Valkyries – guides of the dead

The Valkyries were goddesses who served Odin and had the important task of selecting the dead warriors who would be allowed to go to Valhalla. They were both warriors and guides, and their role shows how the importance of courage and honor permeated the Viking world. The Valkyries symbolized strength, loyalty and destiny, and they had the power to influence both life and death on the battlefield.

According to the myths, the Valkyries rode on fast-flying horses through the smoke of battle , armed and ready to select those who would fall. The warriors who were chosen were given the honor of living in Valhalla, where they trained and feasted before Ragnarök, while those who were not chosen ended up in Helheim or Folkvang with Freyja.

The Valkyries were also often depicted as beauty and power in one, and their names recur in many Viking sagas where they both inspire courage and warn against weakness or betrayal.

Rites and runes

Runes were used to influence courage, fate, and protection , and certain runes were carved to honor the Valkyries and their power:

• ᛏ (Týr) – “justice, courage, fidelity” , symbolizes the honor and courage that warriors must show to be chosen.
• ᚢ (úr) – “strength, determination” , enhances the warrior's courage and physical strength on the battlefield.
• ᛘ (maðr) – “man, community, responsibility” , reminiscent of the bond between warriors and their community as well as loyalty to Odin.

Vikings carved runes on weapons, jewelry, and helmets to summon the Valkyries or to enhance their own strength and honor in battle. Tales of the Valkyries show how courage, loyalty, and fate were intertwined with the gods , and that some Vikings saw these goddesses as true guides both in life and after death.