valkyr

Valkyrjur, often anglicized as valkyries, are female figures in Norse mythology who select which warriors die in battle and who survive, and who guide the slain to the afterlife. The name comes from Old Norse valkyrja, literally “choosers of the slain,” from valr “slain” and kyrja “choosers.” In primary sources such as the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, they are typically depicted as divine attendants of Odin, though some traditions associate them with Freyja as well. They are described as riding to battle on horses and appearing as maidens in armor or shining garments.

Their main role is to decide the fate of warriors and to escort the chosen to Valhalla, Odin’s hall, where the dead become Einherjar who will fight at Ragnarök. Depending on the tradition, some slain may also go to Freyja’s hall, Folkvangr. Beyond battlefield duties, valkyries function as psychopomps guiding souls and influencing the destinies of warriors. In literature they appear as noble and protective figures, yet can also be ambivalent or dangerous, and are sometimes portrayed as lovers or wardens who test mortals. Notable valkyries named in sources include Brynhildr and Sigrún, among others; lists vary across texts.

In modern culture, the concept of the valkyrie has influenced opera, literature, and games. The term is widely associated with Wagner’s Die Walküre and with various fantasy depictions of warrior maidens, reinforcing themes of fate, honor, and the ritualized passage of warriors to the afterlife.