- Valhalla
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/val hal"euh, vahl hah"leuh/, n. Scand. Myth.the hall of Odin into which the souls of heroes slain in battle and others who have died bravely are received.[1760-70; Latinized form of ON Valholl, equiv. to val(r) the slain in battle, slaughter (c. OE wael) + holl HALL]
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Valhalla is depicted as a splendid palace, roofed with shields, where the warriors feast on the flesh of a boar slaughtered daily and made whole again each evening. They drink liquor that flows from the udders of a goat, and their sport is to fight one another every day, with the slain being revived in the evening. Thus they will live until the Ragnarok, when they will leave Valhalla to fight at the side of Odin against the Giants. See also Asgard, Freyja, Valkyrie.* * *
▪ Norse mythologyOld Norse Valhöllin Norse mythology, the hall of slain warriors, who live there blissfully under the leadership of the god Odin. Valhalla is depicted as a splendid palace, roofed with shields, where the warriors feast on the flesh of a boar slaughtered daily and made whole again each evening. They drink liquor that flows from the udders of a goat, and their sport is to fight one another every day.Thus they will live until the Ragnarök (Doomsday), when they will march out the 540 doors of the palace to fight at the side of Odin against the giants. When heroes fall in battle it is said that Odin needs them to strengthen his forces for the Ragnarök.* * *
Universalium. 2010.