Valhalla (or Valhalla) - was a paradise for the ancient Scandinavians, where after death the Vikings dreamed of entering. The word "Valhalla" can be translated from the ancient Icelandic language as "the hall of the fallen" (in the battle of the soldiers). Often one may encounter the different spelling of the word "Valhalla". This is Valhalla, Valhalla, Valhalla. Any transcription is valid.
According to the legends of the ancient Scandinavians, Valhalla is the palace of Asgard, in which God One rules. The master of Valhalla asks the warriors whether they have died in dignity and takes the best ones into their squad, who will fight with him when Rognarok comes.
Difficult road to Valhalla
The road to Valhalla is difficult and only worthy warriors will find it. Not every warrior who fell in battle was worthy of entering Valhalla. Only the best got there. Some of the killed Valhallas did not reach, but were "redirected" to Folkvangr to Freya, which was considered not so honorable. The Vikings, who were fortunate enough to get to Odin, became his personal guard (in some sources they are called ice warriors). In order for the road to Valhalla to lead the warrior to Odin, the Viking must have fallen in its jaws. The mortally wounded warriors asked their comrades to put a sword or an ax in their hands, otherwise the road to Valhalla would not open to him.
It should be mentioned separately that the weapon was a kind of guide to Valhalle. Without a sword or other weapon, the road to Valhalla will not open, and the warrior will always wander in her search.
The ice warriors of Valhalla have been fighting each other since the morning, until the only survivor remains. After that, all the fallen are resurrected, their wounds heal, and the severed limbs grow back. After the battle, the path of the heroes lies in the hall of Odin, where they are met by the master of Valhalla. There, the brave men feast until the evening, remembering their exploits and honoring today's winner. At night, the Vikings disperse throughout Valhalle, and they come to the beautiful virgins, who please them until the morning. Some believe that warriors who have fallen into their paradise have fun with Valkyries, but the night beauties are not at all.
Joining the ranks of Odin's warriors could be accomplished in several ways:
- The master of Valhalla took away the best fighters for himself, and the Vikings believed that Odin could specifically send Valkyries to the battlefield to prevent heroes from fighting. If the warrior suddenly stumbled or missed, it meant that Odin wanted to get him to his palace as soon as possible;
- If a warrior lived to old age, he could commit suicide by hanging on an oak tree. Thus, he repeated the sacrificial suicide of Odin, who hanged himself to comprehend the wisdom of the runes;
- The most severe was the third option - the courageous death through a specific penalty, called the "blood eagle". If the Viking endured such a penalty without shouting and groans, the entrance to Valhalla was considered open for him, and he could count on a place of honor between Odin's ice warriors;
- It is believed that there is no other way to Valhalla, but there was another cruel custom. Vikings were rarely allowed to die decently to captured enemies, but brave warriors knew how to get to Valhalla in this case. They asked him to open his stomach and nail the guts to a tall post. Then the brave man walked around the pillar, winding guts on him and mocking his enemies. If he didn’t lose his composure and courageously endured the pain, the enemies burned his body, asking Odin to take the valiant warrior.
How does Valhalla and the palaces of Odin
The halls of Valhalla are a large banquet hall, only instead of the roof it has the golden shields of the Odin Guard (Einheriyev). The walls are made of huge copies of heroes who are feasting in the hall. In the morning, going to battle, the warriors dismantle the walls and roof, actually taking the palace with them.
In total, there are 540 doors in the banquet hall, 800 fighters should come out of each when Rognarok comes. In total, there should be 432,000 soldiers ready to support the gods in the final battle with the giants.
Despite the fact that women in the culture of the Vikings occupied a rather privileged position and often fought along with men, in the Scandinavian sagas there is not a single mention of where beautiful warriors go. The only woman mentioned in the sagas was Brünnhilde, exiled as a land punishment and deprived of Valkyrie status. In the ancient sagas, it is not considered a man or a Valkyrie.
In the very middle of Valhalla is the throne of Odin, from which the stern god examines all the worlds with one eye so as not to miss the beginning of the end of the world.
It is worth noting that such a wild and harsh life was seen by the pagans to the Vikings as a real paradise, because their real life was a series of battles, murders and drunken merriment.
What did Valhalla see in Christian times?
It is very interesting what opinion of the first Christians about Valhalla who learned about the paradise of the harsh northern warriors. The first missionaries who visited the Scandinavians and learned aspects of their harsh religion were amazed to the core. Christians considered the Vikings to be real demons, and when they learned that their paradise resembles a Christian hell, they became firmly established in their opinion. The daily resurrection of the warriors in order to kill each other again the next day was interpreted by Christians as the torments of sinners in hell. Odin himself in this place was the incarnation of Satan.
Fearless warriors of the north, who rushed into battle against several times superior enemy troops and not fearing death, terrified civilized Europeans. And the Viking elite, the Berserkers and Ulfkhednars, suggested thoughts about tamed demons from hell.
Despite the adoption of Christianity by the Norse, many pagans fled to Iceland, where the Asatru religion (which means faith in Assov) has survived to this day. Modern Icelandic spetsnaz warriors still use the Viking battle cry "Till Valhall!", Which translated into our language means "To Valhalla!".
Gates of valhalla
To enter Valhalla, dead heroes must unlock the gate of Valgrind. Their significance is still not clear, although logically, they should block Valhalla from unwanted visitors. This theory is also supported by the fact that one of the Scandinavian Adds clearly indicates that only the dead can open the Valgrind gate. The constipation of this gate is one of the unique artifacts that were made by the dark alms.
These characters are a prototype of the dark elves, so widely replicated thanks to modern games. Although, unlike games in which dark and light elves are close relatives, the Scandinavian Edds say that the dark alvas have a completely different nature than the alves (elves) are light.
The castle has a magic power, each unworthy to touch him, when touched to him will be bound forever.
Some folklorists and publicists of Sweden (in particular, Victor Rydberg) believe that the name of the Valhalla gate can be translated as "loudly clapping." This statement is based on an ancient belief, which linked the thunder and the opening of the gate Valgrind into one.
The Warriors of Odin of Einheria - Chosen of the Best
In the culture of the ancient Scandinavians can be found sufficiently detailed descriptions of the heroes of Valhalla Einher. Although this word was called the great heroes, its exact meaning is lost and no one knows what it really means.
Odin's warriors fighting each other sharpen their skills as they will have to engage in battle with the terrible giants during the final battle of the gods. Since the wounds of the Aytheri are always healed, they are immortal.
During a feast in the palaces, the fallen heroes drink the magic honey that flows from the udder of the Heidrun goat. Scandinavian mythology does not give us an answer to the question whether this drink is alcoholic, although knowing the life of the Vikings, it is not difficult to assume that they would be bored in paradise without drinking. The main meal at the feast is the meat of the great boar Sehrimnir, who, in addition to being able to feed an unlimited number of warriors, is reborn every day.
Why Valhalla is waiting for Rognarok
Many do not understand why the happy Viking paradise is waiting for the end of the world and death in Rognarok. The answer lies in the fact that Norse mythology was invented by people who created the gods to match themselves. The Scandinavian gods are vindictive, cruel and possess a whole "bunch" of human vices.
Since people were afraid of the unknown after death, the immortal gods created by them also feared doom in the form of the inevitable Rognarok.
Valhalla in the works of Richard Wagner
Composer Richard Wagner was very fond of ancient Germanic mythology, which is similar to the ancient Scandinavian. It was his works that played a significant role in the popularization of Valhalla and everything connected with it. The most famous musical works related to the Viking paradise are "The entry of the gods into Valhalla" and "The Flight of the Valkyries".
Viking paradise may seem boring and monotonous to modern man, but for the warriors of that time, Valhalla was a side-chapel of dreams.
