DEFINITIONS
ODIN
Odin is the chief god of the Vikings, and became known as the supreme god in the eighth and ninth centuries. The Vikings admired Odin's love for the battle, as he was known as the "father of the slain". However, Odin loved to cause conflicts and shifts of power. He once aided Harald, a Danish King, instructing him in tactics and granting him victories for years. Later, Odin drove the king to his demise. Although Odin embodied deceit, violence and war, he also embodied many admirable qualities. He was the most knowledgeable god, with a great love for wisdom. He would willingly sacrifice himself for it. With the threat of Ragnarok, the death of all gods, Odin built the Valhalla, a great hall of the "heroic dead". Odin would then gather heroes and warriors who were slain in battle, and bring them to Valhalla so they would fight alongside the gods.
VALHALLA
In Norse mythology, Valhalla is a majestic, enormous hall ruled over by the god Odin. Chosen by Odin, half of those who die in combat travel to Valhalla upon death, led by Valkyries. In Valhalla, the dead join the masses of those who have died in combat as they prepare to aid Odin during the events of Ragnarök. Before the hall stands the golden tree Glasir, and the hall's ceiling is thatched with golden shields. Various creatures live around Valhalla, such as the dee/elk and goats. These animals are described as standing atop Valhalla and consuming the foliage of the tree, Glasir.
VALKYRIE
A Valkyrie is a female helping spirit of the god Odin. The modern image of the Valkyries as elegant, noble maidens bringing dead heroes to Valhalla is largely accurate for what it is, but a highly selective portrayal that exaggerates their pleasant qualities. To some extent, this tendency toward sanitization is present even in the later Old Norse sources, which focus on their love affairs with human men and their assisting Odin in transporting his favorites among those slain in battle to Valhalla, where they will fight by his side during Ragnarok.
RAGNAROK – The final battle where all the gods could die.
GLASIR – A golden tree that stands atop Valhalla.
ODIN
Odin is the chief god of the Vikings, and became known as the supreme god in the eighth and ninth centuries. The Vikings admired Odin's love for the battle, as he was known as the "father of the slain". However, Odin loved to cause conflicts and shifts of power. He once aided Harald, a Danish King, instructing him in tactics and granting him victories for years. Later, Odin drove the king to his demise. Although Odin embodied deceit, violence and war, he also embodied many admirable qualities. He was the most knowledgeable god, with a great love for wisdom. He would willingly sacrifice himself for it. With the threat of Ragnarok, the death of all gods, Odin built the Valhalla, a great hall of the "heroic dead". Odin would then gather heroes and warriors who were slain in battle, and bring them to Valhalla so they would fight alongside the gods.
VALHALLA
In Norse mythology, Valhalla is a majestic, enormous hall ruled over by the god Odin. Chosen by Odin, half of those who die in combat travel to Valhalla upon death, led by Valkyries. In Valhalla, the dead join the masses of those who have died in combat as they prepare to aid Odin during the events of Ragnarök. Before the hall stands the golden tree Glasir, and the hall's ceiling is thatched with golden shields. Various creatures live around Valhalla, such as the dee/elk and goats. These animals are described as standing atop Valhalla and consuming the foliage of the tree, Glasir.
VALKYRIE
A Valkyrie is a female helping spirit of the god Odin. The modern image of the Valkyries as elegant, noble maidens bringing dead heroes to Valhalla is largely accurate for what it is, but a highly selective portrayal that exaggerates their pleasant qualities. To some extent, this tendency toward sanitization is present even in the later Old Norse sources, which focus on their love affairs with human men and their assisting Odin in transporting his favorites among those slain in battle to Valhalla, where they will fight by his side during Ragnarok.
RAGNAROK – The final battle where all the gods could die.
GLASIR – A golden tree that stands atop Valhalla.