Valkyries: Who Are the Nordic Warrior Goddesses?

The Valkyries are some of the most interesting characters of Norse mythology - mysterious warriors who inspired awe among gods and humans alike. Their image combines beauty, strength and the inevitability of death. The presence of the Valkyries on the battlefield was a harbinger of the fate that would befall the fighting warriors. Their history, functions and mysterious symbolism make them inspire artists to this day.

Who are the Valkyries?

In Norse mythology Valkyries are women with a unique role – they are the guides of the souls of defeated warriors.Their task is to lead the fallen to Odin’s palace called Valhalla. In addition to this function, Valkyries appear in the sagas as lovers of mortals, making them multi-dimensional characters. Their presence has been documented in such sources as the Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla saga and many other medieval texts. 

Valkyries symbolize transformation – not only through their role as guides, but also through their closeness to animals. They have been depicted as closely associated with ravens, swans, or horses. Valkyries were formerly seen as menacing and sinister creatures, but over time – especially under the influence of the Christianization of Scandinavia – their image softened. Historians also point to the possible influence of shieldmaiden legends on the evolution of ideas about valkyries in medieval Nordic culture.

Are the Valkyries goddesses?

Although some accounts and modern scholars classify the Valkyries as lower deities, their status in Norse mythology remains ambiguous. They are often juxtaposed with other female supernatural beings, such as the Norns, who are also responsible for shaping fate and destiny. The presence of Valkyries in significant mythological events may suggest that at least some of them have a divine character.

In some myths, Valkyries are depicted as royal daughters or women of noble descent, further blurring the line between the world of mortals and gods. Characters such as Svava and Olrun are examples of Valkyries who bond with human heroes before returning to their function. Although they possess supernatural abilities and are closely related to Odin, they are rarely recognized as full-fledged goddesses, such as Thor, Freya or Odin or himself. They are usually regarded as divine envoys – executing the will of the highest of the Asgardians.The diversity of their origins, abilities and roles in Asgard makes it difficult to assign them a clear place in the Asgardian hierarchy.

How do the Valkyries look like?

Descriptions of the Valkyries in sources Norse mythology are fragmentary, making it difficult to create a unified image. The texts agree on the exceptional beauty of the women, but at the same time emphasize that they are dangerous, endowed with superhuman strength and proficiency in battle. Most often they are depicted as figures roaming the skies or battlefields on powerful horses, dressed in shining armor, with spears in their hands. Some accounts also mention magical cloaks made of swan feathers.

In iconography, Valkyries often have very fair complexions and long hair in shades of gold or raven black. There are also paintings depicting Valkyries outside the battlefield. In them, they appear in ornate robes – sometimes with their chests exposed – indicating their romantic relationships with mortals. .

Valkyrie’s wings

Contemporary depictions of Valkyries often depict them as women with wings or on flying horses, but such images are the result of much later artistic interpretations. In the original Norse sources, we do not find descriptions of Valkyries having wings or riding winged steeds. Admittedly, there are references to Valkyries flying or hovering over the battlefield, but it is never explained how this happens..

Instead of wings, the texts mention unusual cloaks made of swan feathers. Although their exact function is not clearly described, they may symbolize Valkyrie’s supernatural ability to move between worlds. The strong association of these characters with birds, especially swans and ravens, appears repeatedly in the saga. Winged helmets and horses, on the other hand, are the work of modern artists. Richard Wagner’s operas were particularly influential on the modern depiction of the Valkyries. They are the result of a fascination with Norse mythology, rather than a faithful reflection of ancient sagas..

Etymology of the name Valkyrie

The word Valkyrie is derived from the Old Norse word valkyrja, which combines two elements: valr – meaning “fallen on the battlefield” and kjósa – meaning “to choose”. Literally translated, valkyrja means “she who chooses the fallen”..

Other terms describing the Valkyries also appear in Old Norse sources, revealing various aspects of their nature. Among other things, they are called óskmey, or “wishing girl”-in reference to their role in fulfilling Odin’s will. Another attested term is Óðins meyjar, meaning “servants of Odin”.

The role of the Valkyrie in Norse mythology

The Valkyries hold a unique place in the Norse world, although they are not formally part of the pantheon of Norse gods. Their function, however, is so important that they are respected by both humans and the Asgardians themselves. The presence of “Odin’s Servants” is of great significance in the context of the coming Ragnarok, the prophecy of the end of the world in Norse mythology. As beings associated with destiny and death, Valkyries play an important role in the execution of the divine plan, even if they themselves remain somewhat on the sidelines of the main pantheon.

Demons of death

In early beliefs, the Valkyries may have been seen as dark demons of death – merciless beings who guided souls to the world of the dead.Their role at the time was not yet lofty, and Valhalla was not a paradise of heroes, but rather another battlefield or destination.

In time, however, under the influence of Christianity, Norse mythology evolved. Valhalla began to be seen as a glorious destination for fallen warriors, and the Valkyries underwent a transformation. They became less sinister, more human and emotional. This earned them a place in poetry as characters capable of love, often falling in love with mortals.

Collecting the fallen

The most important role of the Valkyries in Norse mythology is to select the bravest warriors fallen on the battlefield. They then lead their souls to Valhalla mighty hall in Asgard, where the chosen ones, called Einherjers, prepare for Ragnarok.

This task makes the Valkyries intermediaries between the world of humans and gods, beings who decide the fate of the heroes.

Servants of Odin

The Valkyries serve in Valhalla as protectors of the warriors, serving them honey at feasts and overseeing their preparations for the final battle. In some sagas, they also support selected heroes already in battle, guiding their fate to ensure victory.

Freya’s warriors

Although the Valkyries are most often associated with Odin and Valhalla, sources also point to their association with the goddess Freya. As ruler of Fólkvangr – the realm of the afterlife, she would take in half of the fallen warriors, while the other half would go to Valhalla. Fólkvangr thus served a similar function to Odin’s abode.

In some interpretations, it was Freya who may have headed the Valkyries or even shared with Odin the privilege of deciding the fate of the fallen. Although her role as the Valkyrie’s guide is not explicitly confirmed in the sources, symbolism and coincidence of functions suggest that she may have played a much more important role than is often assumed. Freya’s role as the Valkyrie’s guide is not explicitly confirmed in the sources.

List of Valkyries

The number of Valkyries appearing in Norse mythology is not clearly defined – depending on the source, their number varies considerably. In some poems and sagas, groups of nine or thirteen Valkyries appear, and they are often considered the most prominent or leading others. Some accounts, however, suggest that their number may have been as high as 300, and in folk beliefs the Valkyries were beings without numerical limit. They appeared wherever a battle was fought and the fate of warriors was decided. Below is a list of 39 Valkyries attested in source texts.

• Brynhildr – “bright battle”
• Eir – “peace, grace”
• Geirahöð – “spear-battle”
• Geiravör – “spear-vör”
• Geirdriful – “spear-thrower”
• Geirönul – “one who charges with a spear”
• Geirskögul – “spear-skögul”
• Göll – “noise, battle”
• Göndul – “wielding a wand”
• Guðr – “war” or “battle”
• Herfjötur – “bonds of the army”
• Herja – “destroyer”
• Hlaðguðr svanhvít – “white swan”
• Hildr – “battle”
• Hjalmþrimul – “buzzing helmet”
• Hervör alvitr – “omniscient, strange being”
• Hjörþrimul – “warrior with a sword”
• Hlökk – “noise, battle”
• Hrist – “trembling”
• Hrund – “prickly”
• Kára – “wild, turbulent”
• Mist – “fog”
• Ölrún – “fleece”
• Randgríðr – “shield destroyer”
• Ráðgríðr – “ruler”
• Reginleif – “daughter of the gods”
• Ros – “rain with snow, storm”
• Sanngriðr – “very violent, very cruel”
• Sigrdrífa – “encouraging victory”
• Sigrún – “rune of victory”
• Skalmöld – “time of the sword”
• Skeggöld – “the age of the axe”
• Skögul – “rising high”
• Skuld – “debt, future”
• Sveið – “vibration, noise”
• Svipu – “variable”
• Þögn – “silence”
• Þrima – “fight”
• Þrúðr – “strength”

Valkyrie queen

There is no explicit mention of the existence of a Valkyrie queen in the original Norse sources. These warriors appear as a group, loyally serving Odin and, according to some accounts, also the goddess Freya. It is Freya, who accepts half of the fallen heroes into her hall of Fólkvangr, who is sometimes referred to as Queen Valkyrie. Her close connection to the fate of the warriors and her presence in a leadership role in the afterworld earned her this title in later interpretations.

In the sagas and legends, on the other hand, selected Valkyries, such as Sigrúnor Brynhildr appear as strong, individual figures who are assigned a guiding role. Nevertheless, none of the original legends clearly identify a single Valkyrie as queen. The very notion of a Valkyrie queen seems to be the product of later interpretations, literary adaptations and the influence of popular culture.