Norse mythology Norse, Nordic, or Scandinavian mythology, is the body of myths belonging to the North Germanic peoples, stemming from Old Norse religion and continuing after the Christianization of Scandinavia as the Nordic folklore of the modern period. The ...

, Skögul (

Old Norse Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants ...

: ''Skǫgul'', "shaker"Orchard (1997:194). or possibly "high-towering"Davidson (1988:96).) and Geirskögul (Old Norse: ''Geirskǫgul'', "spear-skögul"Orchard (1997:193).) are

valkyrie In Norse mythology, a valkyrie ( or ; from ) is one of a host of female figures who guide souls of the dead to the god Odin's hall Valhalla. There, the deceased warriors become ('single fighters' or 'once fighters').Orchard (1997:36) and Li ...

s who alternately appear as separate or individual figures. Both valkyries appear in ''

Heimskringla () is the best known of the Old Norse kings' sagas. It was written in Old Norse in Iceland. While authorship of ''Heimskringla'' is nowhere attributed, some scholars assume it is written by the Icelandic poet and historian Snorri Sturluson (117 ...

'' where they seem to be the same being, and are otherwise listed separately in the valkyrie lists in the ''

Poetic Edda The ''Poetic Edda'' is the modern name for an untitled collection of Old Norse anonymous narrative poems in alliterative verse. It is distinct from the closely related ''Prose Edda'', although both works are seminal to the study of Old Norse ...

'' poems ''

Völuspá ''Völuspá'' (also ''Vǫluspá'', ''Vǫlospá'', or ''Vǫluspǫ́''; Old Norse: 'Prophecy of the völva, a seeress') is the best known poem of the ''Poetic Edda''. It dates back to the tenth century and tells the story from Norse Mythology of ...

'' and ''

Grímnismál ''Grímnismál'' (Old Norse: ; 'The Lay of Grímnir') is one of the mythological poems of the '' Poetic Edda''. It is preserved in the Codex Regius manuscript and the AM 748 I 4to fragment. It is spoken through the voice of ''Grímnir'', one ...

'', the longer of the two valkyrie lists in ''

Skáldskaparmál ''Skáldskaparmál'' (Old Norse: 'Poetic Diction' or 'The Language of Poetry'; ; ) is the second part of the ''Prose Edda'', compiled by Snorri Sturluson. It consists of a dialogue between Ægir, the divine personification of the sea, and Bra ...

'' yet Skögul appears alone in the shorter of the two. Skögul appears in

kenning A kenning ( Icelandic: ) is a figure of speech, a figuratively-phrased compound term that is used in place of a simple single-word noun. For instance, the Old English kenning () means , as does (). A kenning has two parts: a base-word (a ...

s but Geirskögul does not.

Attestations

''Heimskringla''

In ''

Hákonarmál ''Hákonarmál'' (Old Norse: 'The Song of Hákon') is a skaldic poem which the skald Eyvindr skáldaspillir composed about the fall of the Norwegian king Hákon the Good at the battle of Fitjar and his reception in Valhalla. This poem emulates ...

'',

Odin Odin (; from ) is a widely revered god in Norse mythology and Germanic paganism. Most surviving information on Odin comes from Norse mythology, but he figures prominently in the recorded history of Northern Europe. This includes the Roman Em ...

sends forth the two valkyries

Göndul In Norse mythology, Göndul (Old Norse: ''Gǫndul'', "wand-wielder"Orchard (1997:194).) is a valkyrie. Göndul is attested in ''Heimskringla'', ''Sörla þáttr'', and a 14th-century Norwegian charm. In addition, Göndul appears within the valkyrie ...

and Skögul to "choose among the kings' kinsmen" and decide who in battle should dwell with Odin in

Valhalla In Norse mythology, Valhalla ( , ; , )Orchard (1997:171–172) is described as a majestic hall located in Asgard and presided over by the god Odin. There were five possible realms the soul could travel to after death. The first was Fólkvang ...

. A battle rages with great slaughter, and part of the description employs the kenning "Skögul's-stormblast" for "battle". Haakon and his men die in battle, and they see the valkyrie Göndul leaning on a spear shaft. Göndul comments that "groweth now the gods' following, since Hákon has been with host so goodly bidden home with holy godheads." Haakon hears "what the valkyries said," and the valkyries are described as sitting "high-hearted on horseback," wearing helmets, carrying shields and that the horses wisely bore them.Hollander (2007:125). A brief exchange follows between Haakon and the valkyrie Skögul:

:''Hákon said:'' :"Why didst Geirskogul grudge us victory? :though worthy we were for the gods to grant it?" :''Skogul said:'' :"'Tis owing to us that the issue was won : and your foemen fled."Hollander (2007:126).

Skögul says that they shall now ride forth to the "green homes of the godheads" to tell Odin the king will come to Valhalla. The poem continues, and Haakon becomes a part of the Einherjar in Valhalla, awaiting to do battle with the monstrous wolf

Fenrir Fenrir (Old Norse 'fen-dweller')Orchard (1997:42). or Fenrisúlfr (Old Norse "Fenrir's wolf", often translated "Fenris-wolf"),Simek (2007:81). also referred to as Hróðvitnir (Old Norse "fame-wolf")Simek (2007:160). and Vánagandr (Old Nors ...

.Hollander (2007:126–127).

Kennings

The name Skögul is common as a valkyrie name in kennings. Examples include: :borð Sköglar "board of Skögul" (shield) :dynr Sköglar "din of Skögul" (battle, e.g. in ''

Glymdrápa ''Glymdrápa'' ("''Drápa'' of din") is a Skaldic poetry, skaldic poem composed by Þorbjörn Hornklofi, the court poet of King Harald I of Norway (''Haraldr hárfagri''). Composed toward the end of the 9th century, the poem recounts several battle ...

'') :eldr Sköglar "fire of Skögul" (sword) :gagl Sköglar "gosling of Skögul" (raven) :kápa Sköglar "cape of Skögul" (byrnie) :veðr Sköglar "wind of Skögul" (battle, e.g. in ''

'') Battle analytical glossary
/ref> The name Geirskögul does not appear in kennings, perhaps because trisyllabic names are somewhat difficult to handle in the

dróttkvætt Old Norse poetry encompasses a range of verse forms written in the Old Norse language, during the period from the 8th century to as late as the far end of the 13th century. Old Norse poetry is associated with the area now referred to as Scandinav ...

meter.

Theories

According to

Hilda Ellis Davidson Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson (born Hilda Roderick Ellis; 1 October 1914 – 12 January 2006) was an English folklorist. She was a scholar at the University of Cambridge and The Folklore Society, and specialized in the study of Celtic and G ...

, if ''Skögul'' means "high-towering", the name "might be a reference to the gigantic size of these beings."

Notes

References

* Davidson, Hilda Roderick Ellis (1988). ''Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions''.

Manchester University Press Manchester University Press is the university press of the University of Manchester, England, and a publisher of academic books and journals. Manchester University Press has developed into an international publisher. It maintains its links with t ...

. * Hollander, Lee Milton (1980). ''Old Norse Poems: The Most Important Nonskaldic Verse Not Included in the Poetic Edda''. Forgotten Books. * Orchard, Andy (1997). ''Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend''. Cassell. {{DEFAULTSORT:Skogul and Geirskogul Valkyries