heiðræn

Heiðrún is a figure in Norse mythology, described as a female goat (a she-goat) associated with Valhalla. In the sources, she stands on the roof of Valhalla, and her udders continually yield mead that the einherjar, the slain warriors dwelling in the hall, drink each day. The image of a supremely productive goat on the hall’s roof has made Heiðrún one of the better-known symbols of abundance in Norse myth.

The primary textual source for Heiðrún is the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. In Gylfaginning, she is described as supplying endless mead to the god-wardened warriors of Valhalla. The tale emphasizes the fertility and sustenance that accompany the warriors after death, contributing to the heroic image of Valhalla.

Etymology and interpretation of the name Heiðrún are not definitively settled in the surviving texts; the name is Old Norse and is treated as the proper name of the goat. In modern times, Heiðrún has appeared in literature, art, and media as a symbol of plenitude and the mythic nourishment of the fallen.

See also: Valhalla, einherjar, Norse mythology.