what is valkyrie

In Norse mythology, a Valkyrie is a female figure who serves the god Odin and is responsible for choosing the most heroic of the warriors who have died in battle and carrying them off to Valhalla, Odins "Hall of the slain". The word "Valkyrie" comes from the Old Norse valkyrja, which means "chooser of the slain". Valkyries are depicted as warrior women on horseback, wolves, or boars, armed with a spear, and wearing helmets and shields. They are also sometimes described as the daughters of royalty, accompanied by ravens, and connected to swans or horses. Valkyries are attested in the Poetic Edda, the Prose Edda, the Heimskringla, and the Njáls saga, all written in the 13th century. In addition to their role in choosing the slain, Valkyries also appear as lovers of heroes and other mortals.