Valkyries (valkyrjur) in Norse mythology are supernatural women who serve Odin by choosing those who will die and those who will survive in battle. They escort the chosen dead to Valhalla. Valkyries are often depicted as fierce, armored maidens riding horses through the sky. Their mythology reflects the values of warfare and fate in Viking society. The term has become a symbol in modern culture for powerful female figures and appears in literature, opera, and art.
Valkyrie
Creature Types: Other
Mythological/Cultural Origins: Norse
Roles/Functions in Lore: Chooser of the Slain, Guide
Literary Sources/Traditions: Norse Sagas, Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Historical/Legendary Time Periods: Early Medieval, Viking Age
Attributes/Powers: Battle Magic, Flight, Selection of Dead
Alignments/Moral Standings: Neutral
