Valkyries— Norse Group"Shield-Maidens of Odin"

Choosers of the Slain

The Valkyries are Odin's handmaidens, female spirits who ride over battlefields selecting which warriors will die and which will live. Their name means "choosers of the slain" (Old Norse valkyrja). They are not merely passive observers—they actively determine the course of battles according to Odin's will, ensuring the warriors he needs reach Valhalla.

The Ride to Valhalla

When a worthy warrior falls, the Valkyries descend on flying horses, their armor gleaming. They take his soul and carry him through the sky to Valhalla, Odin's great hall. There, he joins the einherjar, the army of the dead being gathered for Ragnarök. Half of the slain go to Odin; the other half go to Freya's hall Fólkvangr.

Shield-Maidens of Battle

Valkyries are fierce warriors themselves. In some accounts, they wade through battles in armor, fighting alongside their chosen heroes before collecting them at death. The northern lights were believed to be the gleam of their armor as they rode across the sky. They carry spears that drip with blood and shields that flash with light.

Named Valkyries

Several Valkyries are named in the sources. Brynhild was a Valkyrie punished by Odin for disobedience, put to sleep until Sigurd awakened her. Sigrún loved the hero Helgi across multiple lifetimes. Göndul, Skögul, and Hildr appear on battlefields. Their names often relate to battle: Hrist ("shaker"), Mist ("cloud"), Skuld ("debt" or "future").

Servants in Valhalla

In the hall of the slain, Valkyries serve mead to the einherjar, pouring drinks for the warriors who feast each night after their daily battles. This domestic role seems at odds with their battlefield ferocity, but both aspects reflect their function: they are the link between death in battle and the afterlife, serving warriors in death as they chose them in life.