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The Valkyries

© Linda Casselman

They ride the skies over blood-drenched battlefields in search of valiant dead warriors. Who are they? The Valkyries, of course!

From Norse Mythology, the Valkyries are popularly known as Odin's battle maidens. These beautiful pale-skinned maidens with long flowing golden hair rode their white steeds across the skies and searched the battlefields for dead heroes. They raised these brave warriors to Valhalla where they would eat and drink their fill as they awaited Ragnarok, the doom of the gods, at Odin's side. When in Valhalla, the Valkyries dutifully served an everlasting supply of sweetmeats and mead to the army of heroes assembled there.

The Valkyries were not always these romanticized beauties. Originally, they were hideous, sinister beings - spirits of the slaughter. These angels of death were bloodthirsty and bent on revenge. They often goaded warriors to their death so that they could snatch the heroes up to take their place in Odin's army. It was said that before their death heroes saw a valkyrie soaring overhead.

In later Norse mythology, from around the 6th century onward, we find the more familiar valkyries, the lovely swan maidens. Myth tells us that the valkyries often came down to the realm of man in the form of a swan in search of a quiet lake or stream in which to bathe. Should a man steal the valkyrie's plummage while she was bathing, the valkyrie would be bound to the earth and the man could take her as his bride. Sounds absolutely delightful doesn't it boys? A fair golden-haired maiden there for the taking? But beware! Securing a swan maiden's downy plummage was no easy task. It was the stuff of heroes!

Indeed, several beautiful valyries did fall in love with mortal men, but not just ordinary men. The love of a fair valkyrie could only belong to a true hero. After all, it was a valkyrie's purpose of existence to gather Odin's chosen slain heroes and take them up to Valhalla. So valkyries had a keen eye for sorting out such brave men.

I will leave you here then, guessing who these valiant warriors could be that won the love of a lovely swan maiden. And who were the valkyries that dared to love a mortal man? Find out next time as we follow the love stories of two mythical couples from the old Norse tales.

The copyright of the article The Valkyries in Mythology is owned by Wayne Kreger. Permission to republish The Valkyries in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.