What Does Valhalla Mean in English? Origins from Norse Mythology
In Old Norse, Valhalla (val-HALL-uh) literally translates to the "hall of the fallen." It was the enormous mead-hall in Asgard where Viking warriors slain in glorious combat spent their afterlife, feasting and fighting continuously to prepare for the apocalyptic battle of Ragnarök.
Heaven for Warrior Heroes
Valhalla served as a "Viking heaven" tailored specifically to warrior ideals rather than a peaceful afterlife. Huge and imposing with spears glinting along its hundreds of golden gates, Valhalla echoed with the boasts and shouts of fallen soldiers dining on unlimited meat and mead served by the Valkyrie. They joyously fought brutal battles against each other day after day – with all wounds healing each night so the pleasures of feasting and fighting could continue.
According to the Poetic Edda, "The einherjar all fight in Odin‘s courts every day; they choose the slain and ride from battle; then they sit more at peace together.” After the fighting, the warriors were rewarded with divine meat and mead: “Pork of the boar Sæhrímnir is what the einherjar eat, and that is what sustains them. They also drink the mead of poetry from the udders of the goat Heiðrún.”
Chosen by Valkyrie Spirits
The Valkyries were Odin’s handmaidens, supernatural women who patrolled battlefields on their flying horses in armor, choosing worthy fallen warriors to bring to Valhalla. Their names reflected their fearsome roles: Eir meant “mercy”, Geiravör meant “spear-wielder”, Herja meant “devastation”, and Göll meant “tumult”.
Odin received first pick of the best warriors for his army, as he knew Ragnarök – the apocalyptic battle between gods and giants – was drawing near. But the rest were sent on to Valhalla, where the daily fighting kept their combat skills and spirits sharp.
Numbers and Stats from the Myths
Of all warriors slain in any battle, half went to swell the ranks of Valhalla to defend Asgard, presided over by the god Odin. The others went to Fólkvangr, the meadow ruled by the goddess Freyja.
There were 540 doors in the walls of Valhalla, and 800 fearsome einherjar warriors would march shoulder to shoulder out of each door when the Ragnarök battle call came from the god Heimdallr’s mighty horn. That means an army of 432,000 warriors would pour forth – the largest and mightiest force in all the Nine Realms!
Living on Through Gaming Fantasy
As a passionate gamer, it thrills me to see Valhalla continue capturing imaginations in games like Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, allowing a whole new generation of fans to immerse themselves in Norse mythology. There is even speculation of Kratos battling his way out of Valhalla to appear in the next God of War game!
The vivid accounts of Valhalla endure not just as legends, but living on as active inspiration for fantasy worlds and warriors today. We can raise a drinking horn filled with mead in the game-halls of Asgard alongside Odin‘s glorious army, keeping ancient Viking lore alive and exciting in the modern age! Skål!
