The Nordic valkyries choose warriors on the battlefield because they are considered minor deities of Norse mythology tasked with selecting fallen warriors worthy of going to Valhalla, the paradise of fighters, alongside the god Odin.
The Valkyries are legendary creatures in the service of Odin, the main Norse god. Their primary role is to go to the battlefields to select the bravest warriors fallen in combat and take them to Valhalla, Odin's great palace. There, these warriors, called Einherjar, become Odin's personal bodyguard and prepare to fight for him during the final confrontation, Ragnarok. One could say that the Valkyries are somewhat like the eyes and arms of Odin: they see everything, choose from the most courageous, and ensure to strengthen the god's army in anticipation of the great final battle. Their connection with Odin perfectly symbolizes how he partly controls the warrior fate of men while remaining at a distance, contemplating from his throne.
To win their direct ticket to Valhalla, warriors had to be brave and heroic in battle. The valkyries identified the strong, brave, and even somewhat reckless guys, those ready to fall with honor rather than retreat. The selection depended heavily on their warrior bravery: dying with weapon in hand while courageously facing their enemies was the ultimate criterion. These chosen fighters became Einherjar, future allies of Odin in the great final battle, Ragnarök. It goes without saying that having a good reputation in fighting mattered a lot!
The Einherjar are the warriors who died in battle, chosen on the fields of war by the valkyries to populate Valhalla, the military paradise ruled by Odin. Up there, these fighters do not lounge around idly: they spend their days training intensely, battling each other to the death before resurrecting each evening to feast together. You may wonder why this program resembles a giant boot camp? The goal is for these warriors to become unbeatable and perfectly prepared to fight in the final battle of Ragnarök, a mythical confrontation that marks the end of times in Norse beliefs. Odin knows that this decisive fight will pit the gods and their champions, including the Einherjar, against the chaotic forces arising from giants and other devastating creatures. When the day comes, the Einherjar must fight bravely alongside the deities to preserve cosmic order and attempt to reverse the tragic fate foretold by prophecies.
For the Vikings, courage and honor were the supreme qualities of the ideal warrior. The valkyries chose those who fought bravely and without fear of death. Dying courageously on the battlefield ensured a favored place in Valhalla, the great hall of Odin reserved for the most deserving warriors. This selection by the valkyries symbolized the deep respect of the Norse for the warrior who remains true to his values, even in defeat or in the face of death. Moreover, dying honorably was not seen as a failure but as an achievement, the ultimate proof of merit to live among the gods.
The Valkyries have profoundly marked the Nordic imagination. In the sagas, these divine warriors often influence the destinies of heroes. They generally symbolize absolute courage and the honor of the warrior, and are even described as being capable of directly intervening in crucial battles. Their appearances in the tales reinforced the warrior ideal of Viking societies, highlighting the cool idea of the glorious fate reserved for the heroic fighter. It can be said that this has significantly shaped the way the Nordics analyzed their own values. Even today, the myth of the Valkyries continues to inspire literature, cinema, and even video games, proving that these legends remain deeply rooted in our culture.
The Valkyries were not limited to merely selecting warriors; they also served the divine mead to the heroes in the gigantic hall of Valhalla, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie between battles and feasts.
In certain Norse sagas, it is said that valkyries could also fall in love with mortal heroes, thus intertwining human and divine destinies in complex and fascinating tales.
The Valkyries were sometimes seen as symbolic representations of Odin's ravens, Huginn and Muninn, as they continuously observed and evaluated warriors on the battlefield to report their choices to the supreme god.
The name 'Valkyrie' comes from the Old Norse 'valkyrja', which literally means 'she who chooses the slain on the battlefield'. Their decisions directly influenced who would join Odin in Valhalla.
The Valkyries, although endowed with divine and immortal abilities, held an intermediary position between the gods and mortals. They were generally seen as spiritual and warrior entities in the service of Odin.
Sure! Here’s the translation: "Yes, some Valkyries frequently appear in Norse myths, such as Brunhilde, Gondul, or Skuld. Brunhilde, in particular, is very prominent in works like The Saga of the Volsungs or in Wagner's opera, The Ring of the Nibelung."
The Valkyries served as messengers and intermediaries for Odin. Through their role, Odin demonstrated his power and mastery over the afterlife, while remaining distant from the mortal battlefields, thus emphasizing the sacred and mysterious nature of his influence.
No. The Valkyries did not necessarily select only renowned warriors, but primarily sought out brave, deserving fighters who had demonstrated courage and honor in their final moments in battle.
The selected warriors, known as Einherjar, are taken to Valhalla, Odin's majestic hall, where they train continuously in anticipation of Ragnarök, the final battle in Norse mythology.
No one has answered this quiz yet, be the first!' :-)
Question 1/5
