Valhalla - Hall of Fame of the Germanic Nations. Valhalla is a paradise for valiant warriors

Valhalla is a heavenly palace for fallen warriors in German-Scandinavian mythology. Valhalla is located in Asgard (the world or city of the gods) and is a real paradise for the valiant Viking warriors who fought and died with honor in arms.

In the paganism of the Slavs of Ancient Rus', we do not find an exact coincidence with the concept of Valhalla. Perhaps the warriors who fought in battles in Rus' had such an idea and even called the place that was prepared for them in another world with some term, but today nothing is known about this, so Valhalla is a truly unique phenomenon that speaks about such a side of pagan culture that has not been preserved in other countries. In Russian paganism there are concepts of the Upper World, Rule. It is quite possible that Iriy was once imagined by the Slavs as a place where the most worthy warriors ended up, however, there is no reliable evidence of this, but the name “Perun’s Army” came across. Therefore, it is worth considering the German-Scandinavian version of the structure of the Upper World of Asgard and, in particular, Valhalla (Valhalla, Valhalla).

The world for warriors killed in battle is divided into two parts. Some end up in Valhalla (Palace of the Fallen), while others end up in Folkwang (Field of People). Folkvang is ruled by the goddess of war and love, Freya. Folkwang was also a place of honor for warriors, as it was considered a paradise for the strongest and bravest. By the way, the best women also ended up here, and not only warriors. However, it was Valhalla that enjoyed the greatest respect among the warriors. Valhalla is ruled by God Odin. The Supreme God, as well as the father and leader of the Aesir (gods) Odin, sits in the Palace of the Fallen on a throne called Hlidskjalf. From this throne he can see all the worlds and all human affairs. Therefore, it will not be possible to deceive Odin. He sees all the battles and how bravely the warriors fight and how fearlessly they die. After another battle, Odin selects the bravest warriors and sends the Valkyries after them.

Valkyries, which translates from Old Norse as “choosers of the slain,” are spirits or goddesses who soar over the battlefield on winged horses and pick up fallen warriors to take them to Valhalla. The image of the Valkyrie goddesses is undoubtedly very interesting, but we will deal with this in one of the following articles. Warrior maidens, who according to various beliefs number nine or thirteen, collect souls and escort their world of fallen warriors to Odin. Here the warriors enter the Palace of Eternal Pleasures.

There is detailed information about what happens in Valhalla. It is not for nothing that God One gathers the best warriors so that they feast and indulge in various pleasures every day. Brave and fearless warriors here are preparing for the decisive battle, which is known as Ragnarok (the death of the gods and the whole world). Valhalla itself looks like a huge hall that can accommodate a large number of people. This hall has 540 doors, through each of which 800 warriors will emerge on the day of the decisive battle. If you do a simple multiplication, it turns out that there are 432 thousand warriors in Valhalla. The roof of Valhalla consists of gilded shields, which is supported by stakes.

The warrior inhabitants of Valhalla are called Einherjar. Every day, from the very morning, the Einherjar put on armor, train and fight to the death. However, there is no death here and therefore the warriors are resurrected and go hunting for the wild boar of Sehrimnir. After a successful hunt, the boar is cooked in his cauldron by the “cook of Valhalla” Eldhrimnir (Andhrimnir). The boar also does not die, and after the meal it rises again until the next day. The warriors sit down to feast and drink the honey that is used to milk the goat Heidrun. The goat Heidrun lives on the roof of Valhalla and feeds on the leaves of the World Tree Yggdrasil. After the meal, beautiful maidens come to the warriors.

Getting here was the main dream of every warrior and Viking. It was possible to get to a place of pleasures and pleasures that would last until the very end of the world only by being truly brave and fearless. Every Viking, according to these beliefs, had to fight without sparing his strength, and at each battle he had to fight as if for the last time, and die without shame and fear, and always with a sword in his hands. The death of a warrior who at the very last moment lost or dropped his sword was considered a real grief. Then, according to legend, he could not become one of the Einherjars and could no longer meet with God Odin to participate in the very last battle.

“See you again in Valhalla,” the wounded Viking shouted, laughing madly, and rushed into battle, picking up a bloody axe. Ax of a fallen brother. And the Viking was not afraid of death, for he knew that One All-Father was waiting for him.

Hello Friend. My name is Gavrilov Kirill and this is my Northern diary. I am interested in the history, mythology and philosophy of medieval Scandinavia and the entire north in general. You can read about me and my diary.

Now I will tell you about Valhalla or Valhalla, both options are correct and it makes no difference what you call it.

What is and where is Valhalla?

From Old Germanic " Walhall" or Icelandic "Valholl"- a palace or palace of the fallen. To put it as simply as possible, this is a paradise for worthy warriors. Home of the supreme god Odin. A large heavenly palace with high ceilings and wide passages. Brave warriors who fell in battle, after death, end up in Valhalla.

At the very top of the world tree Yggdrasil, above Midgard - the world of mortals, is Asgard - the world of the Scandinavian gods. Valhalla stands on a high hill in the middle of Asgard and proudly rises above everyone. According to another version of the myth, Valhalla is part of Gladsheim, the “Abode of Joy,” the palace of Odin.

What does Valhalla look like and who lives in it?

In the Elder Edda, the heavenly palace is described as a huge structure with a roof of gilded shields and walls of strong battle spears. High ceilings, wide passages and large doors.

Valhalla has five hundred and forty doors and eight hundred warriors will come out of each. In total, the palace can accommodate almost half a million warriors.

In the center of the hall of the fallen is a great hall. In this hall, at a large table, they feast and tell the legends of the Einherjar - the fallen warriors, the sons of Odin. Each Einherjar is considered the adopted son of Odin, which is why he is often called.

The Supreme God and his squad are served by Valkyrie maidens. They distribute the most delicious drink - the honey of the goat Heidrun and the best meat - the boar Senkhrimir. This boar is prepared every day by the cook Andhrimnir, and the next day the animal is reborn again.

Every day, warriors fight each other in mortal combat, honing their fighting skills. Every evening they feast and enjoy songs and heroic stories. Every night they are pleased by beautiful maidens.

How to get to Valhalla

Only the strongest and bravest warriors, who died with dignity in battle, will go to the owner of the halls - Odin. After death, accompanied by the Valkyries, on the way to Valhalla, the Einherjar will be ascended to the entrance - the large high gate.

Having stepped onto the sacred ground and entered them, he will see his fallen brothers, sit on a bench covered with chain mail, in the large main hall, where beautiful music and legendary battle songs flow. He will sit next to the gods and feast and listen to stories about military exploits.

Valhalla in Norse mythology

The heavenly palace is found throughout German-Scandinavian mythology. It is a key and significant place - a meeting place for gods and heroes.

Mentions of Valhalla can be found in:

Younger Edda
Speeches of Greenmere - part of the Elder Edda

Valhalla - illustration to the Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson, 13th century.

Valhalla

The heart is drawn not to home, but to battle,
The soul rejoices before battle!
This is how the Scandinavian hero was born -
He only delights in war!

Let us raise, warriors, cups of wine
To the glory of the upcoming victories!
Our swords were given to us by the All-Father,
Cast from the wrath of the mourners.

Mourning those who fell on the battlefields
Heroes whose wrath is boundless;
He froze in his eyes flickering with vengeance,
The burning soul has become familiar.

Let us raise our cups for sweet revenge,
Yes, we will exchange death for death!
A warrior's honor will not be violated,
We will not tire of defeating our enemies.

Helheim will tremble with moans and pleas
Slain by our weapons;
Even the enemy knows deep pain -
Our anger is merciless and terrible!

Let us raise our cups to the glory of the gods,
Let's sing songs about the Valkyries.
We are ten steps away from Valhalla,
And there - every warrior will be resurrected.

The desire to win is a trait of a brave man,
The Son of the North cannot give up;
He goes to his goal to the end,
It will destroy obstacles in battle!

Let us raise our cups to those who fell in battle,
Who fought bravely and faithfully,
Substituting your chain mail under the sword,
And he gave up his life with dignity!

Let's raise our cups to those who are now
He sits with me in this room.
There is only one hour left before the battle...
Well, we'll meet, friends, in Valhalla!

A little rough and down to earth. Although what could be expected from the harsh northern people - conquerors who consider it an honor to die valiantly on the battlefield? The Vikings were just such warriors. Valhalla, according to their ideas, is paradise, but there is no peace and harmony, kindness and humility familiar to Christians.

What it is?

Valhalla is a heavenly palace where fearless warriors rest after death. This palace is not simple: its roof is made of huge gilded shields, which are supported on all sides by giant spears. There is only one hall inside: you can get into it through 540 gates. All the inhabitants of Valhalla, rising at sunrise, put on armor. A bloody battle begins, which ends only when everyone is completely killed. Then the warriors are resurrected: no trace remains of their mortal wounds. They sit down together at the table and feast until late in the evening.

In German-Scadinavian mythology, Yggdrasil, the Tree of Peace, is often mentioned, which grows in the very center of the Universe and connects all worlds. Its crown is the foundation on which Valhalla rests. This is a kind of foundation on which, in addition to the paradise for the Vikings, other palaces of the divine city of Asgard are located. Among them is the monastery that took in some of the fallen warriors - Folkwang. Also here was the Palace of Bliss - Vingolv - which should survive even after

Inhabitants of Valhalla

Honey dew flows from the very top of the Tree of Peace: bees are circling above its endless flow, collecting nectar. Falling to the ground, it forms a majestic lake in which snow-white and graceful swans swim. The Vikings believed that these birds were magical. It was them that the Valkyries loved to transform into - the main assistants and companions of the supreme god Odin. On the way to Valhalla, fallen warriors invariably met maidens reincarnated as feathered creatures: they escorted the heroes straight to the entrance to paradise - the “Gate of the Dead” (Valgrind).

In mythology, the threshold of Valhalla is described as a shining grove. Unusual trees grow in it: their leaves are made of red gold, which reflect the bright rays of the sun. On the very roof of paradise, made of shields, stands Heidrun, a goat who eats ash leaves and gives intoxicating honey. This drink, flowing from the udder, fills a huge jug, which the feasting warriors empty when they get drunk. Next to the goat stands the deer Eiktyrnir: moisture drips from his oak horns and fills the boiling cauldron - the starting point from which twelve earthly rivers originate.

One

It is under his auspices that Valhalla is located: this is exactly the place where the supreme god waits for warriors killed on the battlefield in order to treat them with delicious food and aromatic wine. Odin himself does not touch food. He sits at the head of the banquet table, slowly sipping wine from a huge glass and throwing huge pieces of meat to two wolves. Their names are Gluttonous and Greedy (Freki and Geri): they happily consume the best parts of the game. Two ravens, the Remembering and the Thinking (Munin and Hugin), comfortably rest on the shoulders of the supreme god. Odin sends these birds to fly around the world: they bring him the latest news and whisper them in his ear. By the way, crows and wolves are animals that feed on corpses, so they became mascots of the god of death.

In one of the corners of Valhalla sits another Fenrir wolf, chained. He is once destined to devour the supreme god himself. Knowing this, Odin, with his only eye, gazes intently into the eyes of the animal. He is trying to find out when that fateful hour will come - the last battle, and all the gods will die. For the same purpose, he travels the worlds on his horse, which has eight legs, Sleipnir.

Valkyries

They meet warriors on their way to Valhalla. Valkyries are maidens who determine the fate of the hero: whether he will fall in battle or not. The names of the warriors directly indicate their occupation: Hild - Battle, Christ - Stunning, Mist - Misty, and so on. Initially, Valkyries were angels of death: they swept over the army, deciding the fate of the fighters. Enjoying the sight of blood and scenes of murder, they chose their victim and took him to Valhalla, where the heroes continued to improve the art of war and enjoy feasts.

Already in late mythology, images of maidens became romantic: they were described as beautiful virgins with white skin, golden hair and huge blue eyes. Former warriors were compared to swans that circled over the battlefield, watering it with tears and dew. Anglo-Saxon legends say that some of the Valkyries were descended from beautiful elves. Others were once ordinary earthly girls, daughters of noble princes: the gods chose them to fulfill an honorable mission.

Threads of Life

The ascension to Valhalla occurred immediately after the man breathed his last. It was no accident that he fell on the battlefield: the question of his future fate was decided by the Valkyries. They said that, being previously ordinary earthly girls, they paid attention to the appearance and luck of the fighter. That is, they took with them only the best, those they liked: young, stately, beautiful, fearless, courageous and noble. That is why laying down one’s head in battle was considered the highest honor for the Vikings. After their death, the heroes were honored as the most worthy, chosen ones.

Valkyries, being maidens of fate, spun the threads of life. But this yarn is terrible: the basis of the fabric was human intestines, instead of weaving tools they had murder weapons - swords, arrows and spears, instead of weights - the skulls of dead people. They themselves decided when to break the yarn and thereby take a person’s life. By the way, once in heaven, the Vikings did not lose heart: during the day they continued to fight, and in the evening they sat down at the festive table, eating the meat of a magic boar.

Odin's Domain

They are huge. The central place is occupied by the same colossally large palace. Just think, it must accommodate all the heroes who have fallen on the battlefield since the beginning of the creation of the world! And there are billions of such fighters. Once in the palace, they are seated at the banquet table in accordance with the feat they performed: the braver the warrior showed himself during the battle, the closer his place is to the throne of the supreme god. By the way, the throne on which Odin sits is called Hlidskjalf, which translated means “cliff, rock.” Usually this name meant the peak from which all existing worlds are visible at a glance.

The hall in which the warriors rest is surrounded by Tund. To get to the celebration, the Vikings have to ford it. A large snake frolics in the water, encircling the world of people with a ring. To get to the heavenly kingdom, the fallen warriors of Valhalla overcome the Bifrost - the rainbow bridge. always met heroes, wearing a golden helmet and armed with a wonderful spear, which always hit the target.

Valhalla today

Nowadays, it has migrated from mythical tales to the human world, acquiring physical forms. Simply put, today Valhalla is a monument dedicated to fallen soldiers. It is located on the steep bank of the Danube in the vicinity of Regensburg and is one of the most majestic and beautiful places in modern Germany. The monument was built in the shape of an ancient temple, reminiscent of the Parthenon. King Ludwig I of Bavaria ordered the construction of the object. According to his plan, Valhalla was to become a monument to soldiers: starting from the battle in the 9th century BC and ending with the century in which the ruler lived.

Valhalla was built in 1842 according to the design of the architect Leo von Klenze. The first 160 people who were immortalized in the Hall were chosen by the king, focusing on their belonging to German culture. Therefore, among them there were not only purebred Germans, but also representatives of Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria, as well as Poland, Russia and the Baltic countries. At the opening of the monument there were 96 busts and 64. Since then, the number of “inhabitants” of Valhalla is constantly replenished with new names.

Valhalla is Germany's Hall of Fame. This complex contains sculptural images of the great sons and daughters of the nation, who became famous in the fields of politics, art, literature, and science.

Walhalla, photo by Monika Haberlein

Valhalla, photo by Erik’s Liberation

Valhalla, photo photowolf

By the time of Ludwig's coronation, 60 busts had been created for the Hall of Fame. Construction of the grandiose building began in 1830.

Valhalla was completed in October 1842. The architect completed the large-scale structure in the ancient Roman style with powerful antique white marble columns and a classic triangular pediment. The friezes of the building are decorated with reliefs with allegorical images of German states and battle scenes. 358 steps lead to the pantheon from the bank of the Danube.

Valhalla, photo by cinxxx

For the opening, 96 busts and 64 memorial plaques were installed in the Hall of Fame (the plaques were dedicated to those people whose lifetime images could not be found). Representatives from different countries are in the Valhalla assembly. Russia is represented by four busts of prominent people, among them the Empress Catherine the Great.

Since the Hall of Fame opened, 32 busts and one commemorative plaque have been added to the collection. The main condition for considering the candidacy of a new hero of Valhalla: at least twenty years must have passed since the date of his death.

Walhalla, photo Rainer Lott / Steffi Esch

Among the illustrious names of the Valhalla assembly approved in recent decades are: Albert Einstein, Johann Brahms, Caroline Gerhardinger, Carl Friedrich Gauss, Heinrich Heine. A separate statue is dedicated to the founder of the Hall of Fame, Ludwig of Bavaria. The “Moon King” sits on a marble throne in the guise of an ancient hero and looks at the embodiment of his great idea.

Walhallastraße 48 93093 Donaustauf, Germany
walhalla-regensburg.de‎

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Valhalla is a heavenly palace for fallen warriors. Valhalla is located in Asgard (the world or city of the gods) and is a real paradise for the valiant Viking warriors who fought and died with honor in arms.

In the paganism of the Slavs of Ancient Rus', we do not find an exact coincidence with the concept of Valhalla. Perhaps the warriors who fought in battles in Rus' had such an idea and even called the place that was prepared for them in another world with some term, but today nothing is known about this, so Valhalla is a truly unique phenomenon that speaks about such a side of pagan culture that has not been preserved in other countries. In Russian paganism there are the concepts of the Upper World, Rule, Navi and (Slavic Paradise). It is quite possible that Iriy was once imagined by the Slavs as a place where the most worthy warriors ended up, but there is no reliable evidence of this. Therefore, it is worth considering the German-Scandinavian version of the structure of the Upper World of Asgard and, in particular, Valhalla (Valhalla, Valhalla).

The world for warriors killed in battle is divided into two parts. Some end up in Valhalla (Palace of the Fallen), while others end up in Folkwang (Human Field). Folkvang is ruled by the goddess of war and love, Freya. Folkwang was also a place of honor for warriors, as it was considered a paradise for the strongest and bravest. By the way, the best women also ended up here, and not only warriors. However, it was Valhalla that enjoyed the greatest respect among the warriors. Valhalla is ruled by the god Odin. The Supreme God, as well as the father and leader of the Aesir (gods) Odin, sits in the Palace of the Fallen on a throne called Hlidskjalf. From this throne he can see all the worlds and all human affairs. Therefore, it will not be possible to deceive Odin. He sees all the battles and how bravely the warriors fight and how fearlessly they die. After another battle, Odin selects the bravest warriors and sends the Valkyries after them.

The warriors of Valhalla are called Einherjar. Every day, from the very morning, the Einherjar put on armor, train and fight to the death. However, there is no death here and therefore the warriors are resurrected and go hunting for the wild boar of Sehrimnir. After a successful hunt, the boar is cooked in his cauldron by the “cook of Valhalla” Eldhrimnir (Andhrimnir). The boar also does not die, and after the meal it rises again until the next day. The warriors sit down to feast, eat boar meat and drink the honey that Heidrun the goat is milked with. The goat Heidrun lives on the roof of Valhalla and feeds on the leaves of the World Tree Yggdrasil. After the meal, beautiful maidens come to the warriors.

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