Brynhildr was a princess, a shield-maiden, and was said to be a Valkyrie who disobeyed Odin. Stripped of her Valkyrie powers, she was put into a deep slumber, on a castle on top of a mountain surrounded by a magic fire, and can only awakened by a brave man with a kiss, which she was by Sigurd the Dragonslayer. With Sigurd, she had a daughter; Aslaug.
Although the pair fell in love, Sigurd was deceived by Gjuki, King of Burgundy, whose wife, the sorceress Grimhild, prepared a magic potion that made Sigurd forget about Brynhildr so he could marry their daughter Gudrun. When she found out about Brynhildr, they let their son Gunnar go to her castle. Gunnar was only able to cross the ring of fire when he switched places with the enchanted Sigurd and convinced Brynhildr to marry Gunnar instead of Sigurd.
Sigurd later regained his memories. Heartbroken upon finding out the truth from Gudrun, Brynhildr urged Gunnar to murder Sigurd. Gunnar and his brother Hogni had both sworn oaths of blood brotherhood with Sigurd and could not kill him in fear of angering the gods, so they instead incited their young brother Gutthorm to do the deed. Sigurd killed the young Gutthorm, and was also killed, while Brynhildr killed Sigurd’s and Gudrun’s son.
Distraught over her actions, Brynhildr committed suicide by throwing herself on Sigurd’s funeral pyre. They reunited in Hel, but left Aslaug alone in the world.
In Norse mythology, the Valkyries were a group of warrior maidens who had served the God Odin and were sent to the battlefields to choose pass judgments upon the slain.
They were not only associated with bloodshed and battle but also with fairness. They were a force to be reckoned with. The Old Norse Poems provide a list of Valkyrie names who were known as the fiercest warriors in battles:
1. Brynhildr(pronounced as “Brin-hil-duur”), meaning”battle armor” or “bright battle,” was known as the leader of the Valkyries.
2. Eir(pronounced as “Ee-rh”), meaning”peace” or “mercy.” In Old Norse mythology, she is a Valkyrie associated with medical proficiency.
3. Geirahöð (pronounced as “Gee-ey-ra-hut”), meaning”battle spear,” is mentioned in some of the manuscripts of Grímnismál.
4. Geiravör (pronounced as “Gee-ey-ra-vurr”), meaning “spear-vör,” is a Valkyrie mentioned in the long list amongst the two Nafnaþulur lists found in the Prose Edda.
5. Geirdrifu(pronounced as “Gee-ey-dra-fu”), meaning”spear-flinger.”
6. Geirönu(pronounced as “Gee-ey-ro-nu”), meaning”the one charging forth with the spear.”
7. Geirskögu(pronounced as “Gee-aer-sko-gu”), meaning”spear-bearer,” a fierce Valkyrie name.
8. Göl(pronounced as “Gawl”), meaning”tumult” or “noise, battle,” is a Valkyrie who served Odin in battle.
9. Göndu(pronounced as “Gawn-du”), meaning”wand-wielder” is one of the most fierce Old Norse Valkyries and the chooser of the slain.
10. Gunnr(pronounced as “Gunner”), meaning”war” or “battle” is a great Valkyrie name with a dual meaning.
11. Herfjötur(pronounced as “Her-fyo-tur”), meaning “fetter of the army” or “host fetter” is well-known in Norse mythology as a powerful Valkyrie with her ability to place fetters.
12. Herja(pronounced as “Herja”), meaning”one who devastates” who was both a Valkyrie and a Germanic goddess and chooser of the slain.
13. Hlaðguðr svanhvít(pronounced as “Hluh-goor-svan-vit”), meaning”swan-white” is King Hlödvér’s daughter, and the sister of Hervör alvit.
14. Hildr (pronounced as “Hill-dur”), meaning”battle” is the daughter of Högni and Hedin’s wife.
15. Hjalmþrimul(pronounced as “Jam-pree-mul”), meaning”helmet clatterer” is amongst the Valkyries in Norse Legend who chooses who will die in battle.
16. Hervör alvitr (pronounced as “Her-vor-aal-vee-tur”), meaning”all-wise strange creature” is a Valkyrie who is the sister of the sister of Hlaðguðr in Nordic mythology.
17. Hjörþrimul(pronounced as “Jor-pree-mul”), meaning”the female sword warrior,” is a legendary Valkyrie.
18. Hlökk(pronounced as “Lowk”), meaning”noise, battle”. She is mentioned in the Poetic Edda poemGrímnismál.
19. Hrist(pronounced as “Rist”), meaning”the quaking one” is a legendary Norse Valkyrie who also appears intheValkyrie Profile series.
20. Hrund(pronounced as “Rund”), meaning“pricker”.
21. Kára(pronounced as “Kaara”), meaning”the curly one” is a Valkyrie mentioned in the Poetic Edda poem Helgakviða Hundingsbana II.
22. Mist(pronounced as “Mist”), meaning”cloud” or “mist”. She appears in the list in the Poetic Edda poem Grímnismál.
23. Ölrún(pronounced as “Awl-run”), meaning”ale-rune” is a powerful Valkyrie.
24. Randgrid(pronounced as “Rand-grid”), meaning”shield-destroyer” is a powerful Valkyrie.
25. Ráðgríðr(pronounced as “Rad-gri-dur”), meaning”council-truce” is a well-known Valkyrie in Norse legend who judges who will die in battle.
26. Reginleif(pronounced as “Rain-leaf”), meaning”daughter of the gods” is a Valkyrie who became Volund for Adam when Ragnarök took place.
27. Róta(pronounced as “Row-tah”), meaning”sleet and storm” is a Valkyrie who is attested in the 36th chapter of the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, mentioned alongside the other valkyries.
28. Sanngriðr(pronounced as “San-grid-ur”), meaning”very violent and very cruel” is a Valkyrie who is mentioned in the skaldic poem Darraðarljóðand a powerful female figure.
29. Sigrdrífa(pronounced as “Sig-ur-dri-fa”), meaning”inciter to victory” is a well-known Valkyrie in Norse literature who is known as the chooser of the slain.
30. Sigrún(pronounced as “Sig-run”), meaning”victory rune” is a famous Nordic Valkyrie in Norse mythology.
31. Skalmöld(pronounced as “Skal-mold”), meaning”sword-time” is amongst the Valkyries is one of the female figures who decide who will die in battle.
32. Skeggöld(pronounced as “Ske-gold”), meaning”axe-age” who appears in at two poems as a Valkyrie and was one of the powerful female figures.
33. Skögul(pronounced as “Sko-guul”), meaning”shaker” or “high-towering” is one of the Valkyries who appear in Heimskringla.
34. Skuld(pronounced as “Skuld”), meaning“debt” or “future” is a Valkyrie who held the Norn position as the goddess of fate.
35. Sveið(pronounced as “Sveyud”), meaning”vibration” or “noise” is a powerful Valkyrie.
36. Svipu(pronounced as “Svi-poo”), meaning”changeable” is one of the Valkyries about whom much information isn’t provided.
37. Þögn(pronounced as “Pawn”), meaning”silence” is a Valkyrie, found in the Nafnaþulur section attached to the Prose Edda.
38. Þrima(pronounced as “Prima”), meaning “fight” is a Valkyrie, found in the Nafnaþulursection of Skáldskaparmál.
39. Þrúðr (pronounced as “Pruder”), meaning”strength” or “power” is an old Norse Valkyrie who serves ale to the Einherjar in Valhalla.
Mark Bere Peterson’s Hauntings, Urban Legends the Northern Tradition and Southern Witchcraft 