Dark Sentiments Season 10 — Day 19: Who Gets Into Valhalla?
Posted By Randy on October 19, 2019
The Ride of the Valkyrie (1890), William T. Maud (British, 1865 – 1903)
I first introduced expert in all things Old Norse, Dr. Jackson Crawford, in last February’s A Long Winter’s Night — Ascent to Spring Edition: The Cowboy Hávamál.
We already know HOW you get into Valhalla — the hard way. Tonight he’s back with the answer to that other burning question — WHO gets into Valhalla?
The preamble from the Goode Doctor’s YouTube channel —
“Medieval Norse sources never indicate that anyone except men who die in battle go to Valholl (Valhalla) after death. And yet many people today believe that women who died in childbirth were thought to go to Valholl as well. In this video, Old Norse expert Dr. Jackson Crawford looks at why this mistaken belief might have gained ground in the 20th and 21st centuries.”
Mead may seem formulaic for tonight’s tipple, but pour some anyway.
Jackson Crawford has an extraordinary output and thanks to this Dark Sentiments, I am now aware of him, His output is noticeably extensive.
Would have to delve into this subject but the idea that the only way into Valhalla is to have died in battle. No women! Unless I missed something at a middle of the night viewing.
According to the illustrious Encyclopedia Brittanica:
“Valhalla, Old Norse Valhöll, in Norse mythology, the hall of slain warriors, who live there blissfully under the leadership of the god Odin. Valhalla is depicted as a splendid palace, roofed with shields, where the warriors feast on the flesh of a boar slaughtered daily and made whole again each evening. They drink liquor that flows from the udders of a goat, and their sport is to fight one another every day.
“Thus they will live until the Ragnarök (Doomsday), when they will march out the 540 doors of the palace to fight at the side of Odin against the giants. When heroes fall in battle it is said that Odin needs them to strengthen his forces for the Ragnarök.”
Non-stop action, but sadly, none of it seems to involve nookie.