VALKYRIAS HELPING WAftRIOtiS. 389 



are given to the Valkyrias : The maidens of victory, the 

 goddesses of the fight, the graspers of spears, the witches of 

 the shield, the maidens of the slain, the exultant ones, the 

 strong one, the entangling one, the silent one, the storm- 

 raisers. They are mentioned as riding through the air, over 

 the sea, and amid the lightning, helmet-clad, with bloody 

 brynjas, and glittering spears ; the spear which carried death 

 and victory being the emblem of Odin. When their horses 

 shake their manes, the froth which comes from their bitted 

 mouths drops as dew into the valleys, and hail falls from their 

 nostrils into the woods. 



The slain were called Val (chosen), and belonged to Odin. 

 From the word Val are derived the names of Valkyrias, 

 Valiodr (the father of the slain), Valhalla (the hall of the 

 slain), Valol (Held of battle, field of the slain), and probably 

 also of those birds of prey which after the battle visited the 

 field of action. 



Skidd, the youngest of the three Nornir, who personified the 

 future, followed the Valkyrias, probably in order to witness 

 the decrees of fate given to men at their birth. 



" There are others that have to serve in Valholl, carry drink 

 and take care of the table-dressing and the beer cups. These 

 are called Valkyrias; Odin sends them to every battle ; they 

 choose death for men and rule victory. Gunn and Eota anil 

 the youngest Norn. Skuld, always ride to choose the slain and 

 rule man-payings " (Gylfaginning, ch. 36). 



It was believed that during a battle warriors sometimes saw 

 Valkyrias coming to their help : how grand and beautiful 

 must have been the vision created in their mind by their faith 

 in them, as they thought they saw them riding on their fiery 

 steeds, and sweeping over the battle-field, by land or by sea. 

 It is hard to realise a grander picture for a warrior to behold. 



Helgi saw : 



Three times nine maidens, Dew into the deep dales, 



But one rode foremost Hail on the lofty woods ; 



A white maiden under helmet ; Thence come good seasons among 

 Their horses trembled, men, 



From their manes fell All that I saw was loathsome to me. 



[Helga Kvida Hjorvardssonar.] 



