Valkyries are attested in the Poetic Edda (a book of poems compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources), the Prose Edda, the Heimskringla (both by Snorri Sturluson) and the Njáls saga (one of the Sagas of Icelanders), all written-or compiled-in the 13th century. Valkyries also appear as lovers of heroes and other mortals, where they are sometimes described as the daughters of royalty, sometimes accompanied by ravens and sometimes connected to swans or horses. When the einherjar are not preparing for the events of Ragnarök, the valkyries bear them mead. There, the deceased warriors become einherjar ( Old Norse 'single (or once) fighters' ).
Selecting among half of those who die in battle (the other half go to the goddess Freyja's afterlife field Fólkvangr), the valkyries take their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin. In Norse mythology, a valkyrie ( / v æ l ˈ k ɪər i, - ˈ k aɪ r i, v ɑː l-, ˈ v æ l k ər i/ from Old Norse valkyrja, 'chooser of the slain') is one of a host of female figures who choose those who may die in battle and those who may live. The 'valkyrie from Hårby', silver-gilt figurine depicting a female with a sword and shield, often interpreted to be a valkyrie
