Valkyrie

the Valkyrie , in the Scandinavian Mythology, are warlike virgins, minor divinities known as Dises who served Odin, Master of the gods. The Valkyrie, covered of an armor, stole, directed the battles, distributed death among the warriors and took along the heart of the heroes to the Walhalla, the large palace of Odin, so that they become Einherjar. These heroes are intended to fight at the sides of Odin to the arrival of the Ragnarök.

The etymology of their name comes from the Vieux norrois valkyrja (plural: valkyrur ), of the words valley (to cut down) and kyrja (to choose). Literally, that wants to say “which chooses shot down”.

Interpretations

There is no clear distinction between the Valkyrie and the Nornes. For example, Skuld belongs to both at the same time. Moreover, in the Darraðarljóð (lines 1-52), the Valkyrie weave a tapestry of war.

In the modern art the Valkyrie are sometimes described as being beautiful Shieldmaiden assembling PEGASE S, decorated helmets and armies of lances. However, the horse of the Valkyrie was a Kenning of wolf (see Rök Stone), therefore contrary to the stereotypes, they did not assemble a PEGASE. Their mountings were rather hordes of wolves which trailed in the middle of the bodies of dead warriors. These wolves were macabre combatants. While the wolf is the mounting of the Valkyrie, this one seems to be related with the corbel, animal frequently appearing in Scandinavian mythology (in particular Hugin and Munin, two corbels perched on the shoulders of Odin). Flying above the battle field and “choosing” bodies. The hordes of wolves and corbels having thus cleaned the shortly after battles could have been to serve there as greater causes.

The origin of the Valkyrie in general is not reported like existing, but several known Valkyrie seem to have parents mortals.

According to Bulfinch' S Mythology (1855) of Thomas Bulfinch, the armor of the Valkyrie “emits a strange twinkling light, which illuminates the Scandinavian ciels, creating what the men call Northern light”. However, none of our sources makes it possible to confirm it.

Principal Valkyrie

Freyja is regarded as the first among the Valkyrie. Following the example Odin, it receives in its manor Sessrumne in Folkvang half of the warriors died in the combat, which it will guide with the combat the day of the Ragnarök.

Certain Valkyrie are major characters of important myths.

  • Brynhildr appears in the saga of Völsunga.

  • Hildr appears in the legend of Hedin and Högni, in Ragnarsdrápa and the Eddas.
  • Sigrdrífa appears in Sigrdrífumál.
  • Sigrún appears in Helgakviða Hundingsbana II.
  • Sváva appears in Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar.
  • Ölrún, Svanhvít, and Alvitr appears in Völundarkvida.
  • Thrúd is the girl of Thor.

Other important Valkyrie could include Gunnr which appears in Rök Runestone and Skögul which is mentioned in an inscription in runes with Bergen, dating from the 13th century.

In the culture

Music

- The first song of the disc We Don' T Need To Whisper of the group of Aéro-Rock'n'roll Angels And Airwaves is entitled Valkyrie Missile

- The second part of the tetralogy " DER Boxing ring of Nibelungen" composed by Richard Wagner is entitled the Valkyrie (1870).

Arts

The legend of the Valkyrie was taken again by the German type-setter Richard Wagner in his cycle of opera S, the Ring of Nibelung . Last nine Valkyrie appear in the Valkyrie :

  • Brünnhilde,
  • Gerhilde,
  • Ortlinde,
  • Waltraute,
  • Schwertleite,
  • Helmvige,
  • Siegrune,
  • Grimgerde,
  • Rossweisse.

Only remains then Brünnhilde, in Siegfried . Lastly, in the last opera the Twilight of the gods , it finds his/her sister Waltraute.

Cartoon

  • the Valkyrie is a super-heroin of origin asgardienne, Univers Marvel.

  • the Valkyries are the fighters which are transformed into Mecha S in the universe Macross/Robotech

Technique

  • XB-70 Valkyrie was a prototype of plane bomber American Supersonique of the end of the Années 1950.

Video games

  • celebrates It saga video games Valkyrie Profiles is inspired mainly by the Scandinavian legends and especially Valkyrie. One there retrouvre in particular Freyja as a playable character.

  • the name Freya is that of a woman mouse in Final Fantasy 9
  • the play Ace Combat 5: Squadron Leader on Playstation 2 refers to the Demons of Razgriz, a name seems it inspired of the Valkyrie Rathgrith (Ráðgríð or Ráðgríðr).
  • In StarCraft: Brood War the flying additional unit terran is the Valkyrie.
  • In Old off Mythology, one of the Scandinavian mythical units is the Valkyrie.
  • In Diablo II, warlike called upon by the Amazon
  • MMORPG Ragnarok Online, is inspired to him also Scandinavian legends.
  • In the series of the plays max Payne, Valkyrie drug was invented for a military project in the name of Valhalla.
  • the Valkyrie is one of the roles possible of the play Nethack
  • In Fire Emblem on the console GameBoy Advance, the riding Troubadours, magicians being able to cure the units thanks to their magic, have the capacity to become Valkyrie, which will enable them to use the offensive magic.

Television

In one of the episodes of the Charmed series, the three sisters, transform themselves into Valkyrie.

References

Random links:Sementron | Canton of Saint-Wolf-on-Semouse | Castle of Chillac | County of Hidalgo (New Mexico) | Big Fun (album) | Bubastis