Random thought ... Valhalla

[casaubon]

It's all very well having a wonderful afterlife for warriors who die in battle, but the very nature of the entry requirements means that it'll fill up with all the losers. All the really competent, tactically adept, and just plain lucky warriors won't be dying in a muddy field, they'll be the one's going home with the loot

Comments

[saare_snowqueen]

This is a very wise observation.

[casaubon]

I expect that the actual mythology was a little more nuanced. And there seems to have been a loophole for legendary heroes who died in their beds. :)

[saare_snowqueen]

I expect the actual reality is more nuanced as well. Norse mythology is like Christian hagiography - a made up version of what the creators (of the myths and saints lives) wanted us to think of their saints and heroes.

[4thofeleven]

Not really - the Valkyries decide who will be slain in battle, so if you get hacked to death by mistake, its presumably because they interfered, having decided you're worthy of Valhalla and will be needed at Ragnarok...

Or, at least, that's what Odin tells the fallen warriors when they arrive.

[casaubon]

I guess that's a great consolation. :)
But to those left alive, it must seem odd that the Valkyries (on average) picked the worst fighters from each battle. Gods, and their servants, clearly move in mysterious ways.

[donnickcottage]

Lol. Just daydreaming huh?

[casaubon]

At the moment, I can either daydream or cut the hedge. And I don't fancy cutting the hedge. :)

[donnickcottage]

I think they call this going far afield to avoid the inevitable :p