What Is a Valkyrie? Chooser of the Slain

The Old Norse word valkyrja means ‘chooser of the slain’. Valkyries ride into battle at Odin’s command and decide who dies, and the dead they choose go to Valhalla, or, as Grímnismál says, half of them to Freyja’s hall Fólkvangr. Snorri adds that in Valhalla they pour the drink and see that the table is served.

Grímnismál names them: Hrist and Mist, Skeggjöld and Skögul, Hildr and Þrúðr, Hlökk and Herfjötur, Göll and Geirahöð, Randgríð, Ráðgríð and Reginleif. Many of the names are battle words: Hrist means shaker, Skeggjöld axe-time and Herfjötur host-fetter.

In the Völsunga saga the valkyrie Brynhildr defies Odin and is put to sleep behind a wall of fire, and is only woken by Sigurd. The older poems treat valkyries as part of how war works: they choose, and Odin’s will stands behind the choice.

Sources: Poetic Edda (Grímnismál, Völuspá), Snorri’s Prose Edda (Gylfaginning), Völsunga saga.