Valkyries
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Valkyries were originally sinister spirits of slaughter, dark angels of death who soared over the battlefields like birds of pray, meting out fate in the name of Odin. Chosen heroes were gathered up and borne away to Valhalla, the heavenly abode of Odin's ghostly army. In later Norse myth, the Valkyries were romanticized as Odin's Shield-Maidens, virgins with golden hair and snowy arms who served the chosen heroes everlasting mead and meat in the great hall of Valhalla. On the battlefield they soared over the host as lovely swan-maidens or splendid mounted Amazons. This far more appealing portrayal was further developed in the Volsung Saga and Niebelungenlied, where the heroine, Brynhild or Brunhild, was a beautiful fallen Valkyrie. Idealized Valkyries were definitely more vulnerable than their more fierce predecessors, and often fell in love with mortal heroes. Swan-maidens, especially, were at risk as they might easily be trapped on earth if caught without their plumage. The Valkyries ("Choosers of the Slain") are beautiful young women, mounted upon winged horses and armed with helmets and spears. Odin needs many brave warriors for the oncoming battle of Ragnarok, and the Valkyries scout the battlefields to choose the bravest of those who have been slain. They escort these heroes, called the Einherjar to Valhalla, Odin's hall. The Valkyries are also Odin's messengers and when they ride forth on their errands, their armor causes the strange flickering light that is called "Aurora Borealis" (Northern Lights). Some of the Valyries are Brynhildr, Göll, Göndul, Gudr, Gunn, Herfjoturr, Hildr, Hladgunnr, Hlokk, Hrist, Sigrdrifa, Sigrún, and Svafa. Valkyries (Old Norse Valkyrjr, "choosers of the slain"), in Norse mythology, daughters of the principal god Odin, often called Odin's maidens, These Girls are also considered Asynjur. . At his bidding, they flew on their horses over the fields of every battle to choose the souls of the heroic dead. They carried these souls off to Valhalla, Odin's banquet hall in the heavenly realm of Asgard. There the warriors became members of the Einherjar, Odin's companions and fighting band. Valkyries also had the power to determine who would be the victors and who the defeated in such conflicts. Belief in the existence of magic horsewomen from heaven was widespread in Scandinavia and Germanic cultures, though they were called by different names. The Valkyries were depicted as young, beautiful, but fierce women who dressed splendidly in full armor and swords when riding their horses. They could also turn themselves into wolves or ravens. The Vikings believed that when a brave warrior was about to die in the midst of battle, he would suddenly see the figure of a Valkyrie, there to take him into the sky and transport him to Valhalla. To all others in the fray she would remain invisible. Before battles, the name of Odin was invoked, so that he could send the Valkyries to choose the best of those fighters who would die. The names of the Valkyries vary in the surviving literature. Among them were Hrist (Shaker) and Mist (Mist), who brought Odin his horn, Skeggjold (Ax Time), Skogul (Raging), Hild (Warrior), Thrud (Might), Hlokk (Shrieking), Herfjotur (Host Fetter), Goll (Screaming), Geirahod (Spear Bearer), Randgrid (Shield Bearer), Radgrid, Reginleif, Gunn (Battle), and Rota. Skuld, the youngest of the Norns, also rode with the Valkyries. The goddess Freya also surveyed the battlefields seeking valiant souls, in a chariot driven by two cats; in agreement with Odin, she was entitled to half of the dead heroes herself, bringing them not to Valhalla, but to her own banquet hall, Sessrumnir. When not gathering souls from the battlefields, Valkyries spent their time in Valhalla's huge golden hall, big enough to hold all the the warriors the Valkyries would ever bring there. In Valhalla, the Valkyries' role was to serve beer and mead to Odin and the Einherjar, who would feast and engage in sacred, raucous drinking bouts.
		Background Image from www.nastrond.net but actually it is a Boris Vallejo Picture