home of odin, valhalla, valhalla vikings, vikings heaven - November 9, 2018

Valhalla: The Hall of the Fallen

What is Valhalla? What does it look like?

Valhalla (pronounced "val-HALL-uh"; Old Norse Valhöll, "the room of the dead"[1]) is the room where the god Odin shelters the dead whom he considers worthy to live with him.

le-valhalla

In the Viking Poem "Grimnismal (to be discovered by following this link). It is said that the roof of the Valhalla is covered with pure and sparkling gold, and it is also covered with a shield and a war lance. Inside, huge seats in legendary dragon & beast leather, tables & buffet filled with the most delicious & rare dishes to welcome the fallen in the right way.

hall-du-valhalla

But beware, it is also said that the gate of the Valhalla is guarded by wolves, eagles also fly above in order to prevent any attacks.

But where is this Viking heaven?

asgard-valhalla

The most famous description of the Valhalla in the literature describes the Valhalla as being located in Asgard, the heavenly fortress of the gods and of course, where Odin, the God of the Gods, reigns.

However, other data sources suggest that Valhalla was also sometimes perceived as being located underground, such as in the more general underground world.

As noted above, the ongoing battle in the Valhalla is one of the defining characteristics of this place.

Le Valhalla, a typical day...

valhalla-image-jeu

The soldiers who reside in the Valhalla, the einherjar, live a life that would have been the envy of any Viking warrior... Throughout the day, they fight each other and perform countless acts of bravery

But every night, all their wounds are healed, and the warriors regain the strength and ardour of the Morning.

Then comes the buffet. Their meat comes from the Saehrimnir boar (Boar that comes back to life every time it is slaughtered and butchered.)

animaux-viking-sanglier

For their drink, they have mead from the udder of the Heidrun goat

They thus enjoy an inexhaustible supply of food and drinks of exceptional quality, they are served by the magnificent Valkyries.

serie-vikings-valhalla

Now, the Question you're certainly pausing for is....

How did the Vikings get to Valhalla?

he only Scandinavian source that provides a direct statement on how people are admitted to the Valhalla is'Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson' (a 13th century Icelandic researcher.)

valhalla-valkyrie

According to Snorri, those who die in battle are taken to Valhalla, while those who die of illness or old age are taken to Hel, ( The Underworld led by Hel, a line of loki & the giant angrboda).

Although entry into the Valhalla seems to have ultimately been a question of whom Odin and his Valkyries chose to live there rather than a particular impersonal norm, it seems reasonable to assume that Odin would choose those who would best serve him in his final battle.

The squares of the Valhalla would therefore be mainly occupied by elite warriors, in particular heroes and rulers. And, indeed, when the sources of the Old Norse mention particular people residing in the Valhalla, they almost invariably correspond to this description - with elite practitioners of other roles that the room of a Viking age leader would have contained, such as the poet Bragi, King Ragnar Lodbrok, and other famous Vikings.

Le Valhalla, Paradise forever?

No, wait for the RAGNAROK!

dieu-odin

The Einherjar (Warrior of the Valhalla) will not live this charming life forever.

The inhabitants of Valhalla are there by the will of Odin, who collects them with the perfectly selfish aim of bringing them to his aid in his fight against the wolf Fenrir during Ragnarok