You are aware of my passion for writing about history, legends, folklore, women’s issues, psychology and religion, so today I plan to continue my research on religious concepts. Today, we will look at the Viking tradition and the concept of Valhalla.
Embedded in Norse mythology, religion, and the whole Viking way of life is Valhalla, the final resting place for all brave Vikings of this warrior society. However, before looking at Valhalla we must look at the most important figure associated with the afterworld as such.
There are several gods in the old Viking mythology but the highest God was Odin. Odin has been known by a few names; Odinn, Woden from the Anglo Saxon tradition, Wotan (Old High German), and from the proto German we have Wodinaz and Wodanaz. As you can see, the variations are similar in spelling. Odin was considered to be a powerful warrior associated with great battles, mighty fury, and death, Odin was also associated with wisdom and poetry. One would rarely think about the Viking society as being poetic.
Another name for this great God was “Psychopompos meaning the keeper of souls, and thus his connection with Valhalla. The Greek coined the word psychopomps who were messengers or other types of guides who lead the deceased on their journey to the afterworld. Since they were guides, these psychopomps were not in the business of judging the dead. Their mission was simply to escort them. They also had a broader function; besides being the go between this world and the next, they assisted human births and were often revealing themselves through the medium of dreams.
In ancient texts and carvings these psychopomps were shown riding horses and bearing spears. There often were animals of several types accompanying them. Odin was always depicted riding a horse and carrying a spear. He was believed to have the ability to change into various animal forms. Two animals in particular were mythical creatures; the Echwaz which was a horrific looking horse and the sleipner a horse with eight legs.
Viking life centered on fighting and being the greatest warrior; and the greatest award bestowed upon a Viking was to be able continue that great fight in the afterworld. This was the reward of brave warrior, the best a Viking could ever hope for, only half of these deceased warriors had the opportunity to be with Odin in Valhalla. The glorious hall of the slain, Valhalla, was limited to the chosen few (about half of the slain warriors). Those who did not make the grade went to the Field of Folkvang to be with the Goddess Freya.
Odin ruled Valhalla the enormous hall containing 540 doors where 800 warriors could exist anyone of them at a single time. The location of Valhalla can be found in Asgard. Asgard is a fertile valley populated with gold and fine gem stones, and lots of animals. However, Asgard is actually some mysterious place on earth though no such location has ever been found. Like any mystery, historians, especially the Greeks, have been searching for its existence for centuries. The Greeks believe Asgard may be the Greek city of Troy and to add a little credence to the assumption, the Viking God, Thor means Troy.
According to Norse mythology, the psychopomps are not the only messengers to the afterworld,. There are female messengers known as valkyries who have the important role of deciding who wins and dies in the earthly battles. The chosen are transported to Valhalla where they meet other glorious fallen warriors and become the Einherjar.
These lucky Einherjar got the royal treatment by the valkyries at Valhalla where they were wined and dined. However, since their true passion is fighting, they prepare for Ragnorok, which are a series of activities leading to the great battle with the Gods. The battles occur in the fields of Vigrior. The Gods must also prepare for this great battle and some of them will actually die.
The importance of Ragnarok cannot be overstated in Norse Mythology. The Ragnarok will lead to a great flood where all the land will be covered. Once the surviving Gods resurface from the waters they will become human again and thus the world will repopulate by two human people who were once gods.
Ragnarok is part of the Norse Cannon and is well documented in the Poetic Edda by Snorri Sturluson as far back as the 13th century. This classic piece of literature is the most important document we have depicting the Germanic and Icelandic hero legends.
I find it quite interesting that these Norse religious beliefs are not really about going to a resting place after death, which is very different from what they know, but is a continuation of the life a Viking lead during his human existence. It just goes to show that not every culture on earth looked for something different in the afterworld. Some cultures actually enjoyed the life they lived here on earth.
