Valhalla

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A Valkyrie is waiting at the gates of Valhalla on the Tjängvide image stone from Gotland, in the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities in Stockholm.

Main article: Death in Norse paganism

In Norse mythology, Valhalla (Old Norse Valhöll, "Hall of the Slain"^[1]) is the major god Odin's hall, located in the Asgardian realm of Gladsheim and is the home for those slain gloriously in battle (known as Einherjar) who are welcomed by Bragi and escorted to Valhalla by the valkyries. The term Valhalla has entered popular English usage for an ideal, heaven-like destiny.

[edit] Attestations

Valhalla is attested in the Poetic Edda poem Völuspá stanza 33, Grímnismál stanzas 8 and 23, in the prose introduction before stanza 39 in Helgakviða Hundingsbana II, and Hyndluljóð stanzas 1, 6, and 7. In the Prose Edda, Valhalla is referred to in the Poetic Edda book Gylfaginning chapters 2, 20, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, and 49.

The main gate of Valhalla is called Valgrind, which is described in Grímnismál as a "sacred gate", behind which are the "holy doors" and "there are few who can tell the manner by which it is locked".

The hall itself has 540 doors, so wide that 800 warriors could walk through side-by-side. It is said that there is room enough for all those chosen. Here, every day, the slain warriors who will assist Odin in Ragnarök, the gods' final conflict with the giants, arm themselves for battle and ride forth by the thousands to engage in combat on the plains of Asgard. Those who die in the fighting will be brought back to life. At night, they return to Valhalla to feast on the boar Sæhrímnir and drink intoxicating drink. Those who do not get to Valhalla go to the home of the dead (Hel), a place beneath the underworld (Niflheim), or one of various other places. Those who are lost at sea, for example, are taken to Ægir's hall at the bottom of the sea or loch.

In addition to the Valkyries and the Einherjar, a rooster named Gullinkambi lived there.

[edit] Gallery

In this illustration from a 17th century Icelandic manuscript, Heimdall is shown guarding the gate of Valhalla.

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Lindow, John (2001). Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515382-0.
• Simek, Rudolf (2007) translated by Angela Hall. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. D.S. Brewer. ISBN 0859915131

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