“Valkyries” in Icelandic means “Amazons” (56). They are also referred to as “spear-maidens,” or “Sword girl” (5).
Valkyries are said to have wielded “The Fire of Skogul,”a flaming sword in the skaldic tradition (5).
The difference between shield-maidens and Valkyrie is that shield-maidens are mortal and they fight in battles. The Valkyrie are supernatural and they hover over the battle (67).
The Valkyries ability to fly comes in two forms: atop their flying horses or they can transform themselves into birds (7).
Like the stories about Dahomey Amazons, shield-maidens or Valkyrie may have been a type of elite guard (67).
“the Norse would hardly have tried to promote the idea that most people's afterlife would be horrible” (190) in reference to both Hel, daughter of Loki and Hel the place.
