteen, or three hundred. According to one tale, twelve Valkyries decided who would be killed in the 1014 Battle of Clontarf, a confrontation that took place on the coast of Ireland. Valkyries were said to have weaved the fates of those who would die in battle using intestines as thread.
The goddess Freyja is often connected to the Valkyries and is sometimes viewed as one herself. She is said to have the ability to fly using a magical falcon cloak, leading to the idea of winged Valkyries whose rank could be determined by the color of their wings.
Later myths shifted the role of the Valkyrie from actively deciding who would live and die to one who would accompany the bravest of the fallen to Valhalla. Some Valkyries were able to use their powers to bring the slain back to life but for dramatically different reasons. Eir was said to have walked the battlefield, healing the wounded and bringing the dead back to life. The Valkyrie Hildr also brought the dead back to life, but she did so to continue the battle so the warriors could practice for Ragnarök.
The best-known Valkyrie is Brynhildr, a heroine in the thirteenth-century Völsunga saga, a mix of history, myth, and legend about the Völsung clan. In the saga, Brynhildr disobeys Odin and helps a warrior achieve victory in battle, despite Odin’s preference for his opponent. Odin punishes her by placing her in a deep sleep and surrounding her by a ring of fire. She is found by the hero Sigurd, who bravely cuts through the ring of fire and awakens her. The story was later adapted by the nineteenth-century German composer Richard Wagner in his opera, Der Ring des Nibelungen, which featured the iconic musical piece “Ride of the Valkyries.” Brynhildr was also the inspiration for the classic fairy tale “Sleeping Beauty.”
Bibliography
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Fuller-Shafer, Kelsey A. Norse Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook: From Vikings to Valkyries, an Epic Who’s Who in Old Norse Mythology. Adams Media, 2023.
Mark, Joshua. “Norse Ghosts & the Afterlife.” World History Encyclopedia, 10 Dec. 2018, www.worldhistory.org/article/1290/norse-ghosts--the-afterlife/. Accessed 23 May 2024.
Mark, Joshua. “Valkyrie.” World History Encyclopedia, 8 Sept. 2021, www.worldhistory.org/Valkyrie/. Accessed 23 May 2024.
Lary, Morris H. “Valkyries: Choosers of the Slain.” History Cooperative, 11 Mar. 2024, historycooperative.org/valkyries/. Accessed 23 May 2024.
McCoy, Daniel. “Valkyries.” Norse Mythology for Smart People, 2019, norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/valkyries/. Accessed 23 May 2024.
“Valkyries: Norse Mythology.” Vikings of Valhalla, 2024, vikings-valhalla.com/blogs/norse-mythology/valkyries-norse-mythology. Accessed 23 May 2024.