![]() They would join the Einherjar, the warriors who fought and feasted each day in Odin’s hall. ![]() Those who fought and died well would be chosen by the Valkyries for a place in Valhalla. ![]() While ancient sources do not entirely agree on whether they were responsible for deaths themselves or not, they did agree that those who showed exceptional courage and strength would be noticed by these warrior women. The Valkyries appeared at the scene of battle. Their name comes from two Old Norse words, valr referring to those who died in battle and kjosa meaning “to choose.” They were the “choosers of the slain.” The Valkyries are most well-known for the role they played in battle. This popular image of the Valkyries was certainly known during the Viking Age, but was there more to these goddesses of the battlefield than just their selection of the slain? The Valkyries on the Battlefield These chosen fighters are then taken to Valhalla, the paradise of those who died in battle, where they will fight and feast until Ragnarok. They fly above the battlefield and swoop down to choose the bravest, most noble warriors at the moment of death. The Valkyries are typically depicted as fearsome but beautiful warrior women. ![]() From contemporary art and literature to later operas, the goddesses of the battlefield have been a popular part of the mythology for centuries. The image of the Valkyrie is one of the most enduring of the Norse Era. ![]()
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