The Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas on Brunhild

Contents > Chapter Xviii: The Valkyrs

• attestation: Three Valkyrs — Olrun, Alvit, and Svanhvit — were captured while bathing by the three brothers Egil, Slagfinn, and Volund (Wayland the smith), who secured their swan plumage; they lived with them nine years before escaping.

  "three of the Valkyrs, Olrun, Alvit, and Svanhvit, were once sporting in the waters, when suddenly the three brothers Egil, Slagfinn, and Vólund, or Wayland the smith, came upon them, and securing their swan plumage, the young men forced them to remain upon earth and become their wives. The Valkyrs, thus detained, remained with their husbands nine years, but at the end of that time, recovering their plumage, or the spell being broken in some other way, they effected their escape."

• attestation: Brunhild's story in various versions describes her as the daughter of a king brought into Odin's Valkyr band, or as the chief Valkyr and daughter of Odin himself.

  "Some versions describe the heroine as the daughter of a king taken by Odin to serve in his Valkyr band, others as chief of the Valkyrs and daughter of Odin himself."

Contents > Chapter Xxvi: The Sigurd Saga

• attestation: Brunhild was a valkyrie punished by Odin with banishment and sleep for disobeying him in battle; she was surrounded by flames on Hindfell to await the hero who could rescue her.

  "In punishment for this act of disobedience, she had been deprived of her office and banished to earth, where Allfather decreed she should wed like any other member of her sex... Odin took her to Hindarfiall or Hindfell, and touching her with the Thorn of Sleep, that she might await in unchanged youth and beauty the coming of her destined husband, he surrounded her with a barrier of flame which none but a hero would venture through."

Contents > Chapter Xxix: Greek And Northern Mythologies

• comparison: Brunhild resembles Minerva in martial tastes and wisdom; her anger when Sigurd forgets her for Gudrun parallels Oenone's wrath when Paris abandons her for Helen.

  "Brunhild resembles Minerva in her martial tastes, physical appearance, and wisdom; but her anger and resentment when Sigurd forgets her for Gudrun is like the wrath of OEnone, whom Paris deserts to woo Helen"

• comparison: Both Brunhild and Oenone insist on sharing their lovers' funeral pyres and ending their own lives alongside those they loved.

  "OEnone and Brunhild are both overcome by the same remorseful feelings when their lovers have breathed their last, and both insist upon sharing their funeral pyres, and end their lives by the side of those whom they had loved"