Valkyrie

From Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia written in simple English for easy reading.

The Valkyrie's Vigil, by the painter Edward Robert Hughes. Hughes shows the dreadful Norse war goddess in an ethereal fairy painting: barefoot, clothed with in a sheer off-the-shoulder gown, and softly moonlit from above. Her fighting aspects are de-emphasized: her chainmail is set aside, she tucks her helmet into the crook of her arm, and she holds her sword—quite uselessly—by the blade. There is no trace left of the chooser of the warrior slain in battle or the scavenging wolf and raven

Valkyries are lesser goddesses in Norse Mythology. They serve Odin. Their task is to choose those who had died in the most heroic way in battle. The Valkyrie then carries the chosen off to Valhalla. The chosen would then be called einherjar. They would fight at Odin's side at Ragnarök, the battle at the end of the world. In Valhalla, the Valkyries would also serve drink and care for the well-being of the feasting warriors.

The old Norse people thought that Valkyries would ride winged horses, much like Pegasi. Influenced by Christianity, the image was more and more replaced by a Romantic description of bieautiful women.

Richard Wagner composed some operas, featuring Valkyries (Walküren, singular Walküre). These are Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung. They feature a story of a valkyrie Brünnhild, her punishment, and her falling in love with Siegfried. His piece Ride of the Valkyries is a well-known tune.

This short article can be made longer. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.