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The Glorious Hall of Valhalla

© Linda Casselman

Picture an ancient Norse warrior, standing on the battlefield, sword in hand, ready to plunge into the fight. Would he fear the afterlife that would meet him should he fall in this battle? Not likely. He probably even looks forward to it, for the afterlife of a fallen Norse warrior is glorious indeed.

So why did ancient Norse warriors go so bravely into battle? Because, should they die in the heat of the fight, they had Valhalla to look forward to, Odin's great Hall of the Slain.

Valhalla was built in the Grove of Glesir in Asgard, the home of the Aesir gods. Encircled by a strong outer wall, this glorious hall's inner walls were said to be built of spears and its roof of shields, while glittering with precious gems and metals. The hall was so huge that its five hundred doors were big enough to allow its soldiers to easily and quickly pour forth on that fateful day - that fateful day of Ragnarok.

Ragnarok is the expected "last day" of the world or of the current life cycle of the ancient Norsemen, when the gods would do battle with evil and ultimately die, bringing about the end of the world. This is the reason for Odin's shinning Hall of Valhalla. When a brave warrior died valiantly on the battlefield he would be chosen by Odin and taken up to Valhalla by a Valkyrie to join his fallen brothers.

Getting into Valhalla, however, wasn't that easy. The chosen one would first have to pass several obstacles, tests of strength, skill, and bravery, before gaining entry through the sacred gate, Valgrind. Once inside, he could expect a pleasurable afterlife. His wounds would be miraculously healed and he would enjoy a life of feasting and fighting with the other chosen warriors - feasting on stew from a never-ending magic cauldron and from a boar also magically restored every day, as well as a never-ending supply of mead, and fighting every day to stay in battle form, their wounds healed daily.

Indeed, Valhalla was a very desirable and enviable afterlife for the ancient Norse warrior, much better than the fate of the dreadful and dreary afterlife in the realm of Hel expected for those who died of old age and illness. Perhaps, this promise of glory in Valhalla played a big role in encouraging the warring nature of the ancient Norsemen...

Drinking, feasting and fighting... Ah Valhalla, a Viking's Paradise!

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