Valkyrie
Valkyrie ยท Warrior Maidens โ Choosers of the Slain in Norse Mythology
The Valkyrie (Valkyrja) is a female demi-divine being in Norse mythology guiding warriors' souls to Odin, god of war. The name means 'chooser of the slain' (Val-kyrja) in Old Norse โ they decide who falls gloriously in battle, then guide the heroes' souls to Valhalla, the gods' hall, gathering an army for the final battle of Ragnarok. In Valhalla, Valkyries pour mead and serve the fallen heroes. Traditionally thirteen Valkyries existed. The most famous is Brunhilde โ her tragic love for the hero Sigurd became central to Wagner's opera Der Ring des Nibelungen. Depicted in shining armor, winged helmets, mounted on horses or swans, they appear in all Norse fantasy from Marvel's Valkyrie to the Diablo series and God of War Ragnarok.
