Actually, not everyone who dies in battle goes to Valhalla. Only half those who die in battle go to Valhalla and become einherjar. The other half go to folkvangr which is ruled over by Freyja
That’s the problem, Folkvangr is one of the halls that isn’t well known anymore. So we don’t really know what the function was. One source says love songs are sung there. Also women who die a noble death are allowed into Folkvangr, their not allowed into Valhalla (save the valkyrie who serve mead to the einherjar).
Britt-Mari Nasstrom has theorized that Folkvangr might fill the same role as Valhalla but asks why there would be two places for heroes in the after-life. Freyja is a goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, but she’s also a goddess of war and death. So I think that in there may be the reason why there are two halls of heroes. The heroes taken to Valhalla become the einherjar, whom Odin will lead into battle during Ragnarok. Perhaps the heroes taken to Folkvangr will serve a similar purpose under Freyja.
John Lindow does point out that the Folk and Folkvangr could mean army, so this could be the army of the gods are trained here. Nasstrom has also called Folkvangr a field of warriors so this could also mean these heroes could merely be the army of the gods.
jimcos over 12 years ago
Talk to Zynga about that. Farmville Wars! Remember – you saw it here first!
knight1192a over 12 years ago
Actually, not everyone who dies in battle goes to Valhalla. Only half those who die in battle go to Valhalla and become einherjar. The other half go to folkvangr which is ruled over by Freyja
freeholder1 over 12 years ago
Wouldn’t that apply only to the Kosher cold cuts, Hela?
freeholder1 over 12 years ago
You get 21 of them in Muslim Viking heaven, Doc.
knight1192a over 12 years ago
Uh, the ones the Valkirye don’t pick to go to Valhalla. Only half the warriors who die in battle go to Valhalla, the other half go to Folkvangr.
knight1192a over 12 years ago
That’s the problem, Folkvangr is one of the halls that isn’t well known anymore. So we don’t really know what the function was. One source says love songs are sung there. Also women who die a noble death are allowed into Folkvangr, their not allowed into Valhalla (save the valkyrie who serve mead to the einherjar).
Britt-Mari Nasstrom has theorized that Folkvangr might fill the same role as Valhalla but asks why there would be two places for heroes in the after-life. Freyja is a goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, but she’s also a goddess of war and death. So I think that in there may be the reason why there are two halls of heroes. The heroes taken to Valhalla become the einherjar, whom Odin will lead into battle during Ragnarok. Perhaps the heroes taken to Folkvangr will serve a similar purpose under Freyja.John Lindow does point out that the Folk and Folkvangr could mean army, so this could be the army of the gods are trained here. Nasstrom has also called Folkvangr a field of warriors so this could also mean these heroes could merely be the army of the gods.