Valkyries Of Norse Mythology

Then light shone from Logafell,
and from that radiance there came bolts of lightning;
wearing helmets at Himingvani [came the valkyries].
Their byrnies were drenched in blood;
and rays shone from their spears.
- Helgakvido Hundingsbana I, from the Poetic Edda

Odin, the supreme god of the Vikings, chose the souls of the most beautiful and fiercest women warriors who died in battle to be his immortal valkyries. Before each battle the decision of who shall die was given by Odin to a valkyrie. That valkyrie led the others to the battles between kings and their armies.

The valkyries don their armor, mount their battle ready horses, are handed their spears then ride over the earth. Now they watch and wait for the battle to end. When the fierce battle cries no longer echo, when the spears and swords no longer clash and ring, when all that is heard is the moaning of the dying, the valkyries guide their horses through the strewn corpses that lay in the field.

They have come to gather their chosen dead. They can only select from half of the dead. The other half go to Freyja, the Norse goddess of love. She is associated with beauty, fertility, gold, witchcraft, war, and death. Freyja is Odin's wife. Like Odin, she is a mighty warrior. Yet her profound beauty shows not the fierce warrior on the fields of battle. The souls she takes go to Folkvangr, her afterlife realm.

The Prose Edda was written by Snorri Sturlson (1179 - 1241). Sturlson was an Icelandic historian and poet. The Prose Edda is a book of Norse mythology and is written in poetic language. The book is the most trusted source of Norse mythology is still used today as a trusted authority on the subject. In the book is a poem called Gylfaginning which mentions Freyja.

XXIV. ... begot afterward two children: the son was called Freyr, and the daughter Freyja; they were fair of face and mighty. Freyr is the most renowned of the Aesir; he rules over the rain and the shining of the sun, and therewithal the fruit of the earth; and it is good to call on him for fruitful seasons and peace. He governs also the prosperity of men. But Freyja is the most renowned of the goddesses; she has in heaven the dwelling called ..., and wheresoever she rides to the strife, she has one-half of the kill, and Odin half, as is here said:

Fiaalkvangr 't is called, where Freyja rules Degrees of seats in the hall; Half the kill she keepeth each day, And half Odin hath.

Her hall, Sessrimnir, is great and fair. When she goes forth, she drives her cats and sits in a chariot; she is most conformable to man's prayers, and from her name comes the name of honor, Freyia, by which noblewomen are called. Songs of love are well-pleasing to her; it is good to call on her for furtherance in love.

- From The Prose Edda of Snorri Sturulson, year 1220. Translated by Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur (1916)

Odin is associated with wisdom, war, battle and death. He is also associated with magic, poetry, prophecy, victory, and the hunt. Odin is regarded as a psychopomp, "guide of souls." It is Odin whose responsibility it is to escort newly deceased souls to the afterlife. His role is not to judge the deceased, but simply provide safe passage and a place of comfort in the afterlife. Odin reigns in Asgard, the principle city and one of the nine worlds of AEsir, the Norse pantheon. The hall where the fallen heroes of battle are brought is called Valhalla.

In Valhalla, the souls of the warriors are called einherjar (lone fighters). While in Valhalla they prepare for Ragnarok, which are future events and a great battle which will be the final destiny of the gods. Nightly they eat their fill of Saehrimnir, the resurrecting beast. Each night Saehrimnir is resurrected to be eaten again the next day. The einherjar have all the mead they want to drink, and they are well cared for. The valkyries, when not on their rides to battlefields, serve the einherjar with all their needs.

In Fagrskinna, one of the kings' sagas written around 1220 by either an Icelander or a Norwegian, there is a verse spoken by Odin:

'What kind of a dream is it,' said Odinn, in which just before daybreak, I thought I cleared Valhall, for coming of slain men? I waked the Einherjar, bade valkyries rise up, to strew the bench, and scour the beakers, wine to carry, as for a king's coming, here to me I expect heroes' coming from the world, certain great ones, so glad is my heart

LEGEND

There are many legends of the individual valkyries. One of my favorite is a story of Svafa and Helgi, from the poem Helgakvioa Hjorvarossonar of the Poetic Edda.

The Norwegian king Hjorvaror and Sigrlinn of Svafaland had a son who was a silent man and to whom no name could be given. When this silent man had grown up, he was one day sitting on a burial mound and he saw nine Valkyries riding over him. One of them of whom is Svafa, which means "the most beautiful one".

The silent man is struck by her beauty. Svava stopped to speak with him. Knowing he has no name and is silent, Svava gives him the name of Helgi (the holy one). She then asks if he wanted a gift with his newly-given name. Helgi wanted nothing if he could not have Svava herself. He speaks, calling her "bright face lady", and asks what gift he shall receive with his new name.

Svava informs Helgi of a great sword engraved with snakes and magic runes. It is among a hoard of other swords in Sigarsholm and informs Helgi of the location, describing his sword in great detail.

Helgi claims the sword and becomes a great warrior. Svava followed him to all his battles and kept him from all harm.

Having become great in battle, Helgi goes to Svava's father, King Eylimi and asks the king for his daughter's hand. King Eylimi consented and so Helgi and Svava are wedded.

When Helgi left for battle after the wedding, Svava remained with her father. This was the first she had not accompanied Helgi in battle.

Alfr, the son of King Hroomar whom was killed in battle against Helgi, wanted to avenge his father. He challenged Helgi to a holmgang (duel) and mortally wounded Helgi. A curse from a troll woman that Helgi's brother Heoinn had recieved fell on Helgi. As Helgi lay dying he sent a companion to King Eylimi to send Svava so that they could meet before he died.

Before he died, Helgi asked Svava to marry his brother Heoinn. Helgi agrees and Heroinn asked Svava to kiss him, because she would not see him again before Helgi had been avenged. Both Helgi and Svava would be reborn as Helgi Hundingsbane and Sigrun. And so their adventures and love for each other continue.

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© Copyright Phyllis Doyle Burns 2012

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