Overview

The Valkyries are among the most iconic figures of Norse mythology—divine warrior maidens who ride across battlefields, selecting the bravest fallen warriors to join Odin's eternal army in Valhalla. Their name, “Choosers of the Slain” (Old Norse: valkyrja), captures their sacred and terrible duty.

Clad in gleaming armor and mounted on horses that can traverse both earth and sky, Valkyries embody the Norse idealization of death in battle as the highest honor. They served as Odin's agents on the battlefield, influencing the course of combat and personally escorting chosen heroes to the halls of the slain.

Yet Valkyries were more than mere psychopomps. In Valhalla, they served mead to the Einherjar—the slain warriors—and ensured the heroes were ready for their ultimate purpose: to fight alongside the gods at Ragnarök, the twilight of the gods and the end of the world.

Divine Nature

Origins & Identity

The nature of Valkyries varied across Norse sources. In some accounts, they are purely supernatural beings, daughters of Odin or other gods. In others, they are human women who earned their place through exceptional deeds. Some sagas describe mortal princesses who became Valkyries, blurring the line between the divine and human realms.

Appearance

Valkyries are consistently described as beautiful women of formidable bearing, armed and armored for war. They carried spears and shields, their armor sometimes described as shimmering with light. Some accounts mention that the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) were reflections of light from Valkyrie armor as they rode across the sky.

Steeds of War

Valkyries rode horses capable of traversing air and sea as easily as land. Some sagas mention Valkyries riding wolves or boars instead. Their passage across the sky was said to cause dew to fall on valleys and hail on forests—natural phenomena attributed to the spray from their horses' manes.

Sacred Duties

Notable Valkyries

Brynhildr (Brunhild)

Perhaps the most famous Valkyrie, Brynhildr was punished by Odin for disobedience—she chose the wrong victor in battle. Odin condemned her to sleep within a ring of fire, only to be awakened by a man who knew no fear. The hero Sigurd broke through the flames and woke her, setting in motion one of mythology's greatest tragedies. Their doomed love story became central to the Völsunga saga and later inspired Wagner's Ring Cycle.

Sigrún

Sigrún appears in the Helgi cycle, where she falls in love with the mortal hero Helgi Hundingsbane. Their love transcends death—when Helgi is slain, Sigrún meets him at his burial mound, and he rises to spend one last night with her before departing for Valhalla.

Skuld

Uniquely, Skuld appears in Norse mythology as both a Valkyrie and a Norn (one of the three fate-weavers). This dual role connects the Valkyries to the cosmic forces of destiny, suggesting they were not merely servants of Odin but agents of fate itself.

Symbolism & Legacy

Death as Honor

Valkyries embody the Norse belief that death in battle was not an ending but a beginning—an entrance to eternal glory. Being chosen by a Valkyrie was the highest honor a warrior could receive, transforming death into triumph.

Female Power

The Valkyries represent one of mythology's most powerful images of feminine agency. Though they serve Odin, they exercise considerable autonomy—choosing who lives and dies, sometimes defying the All-Father's commands, and in several sagas, pursuing their own romantic destinies.

Modern Interpretations

From Wagner's operas to Marvel comics, the Valkyrie has become a symbol of fierce feminine power. The image of armored women warriors has influenced countless fantasy works, from “The Lord of the Rings” shield-maidens to contemporary superheroes.