Our journey into the Norse mythological tradition is long, but we are still far from reaching a conclusion. It seems we’ve already discovered most of this universe, but in reality, we’ve barely scratched the surface.
Let’s go today, by diverting attention from a particular character Exploring the Valkyries and the role they played in the Nine Kingdoms, and then, of course, focus on the touchpoints that led to their representation. The new saga of God of War.
origins
It is unclear where the legend of the Valkyrie was born, with female figures who had the power to decide the fate of the warriors who fought on the battlefield (the Old Norse term valkyrja is composed of the name “valr” and the verb “kjósa”, which literally means “who chose the fallen”).
rudolf fuckOne of the most influential and well-known Germans theorized that these beings were originally viewed as demons When the concept of Valhalla changed from a simple battlefield to a “warrior’s paradise”, they became benevolent figures, haunting the battlefield and feasting on the remains of the fallen (though the bond with Odin always remained faithful, even considered creatures of hell).
This paradigm shift led to the Valkyries’ “great success” among writers of epic poetry, helping to convey the idea of humans capable of (often emotional) relationships with mortals. Also, their names are strongly connected with the concept. war and, in all likelihood, they were attributed to them by skalds and poets rather than by the common thought of the Scandinavian peoples.
Along with the figure of the Valkyrie, the figure of the demon has been described by scholars as the Norns (beings who can determine the fate of people), vǫlurs (women who can predict the future), as well as priestesses of a war god who served in sacrificial rites that took place after wars, as suggested by the folklorist Hilda Ellis Davidson. just to stay on topic).
Valkyries in Mythology
The written testimonies of the Valkyries that have come down to us are probably the most extensive and comprehensive of the whole. nordic mythology. Because, in addition to representing a group of individuals rather than a specific character, they are the figures that affect them the most in the collective imagination, manage to find a place in the cultural traditions of different social groups, and affect themselves the most until they reach the highest point. contemporary era.
Sources describing these brilliant and heavenly visions, ranging from the famous Edda (poetic and prose) to lesser-known and more fragmentary epics, to scalding poems like the unforgettable Eyvindr skáldaspiller (you read that right), illustrate situations the most. from recurring times.
In fact, Valkyries are introduced when major battles occur in the story or when a certain character (always male) finds himself in contact with one or more of them. great achievementsreport the circumstances that held them captive or pledge allegiance to the hero of the moment.
What broke the armor? Why did I wake up? / Who freed me from the pale chains?” / He replied: /” Son of Sigmundr, / Who gave meat to the ravens in the forest of Hræ / By the sword of Sigurðr!
One of the most important episodes is the episode that sees Sigurd and the sleeping Valkyrie Sigrdrífa as protagonists, whom you may recognize by the names Siegfried and Brunhilde. After Sigurd passes through a fiery wall surrounding a stronghold of swords and shields, he frees a woman in tightly armored torso. He wakes up from his long sleep and tells how Odin forced him into such captivity, because in a war between the two kings he defeated Hjalmgunnar, to whom all gods promised victory against his father.
iconography
The romantic vision of the first half of the nineteenth century (especially the German vision) included the Valkyries as beautiful women with thick hair and adorned with shining armor. winged helmetsas they mounted their flying horses, spears in hand, either towards the sky or the battlefield. However, their iconography has gone through various variations over the centuries (and helped create them), and different interpretations have been given.
One of the main elements that most likely fall victim to return visits is their mount. In fact, sleds are thought to refer to wolves feasting on the remains of those who died in battle rather than horses. Also, Valkyries are thought to have a more animal than human form, they will remember the crows that littered the battlefields along with the wolves, which has created fear in those who wanted to recover the corpses of their comrades. that they perceive this vision as a divine sign.
These are called Valkyries. Odin sends them to every battle, they choose the men who will die and decide on victory.
An interesting feature concerns the fulfillment of the task of the Valkyries, which once accompanied the deserving from Odin to Valhalla or from Freya to Fólkvangr. bring a drink To the Einherjar, or to the fallen warriors who will one day fight alongside Odin during the events of Ragnarǫk.
Valkyries in God of War
which way Santa Monica Studio The implementation of Valkyries in the new God of War saga is particularly interesting. First of all, it is worth noting how the “secondary character” character that distinguishes them in mythological sources is also confirmed in the video game, where their presence is reduced to secondary and often optional meetings.
They actually exist in God of War eight Valkyries plus their queen. They are a condition cursed by Odin, forced to constantly stay in their physical form, leading them to insanity without the possibility of returning to the spiritual. The only way to break the curse is to destroy their physical form. Entrusted to him by the first Valkyrie to intercept Kratos, his mission is obviously to confront the remaining sisters and free them from the prison that Odin has imposed on them. Many will remember the degree of difficulty of conflicts with the latter.
The Valkyries in the game are the best known: we actually have Gunnr, Eir, Geirdriful, Ròta, Olrun, Gondul, Kara, Hildr and Sigrún, the current queen. Yes, because we remind you that the forest witch Freya, who helped Kratos and Atreus on their “pilgrimage” before becoming Odin’s wife and Baldur’s mother, was the queen of the Valkyries, following the theory formulated by some scholars. Freya herself would become a Valkyrie, thus explaining the existence of her personal chamber where half of the deceased lived until Ragnarǫk, and the privilege of choosing the latter. We still don’t know if Valkyries will somehow return to God of War Ragnarok, but chances are high. After all, it’s kind of like when the former queen Freya went in search of wings that Odin snatched from them to bring all her anger down on Kratos. return of fearsome warriorsallies of one or the other front.
We also ended this journey in Norse mythology, Exploring the Valkyries. Let us know in the comments if you prefer the return of the latter in God of War Ragnarok or another challenge to inflict the wrath of the Phantom of Sparta. So, if you want to continue exploring the myths and legends behind Santa Monica Studio’s new saga with us, we invite you to also read previous articles dedicated to Thor, Mímir, Angrboda, Jormungandr, Týr, Freya and their events. His Ragnarok.
Source: Multiplayer
