Viking Valkyrie-amulet Hårby, bronze

Product description

This pendant is shaped like a Valkyrie. The Valkyries were celestial beings in the service of Odin, the supreme god of the Viking pantheon. Literally translated, "Valkyrie" means "chooser of the fallen". According to Viking lore, Valkyries selected the brave warriors on the battlefield worthy of being taken to the mythical Valhalla, the great hall of the fallen. Valkyries were also battle goddesses, joining battles themselves and aiding chosen heroes. Images and stories of Valkyries appear throughout Old Norse literature, particularly in the Eddas and the sagas. The pendant could also depict a female warrior, though this is less likely — her clothing is less practical and she wears no helmet.