Valkyries

Primordial valkyries were daemons of the dead like Wodan. They took the souls of the fallen soldiers on battlefields. While Wodan developed into the father of the gods, the valkyries came to be seen as shield-maids of Asgard with the responsibility of interfering in battles to lead the bravest warriors to Valhalla to increase the einherjar’s numbers. Therefore, the valkyries’ main task is to influence the outcome of wars and skirmishes and, as a result, they lost their former negative daemonic connotation. In Valhalla, they entertain the einherjar, serving them beer, mead and various delicious dishes. In general, the two groups get along with each other. Sometimes, they fall in love with these fallen heroes or with living humans, for example Siegfried and Brunhild, two characters of the Nibelung’s legend. Brave female warriors may dream of becoming valkyries themselves after a heroic death in battle, earning them a place alongside Wodan’s precious daughters. Nowadays, especially stately, remarkably strong or notably delightful women are ennobled with the title “Valkyrie” by their admirers.