She says that she had, unbeknownst to him, protected him many times in battle. While the primary role of the Valkyries was to choose which of the dead men went to Valhalla, some stories claimed that they had other roles on the battlefield as well.įor example, in the story of the heroic king Helgi Hjorvardsson, he meets a beautiful Valkyrie called Svava. They would join the Einherjar, the warriors who fought and feasted each day in Odin’s hall. Those who fought and died well would be chosen by the Valkyries for a place in Valhalla. While ancient sources do not entirely agree on whether they were responsible for deaths themselves or not, they did agree that those who showed exceptional courage and strength would be noticed by these warrior women. The Valkyries appeared at the scene of battle. Their name comes from two Old Norse words, valr referring to those who died in battle and kjosa meaning “to choose.” They were the “choosers of the slain.” The Valkyries are most well-known for the role they played in battle. This popular image of the Valkyries was certainly known during the Viking Age, but was there more to these goddesses of the battlefield than just their selection of the slain? The Valkyries on the Battlefield These chosen fighters are then taken to Valhalla, the paradise of those who died in battle, where they will fight and feast until Ragnarok. They fly above the battlefield and swoop down to choose the bravest, most noble warriors at the moment of death. The Valkyries are typically depicted as fearsome but beautiful warrior women. From contemporary art and literature to later operas, the goddesses of the battlefield have been a popular part of the mythology for centuries. It is still seen as a great warrior and the male is associated with King Arthur, it symbolizes great power under control, with claws significantly displayed on crests or on shields.The image of the Valkyrie is one of the most enduring of the Norse Era. Many believe that as a wise creature, it gains wisdom through its winter incubation and it bears a symbol of maternal protection.
The Haida associate bear to an elder kinsman and when killed it is believed to be a high ranking guest. The bear has been associated with ferocity, diplomacy and healing powers.
In addition to this, bear is a symbol of wisdom for the Lakota Sioux, spirit keeper for the Chippewa and introspection and strength. Bear symbols and tattoos also tend to serve similar functions. People tend to emulate the virtue of the female bear because it is admirable seeing her protect her cub and their claws and teeth are used as amulets, decorations and talismans so as to stir up the powers of the bear. The Shamans and animist believe that bear is a powerful totem or spirit and when seen in people’s dreams, the animals are seen to be the guides from the spirits. In many indigenous stories, the animal was seen as a transformed human that was a close intimate of humans. The early man started identifying with the bear for several reasons because from the early times when men were hunters and gatherers, they respected and feared the bear and at times even worshiped it because despite being a predator, it had power, strength and was furious. The similarity also comes because the bears tend to stand on their hind legs like man when aggressive or when threatened. The bear occupies the same ecological niche with man and competed for shelter in caves making the bear similar with the early man. The bear hunts for fish and both small and large game. The animal is an omnivorous creature like human beings because it eats roots, nuts, honey, berries, bird’s eggs and grasses. The bear also represent a gentle friendship and a docile follower in camouflage but its love for honey adds up an amusing element in the symbol of power and dignity.īeing a unique animal and off wide rage, bear symbol is extremely popular in legends of many cultures around the world including those of Asian myths, North American and European. The bear is a symbol for strength, courage and tenacity.