njótar

Njótar is a concept from Norse mythology, particularly in the Poetic Edda, a medieval Icelandic manuscript of Old Norse poetry. It refers to the spirits of dead warriors who are chosen by the gods to join their ranks in Valhalla, the afterlife for fallen warriors.

According to myth, these spirits are selected from the battles fought on earth and are brought to Valhalla by the Valkyries, female figures who choose which warriors will die in combat. The chosen dead, or njótar, are then armed and prepared for the final battle of Ragnarök, the Norse apocalypse.

The concept of njótar is closely tied to the idea of martial honor and the reputation of a warrior. The prospect of becoming a njótar was considered a great honor, as it meant being chosen by the gods and participating in the great battle at the end of the world.

In addition to their role in the final battle, the njótar are also associated with the idea of Odin's army, the Einherjar, who are made up of valiant warriors who have been chosen to fight alongside the gods. The njótar are thought to be a subset of the Einherjar, and are often referred to interchangeably with the term 'Einherjar' in Old Norse sources.

The concept of njótar has had a lasting impact on Western literature and popular culture, influencing works such as Richard Wagner's opera "Das Rheingold" and J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" among others.