#vargold comic

Stronger, prettier and more lethal. 

Valkyries are one of the most popular norse mythology characters and to them we dedicate today´s post. 

The name valkyrie (valkirjar) derives from ON valr “the corpses lying on the battlefield” and kjósa, “to choose”. 

Originally they were most likely thought to be demons of the death, to whom the warriors slain on the battle field belonged,  Valkyries were closely associated with Odin, just as they surely were earlier in their role as demons of death. When the concept of Valhalla changed from a battlefield to a warrior's paradise, there was a shift in the interpretation the valkyries. 

Now their function is interfering in battle, and thus determining the fate of the combatants, as supernatural female warriors who fulfil Odin's wishes and lead the heroes slain in battle to Odin. 

As a result of this shift in the concept, they became a popular element in heroic poetry where they lost to a great extent their demonic characteristics and became more human, and therefore capable of falling in love with mortals, as in the case of the valkyrie Sigrdrífa in the Sigrdrífumál. 

Valkyrias are also called as Odins meyar – Odin's girls, and óskmeyjar - “wish-girls”. 

But, how many Valkyries were there, according to the Norse Mythology? 

The number of valkyries is given as either as nine or twelve, but it seems to have been limitless. In Grímnismál 36 appear the names of 13 valkyies who serve in the einherjar in Valhalla. In addition, Darradarljód gives the names of other five. The Pulur adds 14 more and some other valkyries are encountered in heroic poetry. 

Real or myth, valkyries have inspired people around the years and have starred in paintings, music compositions, legends and books. 

The most famous of all the Valkyries was Brynhild, the daugther of Budli. According to the manuscripts, Brynhild was the sister of Atli and Bekkhild, and possibly of Oddrun. Brynhild was also the foster-daughter of Heimir. In a Eddaic poem, Helreid Brynhildar (Brynhild's Ride to Hell), it says that she was one among eight sisters; whether this refered only to Valkyries that served Odin or that she really had seven sisters, is not made clear.

Brynhild (Brünhild or Brunhild) was the beautiful Valkyrie who punished by Odin for disobedience. Brynhild had struck down Hjalmgunnar, the king Odin had promised victory. As punishment Odin told the Valkyrie that she had to marry, but she made a vow to marry only a man without fear. In the high mountain of Hindarfell, sleeping within a circle of fire, Brynhild was to sleep until a hero with no fear would ride through the flame.

Valkyries: In Norse mythology, a valkyrie (from Old Norse valkyrja “chooser of the slain”) is one of a host of female figures who choose those who may die in battle and those who may live. Selecting among half of those who die in battle (the other half go to the goddess Freyja’s afterlife field Fólkvangr), the valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin. There, the deceased warriors become einherjar (Old Norse “single (or once) fighters”). When the einherjar are not preparing for the events of Ragnarök, the valkyries bear them mead. Valkyries also appear as lovers of heroes and other mortals, where they are sometimes described as the daughters of royalty, sometimes accompanied by ravens, and sometimes connected to swans or horses.

Valkyries are attested in the Poetic Edda, a book of poems compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources; the Prose Edda and Heimskringla (by Snorri Sturluson), and Njáls saga, a Saga of Icelanders, all written in the 13th century. They appear throughout the poetry of skalds, in a 14th-century charm, and in various runic inscriptions.

Valhall:

In Norse mythology, Valhalla (from Old Norse Valhöll “hall of the slain”) is a majestic, enormous hall located in Asgard, ruled over by the god Odin. Chosen by Odin, half of those who die in combat travel to Valhalla upon death, led by valkyries, while the other half go to the goddess Freyja’s field Fólkvangr. In Valhalla, the dead join the masses of those who have died in combat known as Einherjar, as well as various legendary Germanic heroes and kings, as they prepare to aid Odin during the events of Ragnarök. Before the hall stands the golden tree Glasir, and the hall’s ceiling is thatched with golden shields. Various creatures live around Valhalla, such as the stag Eikþyrnir and the goat Heiðrún, both described as standing atop Valhalla and consuming the foliage of the tree Læraðr.