Valkyrie and a Dying Hero

Illustration

Celina Bebenek
by Hans Makart
published on 08 September 2021
Valkyrie and a Dying Hero Download Full Size Image

A painting portraying a Valkyrie taking care of a dying warrior. Valkyries were key figures in various Norse sagas such as Prose Edda, the Heimskringla and the Njáls Saga. They were maidens whose role was to participate in battles and to decide which warriors should die in battle. They were also known for assisting the souls of such fallen warriors to enter Valhalla. Valhalla was an afterlife location in Norse mythology where the souls of those who died a heroic death on a battlefield enjoyed the blissful company of gods.

The image focuses more on the role of the Valkyrie as a guide of the souls of the warriors. It also alludes to some of the myths in which Valkyries were lovers of humans. The painting was created by the artist Hans Makart and is now located at the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm.

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Cite This Work

APA Style

Makart, H. (2021, September 08). Valkyrie and a Dying Hero. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14595/valkyrie-and-a-dying-hero/

Chicago Style

Makart, Hans. "Valkyrie and a Dying Hero." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified September 08, 2021. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14595/valkyrie-and-a-dying-hero/.

MLA Style

Makart, Hans. "Valkyrie and a Dying Hero." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 08 Sep 2021. Web. 11 Oct 2024.

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