Valkyries. Women in the World of Vikings

Valkyries – supernatural female beings who choose who will die and who will live on the battlefield. They protect some but direct spears, arrows, and the blades of swords into the bodies of others. Viking myths about Valkyries attempt to elevate the banality of war – to make pain and suffering glorious and worthy. Women in these stories take full part in their communities, for better or for worse. Who are Valkyries and how do they differ from ordinary Scandinavian women? Why are Valkyries not tied to family and children, what does a man mean to them, and why do they seek death? How does the intertwining of the real and the afterlife in the stories of Scandinavian warrior women influence Scandinavian culture and beyond? Drawing on the latest historical and archaeological evidence, the author reveals the reality behind myths and legends to uncover the dynamic, diverse life of Viking women.