In
Norse mythology
Norse, Nordic, or Scandinavian mythology is the body of myths belonging to the North Germanic peoples, stemming from Old Norse religion and continuing after the Christianization of Scandinavia, and into the Nordic folklore of the modern period ...
Valhalla (;) is the 1800 anglicised name for non, Valhǫll ("hall of the slain").
[Orchard (1997:171–172)] It is described as a majestic hall located in
Asgard and presided over by the god
Odin
Odin (; from non, Óðinn, ) is a widely revered Æsir, god in Germanic paganism. Norse mythology, the source of most surviving information about him, associates him with wisdom, healing, death, royalty, the gallows, knowledge, war, battle, v ...
. Half of those who die in combat enter Valhalla, while the other half are chosen by the goddess
Freyja to reside in
Fólkvangr. The masses of those killed in combat (known as the
Einherjar) along with various legendary
Germanic heroes and kings, live in Valhalla until
Ragnarök
In Norse mythology, (; non, Ragnarǫk) is a series of events, including a great battle, foretelling the death of numerous great figures (including the gods Odin, Thor, Týr, Freyr, Heimdallr, and Loki), natural disasters, and the submers ...
when they will march out of its many doors to fight in aid of Odin against the
jötnar.
Valhalla is attested in the ''
Poetic Edda'', compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, in the ''
Prose Edda
The ''Prose Edda'', also known as the ''Younger Edda'', ''Snorri's Edda'' ( is, Snorra Edda) or, historically, simply as ''Edda'', is an Old Norse textbook written in Iceland during the early 13th century. The work is often assumed to have been t ...
'' (written in the 13th century by
Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson ( ; ; 1179 – 22 September 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was elected twice as lawspeaker of the Icelandic parliament, the Althing. He is commonly thought to have authored or compiled portions of the ...
), in ''
Heimskringla'' (also written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson), and in stanzas of an anonymous 10th century poem commemorating the death of
Eric Bloodaxe known as ''
Eiríksmál'' as compiled in ''
Fagrskinna
''Fagrskinna'' ( ; is, Fagurskinna ; trans. "Fair Leather" from the type of parchment) is one of the kings' sagas, written around 1220. It is an intermediate source for the ''Heimskringla'' of Snorri Sturluson, containing histories of Norwegian k ...
''. Valhalla inspired innumerable works of art, publication titles, and elements of
popular culture
Popular culture (also called mass culture or pop culture) is generally recognized by members of a society as a set of practices, beliefs, artistic output (also known as, popular art or mass art) and objects that are dominant or prevalent in a ...
, and is synonymous with a martial (or otherwise) hall of the chosen dead. The name is rendered in modern Scandinavian languages as in Icelandic, while the Swedish and Norwegian form is , in
Faroese it is , and in Danish it is .
Etymology
The Modern English noun ''Valhalla'' derives from Old Norse , a compound noun composed of two elements: the masculine noun 'the slain' and the feminine noun 'hall'. The form "''Valhalla''" comes from an attempt to clarify the
grammatical gender
In linguistics, grammatical gender system is a specific form of noun class system, where nouns are assigned with gender categories that are often not related to their real-world qualities. In languages with grammatical gender, most or all nouns ...
of the word in 1800 anglo-saxon. has
cognate
In historical linguistics, cognates or lexical cognates are sets of words in different languages that have been inherited in direct descent from an etymology, etymological ancestor in a proto-language, common parent language. Because language c ...
s in other Germanic languages such as Old English 'the slain, slaughter, carnage',
Old Saxon
Old Saxon, also known as Old Low German, was a Germanic language and the earliest recorded form of Low German (spoken nowadays in Northern Germany, the northeastern Netherlands, southern Denmark, the Americas and parts of Eastern Europe). It i ...
'murder',
Old High German
Old High German (OHG; german: Althochdeutsch (Ahd.)) is the earliest stage of the German language, conventionally covering the period from around 750 to 1050.
There is no standardised or supra-regional form of German at this period, and Old High ...
'battlefield, blood bath'. All of these forms descend from the
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic (abbreviated PGmc; also called Common Germanic) is the reconstructed proto-language of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European languages.
Proto-Germanic eventually developed from pre-Proto-Germanic into three Germanic branc ...
masculine noun *''walaz''. Among related Old Norse concepts, also appears as the first element of the noun 'chooser of the slain,
valkyrie
In Norse mythology, a valkyrie ("chooser of the slain") is one of a host of female figures who guide souls of the dead to the god Odin's hall Valhalla. There, the deceased warriors become (Old Norse "single (or once) fighters"Orchard (1997:36) ...
'.
[For analysis and discussion, see Orel (2003:256, 443) and Watkins (2000:38).]
The second element, , is a common Old Norse noun. It is cognate to Modern English ''hall'' and offers the same meaning. Both developed from Proto-Germanic *''xallō'' or *''hallō'', meaning 'covered place, hall', from the
Proto-Indo-European root *''kol-''. As
philologists such as
Calvert Watkins note, the same Indo-European root produced Old Norse , a proper noun employed for both the
name of another afterlife location and a
supernatural female entity as its overseer, as well as the modern English noun ''hell''.
In Swedish folklore, some mountains traditionally regarded as
abodes of the dead were also called . According to many researchers, the element derives from , "rock", and referred to an underworld, not a hall.
Attestations
''Poetic Edda''
Valhalla is referenced at length in the ''Poetic Edda'' poem ''
Grímnismál'', and ''
Helgakviða Hundingsbana II
"Völsungakviða in forna" or "Helgakviða Hundingsbana II" ("The Second Lay of Helgi Hundingsbane") is an Old Norse poem found in the ''Poetic Edda''. It constitutes one of the Helgi lays together with ''Helgakviða Hundingsbana I'' and ''Helgakv ...
'', while Valhalla receives lesser direct references in stanza 32 of the ''
Völuspá'', where the god
Baldr
Baldr (also Balder, Baldur) is a god in Germanic mythology. In Norse mythology, Baldr (Old Norse: ) is a son of the god Odin and the goddess Frigg, and has numerous brothers, such as Thor and Váli. In wider Germanic mythology, the god was kno ...
's death is referred to as the "woe of Valhalla",
[Larrington (1999:8).] and in stanzas 1 to 3 of ''
Hyndluljóð
''Hyndluljóð'' (Old Norse: 'The Lay of Hyndla') is an Old Norse poem often considered a part of the ''Poetic Edda''. It is preserved in its entirety only in ''Flateyjarbók'', but some stanzas are also quoted in the ''Prose Edda'', where they ...
'', where the goddess
Freyja states her intention of riding to Valhalla with
Hyndla, in an effort to help
Óttar, as well as in stanzas 6 through 7, where Valhalla is mentioned again during a dispute between the two.
[Larrington (1999:253–254).]
''Grímnismál''
In stanzas 8 to 10 of ''
Grímnismál'', the god Odin (in the guise of ''
Grímnir'') proclaims Valhalla is in the realm of
Glaðsheimr
In Norse mythology, Glaðsheimr (Old Norse "bright home"Orchard (1997:57).) is a realm in Asgard where Odin's hall of Valhalla is located according to ''Grímnismál''.
Snorri states in ''Gylfaginning'' that Glaðsheimr is a meeting hall contain ...
. Odin describes Valhalla as shining and golden, and it "rises peacefully" as seen from afar. From Valhalla, every day Odin chooses from those killed in combat. Valhalla has
spear
A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with fire hardened spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fasten ...
-shafts for rafters, a roof thatched with shields,
coats of mail are strewn over its benches, a wolf hangs in front of its west doors, and an eagle hovers above it.
[Larrington (1999:53).]
From stanzas 22 to 24, more details are given by Odin about Valhalla: the holy doors of the ancient gate Valgrind stand before Valhalla, Valhalla has five
hundred and forty doors so eight hundred men can pass through simultaneously (from which the
einherjar will flow forth to engage the wolf
Fenrir at
Ragnarök
In Norse mythology, (; non, Ragnarǫk) is a series of events, including a great battle, foretelling the death of numerous great figures (including the gods Odin, Thor, Týr, Freyr, Heimdallr, and Loki), natural disasters, and the submers ...
). Within Valhalla exists
Thor
Thor (; from non, Þórr ) is a prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding æsir, god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred trees and groves in Germanic paganism and mythology, sacred groves ...
's hall
Bilskirnir, and within it exist five hundred and forty rooms, and of all the halls within Valhalla, Odin states he thinks his son's may be greatest.
[Larrington (1995:55).] In stanzas 25 through 26, Odin states the goat Heiðrún and the
hart Eikþyrnir
Eikþyrnir (Old Norse: , "oak-thorny")Orchard (1997:36). or Eikthyrnir, is a stag which stands upon Valhalla in Norse mythology. The following is related in the Gylfaginning section of Snorri Sturluson's ''Prose Edda'' after the description of He ...
stand on top of Valhalla and graze on the branches of the tree Læraðr. Heiðrún’s udder produces vats of
mead
Mead () is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey mixed with water, and sometimes with added ingredients such as fruits, spices, grains, or hops. The alcoholic content ranges from about 3.5% ABV to more than 20%. The defining character ...
, a liquor beyond compare, and Eikþyrnir's
antler
Antlers are extensions of an animal's skull found in members of the Cervidae (deer) family. Antlers are a single structure composed of bone, cartilage, fibrous tissue, skin, nerves, and blood vessels. They are generally found only on male ...
s drip liquid into the spring
Hvergelmir from which flows forth all waters.
[
]
''Helgakviða Hundingsbana II''
In stanza 38 of the poem ''Helgakviða Hundingsbana II
"Völsungakviða in forna" or "Helgakviða Hundingsbana II" ("The Second Lay of Helgi Hundingsbane") is an Old Norse poem found in the ''Poetic Edda''. It constitutes one of the Helgi lays together with ''Helgakviða Hundingsbana I'' and ''Helgakv ...
'', the hero Helgi Hundingsbane dies and goes to Valhalla. In stanza 38, Helgi's glory there is described:
So was Helgi beside the chieftains
like the bright-growing ash beside the thorn-bush
and the young stag, drenched in dew,
who surpasses all other animals
and whose horns glow against the sky itself.[Larrington (1999:139).]
Prose follows after this stanza, stating a burial-mound was made for Helgi. After Helgi arrived in Valhalla, he was asked by Odin to manage things with him. In stanza 39, Helgi, now in Valhalla, has his former enemy Hunding—also in Valhalla—do menial tasks; fetching foot-baths for all of the men there, kindling fire, tying dogs, keeping watch of horses, and feeding the pigs before he can get any sleep. In stanzas 40 to 42, Helgi returns to Midgard from Valhalla with a host of men. An unnamed maid of Sigrún, Helgi's valkyrie wife, sees Helgi and his large host of men riding into the mound. The maid asks if she is experiencing a delusion, if Ragnarök is started, or if Helgi and his men were allowed to return.[
In the following stanzas, Helgi responds none of these things occurred, and so Sigrún's maid goes home to Sigrún. The maid tells Sigrún the burial mound is opened, and Sigrún should go to Helgi there. Helgi asked her to come and tend his wounds after they opened and are bleeding. Sigrún goes into the mound, and finds Helgi is drenched in gore, his hair is thick with frost. Filled with joy at the re-union, Sigrún kisses him before he can remove his coat of mail, and asks how she can heal him. Sigrún makes a bed there, and the two sleep together in the enclosed burial mound. Helgi awakens, stating he must "ride along the blood-red roads, to set the pale horse to tread the path of the sky," and return before the rooster Salgófnir crows. Helgi and the host of men ride away, and Sigrún and her servant go back to their house. Sigrún orders her maid to wait for him by the mound the next night, but after she arrives at dawn, she finds he is still journeying. The prose narrative at the end of the poem relates Sigrún dies of sadness, but the two are thought to be re-born as Helgi Haddingjaskati and the valkyrie Kára.][Larrington (1999:139–141).]
''Prose Edda''
Valhalla is referenced in the ''Prose Edda'' books '' Gylfaginning'' and '' Skáldskaparmál''.
''Gylfaginning''
Valhalla is first mentioned in chapter 2 of the ''Prose Edda'' book ''Gylfaginning'', where it is described partially in euhemerized form. In the chapter, King Gylfi sets out to Asgard in the guise of an old man going by the name of ''Gangleri'' to find the source of the power of the gods.
The narrative states the Æsir prophesied his arrival and prepared grand illusions for him, so as Gangerli enters the fortress, he sees a hall of such a height, he has trouble seeing over it, and notices the roof of the hall is covered in golden shields, as if they were shingles. Snorri quotes a stanza by the skald Þjóðólfr of Hvinir (c. 900). As he continues, Gangleri sees a man in the doorway of the hall juggling short swords, and keeping seven in the air simultaneously. Among other things, the man says the hall belongs to his king, and adds he can take Gangleri to the king. Gangleri follows him, and the door closes behind him. All around him, he sees many living areas, and throngs of people, some of which are playing games, some are drinking, and others are fighting with weapons. Gangleri sees three thrones, and three figures sitting upon them: High
High may refer to:
Science and technology
* Height
* High (atmospheric), a high-pressure area
* High (computability), a quality of a Turing degree, in computability theory
* High (tectonics), in geology an area where relative tectonic uplift ...
sitting on the lowest throne, Just-As-High sitting on the next highest throne, and Third
Third or 3rd may refer to:
Numbers
* 3rd, the ordinal form of the cardinal number 3
* , a fraction of one third
* Second#Sexagesimal divisions of calendar time and day, 1⁄60 of a ''second'', or 1⁄3600 of a ''minute''
Places
* 3rd Street (d ...
sitting on the highest. The man guiding Gangleri tells him High is the king of the hall.[Byock (2005:10–11).]
In chapter 20, Third states Odin mans Valhalla with the Einherjar: those killed in battle and become Odin's adopted sons.[Byock (2005:31).] In chapter 36, High states valkyries serve drinks and see to the tables in Valhalla, and ''Grímnismál'' stanzas 40 to 41 are quoted in reference to this. High continues the valkyries are sent by Odin to every battle; they choose who is to die, and determine victory.[Byock (2005:44–45).]
In chapter 38, Gangleri says: "You say all men who have fallen in battle from the beginning of the world are now with Odin in Valhalla. With what does he feed them? I should think the crowd there is large." High responds this is indeed true, a huge amount are already in Valhalla, but yet this amount will seem to be too few before "the wolf comes." High describes there are never too many to feed in Valhalla, for they feast from Sæhrímnir
In Norse mythology, Sæhrímnir is the creature killed and eaten every night by the Æsir and einherjar. The cook of the gods, Andhrímnir, is responsible for the slaughter of Sæhrímnir and its preparation in the cauldron Eldhrímnir. After Sæhr ...
(here described as a boar), and this beast is cooked every day and is again whole every night. ''Grímnismál'' stanza 18 is recounted. Gangleri asks if Odin eats the same food as the Einherjar, and High responds Odin needs nothing to eat—Odin only consumes wine—and he gives his food to his wolves Geri and Freki. ''Grímnismál'' stanza 19 is recounted. High additionally states, at sunrise, Odin sends his ravens Huginn and Muninn
In Norse mythology, Huginn (Old Norse: "thought"Orchard (1997:92).) and Muninn (Old Norse "memory"Orchard (1997:115). or "mind"Lindow (2001:186).) are a pair of ravens that fly all over the world, Midgard, and bring information to the god Odin. H ...
from Valhalla to fly throughout the entire world, and they return in time for the first meal there.[Byock (2005:46–47).]
In chapter 39, Gangleri asks about the food and drinks the Einherjar consume, and asks if only water is available there. High replies of course, Valhalla has food and drinks fit for kings and jarls, for the mead consumed in Valhalla is produced from the udders of the goat Heiðrún, who in turn feeds on the leaves of the "famous tree" Læraðr. The goat produces so much mead in a day, it fills a massive vat large enough for all of the Einherjar in Valhalla to satisfy their thirst from it. High further states the stag Eikþyrnir stands atop Valhalla and chews on the branches of Læraðr. So much moisture drips from his horns, it falls down to the well Hvelgelmir, resulting in numerous rivers.[Byock (2005:48).]
In chapter 40, Gangleri muses Valhalla must be quite crowded, to which High responds Valhalla is massive and remains roomy despite the large amount of inhabitants, and then quotes ''Grímnismál'' stanza 23. In chapter 41, Gangleri says Odin seems to be quite a powerful lord, controlling quite a big army, but he wonders how the Einherjar keep busy while they are not drinking. High replies daily, after they dressed and put on their war gear, they go out to the courtyard and battle one-on-one combat for sport. Then, before mealtime, they ride home to Valhalla and drink. High quotes ''Vafþrúðnismál
''Vafþrúðnismál'' (Old Norse: "The Lay of Vafþrúðnir") is the third poem in the ''Poetic Edda''. It is a conversation in verse form conducted initially between the Æsir Odin and Frigg, and subsequently between Odin and the jötunn Vafþrú ...
'' stanza 41. In chapter 42, High describes "right at the beginning, while the gods were settling", they established Asgard, then built Valhalla.[Byock (2005:49-50).] The death of the god Baldr is recounted in chapter 49, with the mistletoe
Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemiparasitic plants in the order Santalales. They are attached to their host tree or shrub by a structure called the haustorium, through which they extract water and nutrients from the host plant.
...
used to kill Baldr is described as growing west of Valhalla.[Byock (2005:66).]
''Skáldskaparmál''
At the beginning of ''Skáldskaparmál'', a partially euhemerized account is given of Ægir visiting the gods in Asgard and shimmering swords are brought out and used as their sole source of light as they drink. There, numerous gods feast, they have plenty of strong mead
Mead () is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey mixed with water, and sometimes with added ingredients such as fruits, spices, grains, or hops. The alcoholic content ranges from about 3.5% ABV to more than 20%. The defining character ...
, and the hall has wall-panels covered with attractive shields.[Faulkes (1995:59).] This location is confirmed as Valhalla in chapter 33.[Faulkes (1995:95).]
In chapter 2, a quote from the anonymous 10th century poem Eiríksmál is provided (see the ''Fagrskinna'' section below for more detail and another translation from another source):
What sort of dream is that, Odin? I dreamed I rose up before dawn to clear up Val-hall for slain people. I aroused the Einheriar, bade them get up to strew the benches, clean the beer-cups, the valkyries to serve wine for the arrival of a prince.[Faulkes (1995:69).]
In chapter 17 of ''Skáldskaparmál'', the jötunn Hrungnir is in a rage and, while attempting to catch up and attack Odin on his steed Sleipnir
In Norse mythology, Sleipnir (Old Norse: ; "slippy"Orchard (1997:151). or "the slipper"Kermode (1904:6).) is an eight-legged horse ridden by Odin. Sleipnir is attested in the ''Poetic Edda'', compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional ...
, ends up at the doors to Valhalla. There, the Æsir invite him in for a drink. Hrungnir goes in, demands a drink, and becomes drunk and belligerent, stating that he will remove Valhalla and take it to the land of the jötunn, Jötunheimr, among various other things. Eventually, the gods tire of his boasting and invoke Thor, who arrives. Hrungnir states that he is under the Aesir's protection as a guest and therefore he can't be harmed while in Valhalla. After an exchange of words, Hrungnir challenges Thor to a duel at the location of Griotunagardar, resulting in Hrungnir's death.[Faulkes (1995:77–78).]
In chapter 34, the tree Glasir In Norse mythology, Glasir (Old Norse "gleaming"Orchard (1997:57).) is a tree or grove, described as "the most beautiful among gods and men", bearing golden red leaves located in the realm of Asgard, outside the doors of Valhalla. Glasir is attest ...
is stated as located in front of the doors of Valhalla. The tree is described as having foliage of red gold and being the most beautiful tree among both gods and men. A quote from a work by the 9th century skald Bragi Boddason
Bragi Boddason, known as Bragi the Old (Old Norse: ''Bragi hinn gamli'') was a Norwegian skald active in the first half of the 9th century, the earliest known skald from whom verses have survived. Portions of his ''Ragnarsdrápa'' are preserved ...
is presented that confirms the description.[Faulkes (1995:96).]
''Heimskringla''
Valhalla is mentioned in euhemerized form and as an element of remaining Norse pagan belief in '' Heimskringla''. In chapter 8 of ''Ynglinga saga
''Ynglinga saga'' ( ) is a Kings' saga, originally written in Old Norse by the Icelandic poet and historian Snorri Sturluson about 1225. It is the first section of his ''Heimskringla''. It was first translated into English and published in 1844 ...
'', the "historical" Odin is described as ordaining burial laws over his country. These laws include that all the dead are to be burned on a pyre on a burial mound with their possessions, and their ashes are to be brought out to sea or buried in the earth. The dead would then arrive in Valhalla with everything that one had on their pyre, and whatever one had hidden in the ground.[Hollander (2007:12).] Valhalla is additionally referenced in the phrase "visiting Odin" in a work by the 10th century skald Þjóðólfr of Hvinir describing that, upon his death, King Vanlandi went to Valhalla.[Hollander (2007:17).]
In chapter 32 of ''Hákonar saga Góða'', Haakon I of Norway is given a pagan
Paganism (from classical Latin ''pāgānus'' "rural", "rustic", later "civilian") is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Judaism. ...
burial, which is described as sending him on his way to Valhalla. Verses from ''Hákonarmál
''Hákonarmál'' (Old Norse: 'The Song of Hákon') is a skaldic poem which the skald Eyvindr skáldaspillir composed about the fall of the Norwegian king Hákon the Good at the battle of Fitjar and his reception in Valhalla. This poem emulates ' ...
'' are then quoted in support, themselves containing references to Valhalla.[Hollander (2007:125).]
''Fagrskinna''
In chapter 8 of ''Fagrskinna
''Fagrskinna'' ( ; is, Fagurskinna ; trans. "Fair Leather" from the type of parchment) is one of the kings' sagas, written around 1220. It is an intermediate source for the ''Heimskringla'' of Snorri Sturluson, containing histories of Norwegian k ...
'' a prose narrative states that after the death of her husband Eric Bloodaxe, Gunnhild Mother of Kings
Gunnhildr konungamóðir (''mother of kings'') or Gunnhildr Gormsdóttir, whose name is often Anglicised as Gunnhild (c. 910 – c. 980) is a quasi-historical figure who appears in the Icelandic Sagas, according to which she was ...
had a poem composed about him. The composition is by an anonymous author from the 10th century and is referred to as '' Eiríksmál'', and describes Eric Bloodaxe and five other kings arriving in Valhalla after their death. The poem begins with comments by Odin (as Old Norse ''Óðinn''):
"What kind of a dream is it," said Óðinn,
in which just before daybreak,
I thought I cleared Valhǫll,
for coming of slain men?
I waked the Einherjar,
bade valkyries rise up,
to strew the bench,
and scour the beakers,
wine to carry,
as for a king's coming,
here to me I expect
heroes' coming from the world,
certain great ones,
so glad is my heart.[Finlay (2004:58).]
The god Bragi asks where a thundering sound is coming from, and says that the benches of Valhalla are creaking—as if the god Baldr had returned to Valhalla—and that it sounds like the movement of a thousand. Odin responds that Bragi knows well that the sounds are for Eric Bloodaxe, who will soon arrive in Valhalla. Odin tells the heroes Sigmund and Sinfjötli to rise to greet Eric and invite him into the hall, if it is indeed he.[Finlay (2004:59).]
Sigmund asks Odin why he would expect Eric more than any other king, to which Odin responds that Eric has reddened his gore-drenched sword with many other lands. Eric arrives, and Sigmund greets him, tells him that he is welcome to come into the hall, and asks him what other lords he has brought with him to Valhalla. Eric says that with him are five kings, that he will tell them the name of them all, and that he, himself, is the sixth.[
Image:Gylfe stood boldly before Odin by George Wright.jpg, ''Gylfe Stood Boldly Before Odin'' (1908) by ]George Hand Wright
George Hand Wright (1872–1951) was an American painter, illustrator and printmaker.
Life
Born in the Fox Chase section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of a blacksmith, he attended the Spring Garden Institute, a local technical school, a ...
Image:AM 738 4to Valhöll.jpg, In this illustration from a 17th-century Iceland
Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...
ic manuscript, Heimdall is shown guarding the gate of Valhalla
Image:Heimdallr and valkyries by Frølich.jpg, A depiction of valkyries encountering the god Heimdallr
In Norse mythology, Heimdall (from Old Norse Heimdallr) is a god who keeps watch for invaders and the onset of Ragnarök from his dwelling Himinbjörg, where the burning rainbow bridge Bifröst meets the sky. He is attested as possessing forekno ...
as they carry a dead man to Valhalla (1906) by Lorenz Frølich
Lorenz Frølich (25 October 182025 October 1908) was a Danish painter, illustrator, graphic artist and etcher.
Early life and education
Frølich was born into a wealthy bourgeouis family in Copenhagen. The son of Johan Jacob Frølich (1777-1858) ...
Modern influence
The concept of Valhalla continues to influence modern popular culture. Examples include the Walhalla temple built by Leo von Klenze
Leo von Klenze (Franz Karl Leopold von Klenze; 29 February 1784, Buchladen (Bockelah / Bocla) near Schladen – 26 January 1864, Munich) was a German neoclassicist architect, painter and writer. Court architect of Bavarian King Ludwig I, Leo ...
for Ludwig I of Bavaria between 1830 and 1847 near Regensburg
Regensburg or is a city in eastern Bavaria, at the confluence of the Danube, Naab and Regen rivers. It is capital of the Upper Palatinate subregion of the state in the south of Germany. With more than 150,000 inhabitants, Regensburg is the f ...
, Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
, and the Tresco Abbey Gardens
Tresco Abbey Gardens are located on the island of Tresco in the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom. The 17 acre gardens were established by the nineteenth-century proprietor of the islands, Augustus Smith, originally as a private garden within the ...
Valhalla museum built by August Smith around 1830 to house ship figureheads from shipwrecks that occurred at the Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly (; kw, Syllan, ', or ) is an archipelago off the southwestern tip of Cornwall, England. One of the islands, St Agnes, is the most southerly point in Britain, being over further south than the most southerly point of the ...
, England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
, near the museum.[Simek (2007:348).]
References to Valhalla appear in literature, art, and other forms of media. Examples include K. Ehrenberg's charcoal illustration ''Gastmahl in Walhalla (mit einziehenden Einheriern)'' (1880), Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most op ...
's depiction of Valhalla in his opera cycle '' Der Ring des Nibelungen'' (1848–1874), the Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
, Germany-based Germanic Neopagan
Heathenry, also termed Heathenism, contemporary Germanic Paganism, or Germanic Neopaganism, is a modern Pagan religion. Scholars of religious studies classify it as a new religious movement. Developed in Europe during the early 20th centu ...
magazine ''Walhalla'' (1905–1913), the book series Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan, the comic series '' Valhalla'' (1978–2009) by Peter Madsen, and its subsequent animated film of the same name (1986).[
Valhalla also gives its name to a thrill ride at ]Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is an amusement park situated on Blackpool's South Shore, in the county of Lancashire, North West England. It operates as a secure facility, and has introduced epayments via smartphones for admission charges, replacin ...
, UK.
Before Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005) was an American journalist and author who founded the gonzo journalism movement. He rose to prominence with the publication of '' Hell's Angels'' (1967), a book for which he s ...
became the counter-culture's Gonzo journalist, he lived in Big Sur
Big Sur () is a rugged and mountainous section of the Central Coast of California between Carmel and San Simeon, where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. It is frequently praised for its dramatic scenery. Big Sur ha ...
, California, while writing his novel '' The Rum Diary.'' He wrote "Big Sur is very like Valhalla—a place that a lot of people have heard of, and that very few can tell you anything about" (''Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman,'' chapter 20).
In the 2015 film '' Mad Max: Fury Road'', the cult of the War Boys believe a heroic death in the service of dictator Immortan Joe
Immortan Joe is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the 2015 film '' Mad Max: Fury Road''. He is portrayed by Hugh Keays-Byrne. Immortan Joe also appears in the 2015 prequel comic series of the same name, and will return in the 2024 ...
will take them to Valhalla.
A video game '' Assassin's Creed Valhalla'' was released in November 2020. The video game '' Apex Legends'' features a character named Bloodhound, who often references Valhalla and the Allfather, a commonly used kenning for the Norse god Odin.
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...
's first album, ''Empty Sky
''Empty Sky'' is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter Elton John, released on 6 June 1969. It was not issued in the United States until January 1975 (on MCA), with different cover art, well after John's fame had been established ...
'' (1969), contains a song called "Valhalla". Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are ci ...
's "Immigrant Song
"Immigrant Song" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It is built upon a repeating riff and features lyrical references to Norse mythology, with singer Robert Plant's howling vocals mentioning war-making and Valhalla. The song was i ...
" from their third album, '' Led Zeppelin III'' (1970), contains the following Valhalla reference: "To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla, I am coming." Australian band Skeggs Skeggs or Skegg is a surname, and may refer to:
*Beverley Skeggs, English academic
*Bruce Skeggs (1932–2013), Australian politician
*Cliff Skeggs (born 1931), New Zealand businessman
*David Skegg (born 1947), New Zealand epidemiologist
*Roy Skeg ...
's third album, '' Rehearsal'' (2021), contains a song called "Valhalla".
Jethro Tull's album, ''Minstrel In The Gallery
''Minstrel in the Gallery'' is the eighth studio album by British rock band Jethro Tull, released in September 1975. The album sees the band going in a different direction from their previous work '' War Child'' (1974), returning to a blend of e ...
'' (1975), contains a song called "Cold Wind To Valhalla".
In 2020's ''Red, White, and the Blues: A Long and Hard Ride over Treacherous Terrain'', John R. Hall (author, blogger, magician) John R. Hall may refer to:
* John Hall (American businessman), chairman and CEO of Ashland Inc.
* John Roulstone Hall (1826-1911), American architect
* John Hall (priest)
John Robert Hall (born 13 March 1949) is an English retired priest of ...
uses ''Valhalla'' as a literary vehicle numerous times within the book's text. His most notable usages occurs in the book's front matter and back matter. In "Sursum Corda" (the book's preface), Hall writes: "I tried my best to capture the nearly unexplainable, Zen-like state of being I experienced while on my motorcycle. All I can offer the reader is I glimpsed Valhalla, and Odin assured me I shall dine with him or Freyja after my internal combat ends and this soldier's body is put down." On the book's final text page (before the notes section), Hall states: "Valhalla! 'A man can die but once' ('' Henry IV, Part 2''). I am ready ... now all family business is settled."
Image:Walhalla aussen.jpg, The Walhalla temple above the Danube
The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...
near Regensburg
Regensburg or is a city in eastern Bavaria, at the confluence of the Danube, Naab and Regen rivers. It is capital of the Upper Palatinate subregion of the state in the south of Germany. With more than 150,000 inhabitants, Regensburg is the f ...
, Germany
Image:Walhalla 1910 view4.jpg, Walhalla, Victoria, Australia township in 1910
See also
* Heorot, a celebrated hall central to the Old English poem ''Beowulf
''Beowulf'' (; ang, Bēowulf ) is an Old English epic poem in the tradition of Germanic heroic legend consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. It is one of the most important and most often translated works of Old English literature. The ...
''
Notes
References
* Byock, Jesse (Trans.) (2006). ''The Prose Edda''. Penguin Classics.
* Faulkes, Anthony (Trans.) (1995). ''Edda''. Everyman.
* Finlay, Alison (2004). ''Fagrskinna, a Catalogue of the Kings of Norway: A Translation with Introduction and Notes''. Brill Publishers
Brill Academic Publishers (known as E. J. Brill, Koninklijke Brill, Brill ()) is a Dutch international academic publisher founded in 1683 in Leiden, Netherlands. With offices in Leiden, Boston, Paderborn and Singapore, Brill today publishes 27 ...
.
* Hollander, M. Lee (Trans.) (2007).
Heimskringla: History of the Kings of Norway
''. University of Texas Press
The University of Texas Press (or UT Press) is a university press that is part of the University of Texas at Austin. Established in 1950, the Press publishes scholarly books and journals in several areas, including Latin American studies, Texan ...
.
* Larrington, Carolyne (Trans.) (1999). ''The Poetic Edda''. Oxford World's Classics
Oxford World's Classics is an imprint of Oxford University Press. First established in 1901 by Grant Richards and purchased by OUP in 1906, this imprint publishes primarily dramatic and classic literature for students and the general public. I ...
.
* Orchard, Andy (1997). ''Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend''. Cassell.
* Orel, Vladimir (2003). ''A Handbook of Germanic Etymology''. Brill.
* Simek, Rudolf (2007) translated by Angela Hall. ''Dictionary of Northern Mythology''. D.S. Brewer
Boydell & Brewer is an academic press based in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England, that specializes in publishing historical and critical works. In addition to British and general history, the company publishes three series devoted to studies, edition ...
* Watkins, Calvert (2000). ''The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots''. Houghton Mifflin Company
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (; HMH) is an American publisher of textbooks, instructional technology materials, assessments, reference works, and fiction and non-fiction for both young readers and adults. The company is based in the Boston Financ ...
.
* Welch, Chris (2005).
Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song
'. Thunder's Mouth Press
External links
{{Authority control
Locations in Norse mythology
Conceptions of heaven
Norse underworld