Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

PANTHEON

Home
Pagan
Wyrd Designs – Correcting Common Misperceptions – Freyja & the Valkyrie

Wyrd Designs – Correcting Common Misperceptions – Freyja & the Valkyrie

Last updated on: January 20, 2011 at 9:30 am by wyrddesigns

Wyrd Designs – Correcting Common Misperceptions – Freyja & the Valkyrie 2011-01-20T09:30:14-04:00 wyrddesigns

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I am human, and therefore like so many others I have my personal ticks and pet peeves. Among them are common misperceptions that somehow seem to multiply faster than dirty laundry & dust bunnies, or the spam messages in my inbox.

Somehow, once upon a time someone first said that the Goddess Freyja was a Valkyrie, and since then that concept has been reiterated innumerable times across websites, and a plethora of books. While not trying to be disparaging of those who are not focused in the Northern Tradition, it seems that many of the problematic texts were written for a broader crowd who might mix and match their deities from across various traditions. I can only imagine that this misperception has occurred and been perpetuated so greatly because authors didn’t realize that the research they were using was faulty since they lacked a specialized knowledge as it relates to Freyja and the related deities and culture found within the Northern Tradition.

So allow me to say clearly and once and for all that the Goddess Freyja is NOT a Valkyrie.

So why all the confusion?

Relotixke's Freyja

In the case of Freyja I think the culprit that has led many astray is that they take Her poetic names that incorporate the “val” from the Old Norse word valr which is of course the origin also for the word valkyrie, and they assume it means Freyja is a valkyrie.

To understand why this isn’t the case, first we need a bit of a word/language lesson.

The word valkyrie is composed of two Old Norse words. The first valr means ‘corpses on the battlefield’ and the second kjosa means ‘to choose,’ thus the word valkyrie means ‘those who choose the slain.’

Freyja’s two poetic names that also share the root valr are:

Eidandi Valfalls (in the Skaldskaparmal) which means ‘Possessor of the Slain’
Valfreyja (in Njal’s Saga) which means ‘Mistress of the Chosen’

Food for thought: Freyja’s name in Old Norse literally means ‘woman’, or ‘mistress.’

So let that all sink in a moment.

As most know, the battle-slain go to Valhalla (yep the val in valhalla is also derived from the same valr root), but only half go to Odin’s great hall. The other half of the slain according to both Gylfaginning and Skaldskaparmal go to Freyja, and to Her great Hall Sessrumnir (which in Old Norse means ‘seat-roomer’ or ‘room with many seats’)–Considering the number of warriors She surely plays host to, the hall would need many seats indeed!

But Her title of Valfreyja isn’t pointing to Her as a leader of the Valkyries, but rather simple as a great Lady of a Hall, in this case a hall that hosts the battle-slain, and therefore She is a great Lady of the battle-dead. Odin also has a similar poetic name, Valfadir, and you don’t see folks calling Him a Valkyrie. No where in the source lore does it ever say that Freyja is a Valkyrie.

And now you know, and knowing is half the battle. ^_~

Naryuchan's Freyja

Previous Post

January 19, 2011

Gov. Bentley Ain't My Brother (And That's Just Dandy)

Next Post

January 21, 2011 Wicca Series: History of Wicca?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category alexandrian asatru astrology ATW Audio books btw ceremonial magick chaos classics community conversion cosmology dianic discordian druid dvd eclectic equinox ethics family feri festivals film Fully Inclusive Events gardnerian gender issues glbt heathen hellenismos history humor initiation interfaith magick meditation Military movies music mysticism myth networking news Open Thread Pagan Pagan 101 Paganism passings polytheism Polytheistic Religion polytheology praxis Reading List religio romana review ritual sabbats santeria service solstice symbols tools values wicca witchcraft

Select a Month July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Lo-debar" mean in Hebrew?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The Lord’s land Valley of rest No pasture The chosen city