- Valkyrie
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—Valkyrian, adj./val kear"ee, -kuy"ree, vahl-, val"keuh ree/, n. Scand. Myth.any of the beautiful maidens attendant upon Odin who bring the souls of slain warriors chosen by Odin or Tyr to Valhalla and there wait upon them.Also, Walkyrie.[ < ON valkyrja chooser of the slain (c. OE waelcyrie witch), equiv. to val(r) the slain in battle, slaughter (c. OE wael) + kyrja chooser (c. OE cyrie); akin to CHOOSE]
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In Germanic religion, any of a group of maidens sent by Odin to select slain warriors worthy of a place in Valhalla.They rode to the battlefield on horses or, in some accounts, flew through the air and sea. Some had the power to cause the death of warriors they disliked; others guarded the lives and ships of those they favoured. According to various myths, they were either purely supernatural or human with supernatural powers; they were associated with fairness, brightness, and gold as well as with bloodshed.* * *
▪ Norse mythologyin Norse mythology, any of a group of maidens who served the god Odin and were sent by him to the battlefields to choose the slain who were worthy of a place in Valhalla. These foreboders of war rode to the battlefield on horses, wearing helmets and shields; in some accounts, they flew through the air and sea. Some Valkyries had the power to cause the death of the warriors they did not favour; others, especially heroine Valkyries, guarded the lives and ships of those dear to them. Old Norse literature made references to purely supernatural Valkyries and also to human Valkyries with certain supernatural powers. Both types of beings were associated with fairness, brightness, and gold, as well as bloodshed.* * *
Universalium. 2010.