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| Odin's Valkyrie - M. Snyder |
Prehistoric survival required knowledge of
approximate astronomy which was largely based on knowledge of the location of north (Duncan-Enzmann). At one
time true north was not the North Star, but Deneb, the alpha star in Cygnus, the swan constellation in the Milky Way. Cygnus is also the location of the Northern Cross. This constellation is at the root of many
bird mythologies, carried through time with oral tradition, mythologies, and
children’s stories like Mother Goose. The importance of this knowledge was
preserved in symbol and in tradition – feathered cloaks, bird goddesses, and
fairies wings are a few symbolic remnants.
During the Paleolithic Era, 12,500
BC, mythologies and oral tradition began to symbolize the human condition.
Stories about storks bringing babies, swans nurturing and comforting babies and taking their young souls to heaven if they died represented the importance
of these animals in the life-sustaining cycles of the time. These stories
connected birds with true North – Cygnus the Swan. Eider Ducks did comfort babies with warm down, and
geese both comforted and protected young ones - with down feathers, and by
eating dangerous snakes. By 9000 BC, during the Allerød, “mother” swans appear, anthropomorphic creatures created to symbolize the nurturing and
protecting of little ones by nature and mothers. During the Boreal, 6000 BC, the mother-swans became human mothers
with beautiful wings; these zoomorphic creatures
became goddess-like in their cultural role. A thousand years later swan-mothers also
comforted, protected, and escorted the souls of dead, brave young men to
heaven.
By
450 AD, during the Hun wars (pledged
destruction of all Romans/Germans from Iberia to the Urals, ending in Bohemia), these swan-ladies became Valkyries: beautiful
war-like loyal women at the battlefield, fighting alongside the men, taking the
souls of dead soldiers to heaven. Valkyries are associated with the bright rays
of the sun - the Fire of
the Valkyries; this ties them to the Sun-Child. Golden-haired women with dazzling white arms and
armor, they accompanied the brave fighters on the battlefield, riding swift
horses or wolves during conflicts and wars. During more peaceful times,
Valkyries became family-oriented beings who married, had babies, and nurtured
the good.
These
golden haired ladies of the battle became legendary warriors with swords and
spears, and could decide the course of a battle, escorting heroes to Valhalla over Bitfrost (the
rainbow). The heroes received mead (ambrosia) and were dressed in shining robes
which are associated with clouds. Over time Valkyries became the ones to decide
who was slain. Nymphs from Wotan’s (Odin’s) palace, messengers of the gods, and war-leaders,
these beautiful women incited heroes to battle by their love and bravery,
guided the soldiers, and tended to the wounded and the souls of the dead. They
became known as Odin’s Warriors of Asgard (now lake Azov, north of the
Black Sea), and are often compared with the more recent Amazon
women, although by reputation Valkyries were less cruel.
((A note about the origin of the Amazons: During wars, women and girls were captured
and taken to breeding facilities called bitch-barns. The males were either
killed or castrated and enslaved; the young boys were sometimes sacrificed to
Moloch. The captive women revolted, uniting
together to form a militia of fighting women. They rescued those they could.
Over time they gained the reputation of strength; rumored to be cruel to their
enemies, they became a powerful matriarchal culture. The origin of the word lesbian
is from Lesbos - their home).
During centuries when the Church was struggling to
gain power and unite straggling, diverse religious beliefs, many symbols and
mythologies of prior millennia were changed, eliminated, or adopted for
Christian mythology.
Harpies appear about 300 AD, a result of the hatred of Valkyries by the
Christian culture and, along with Pandora’s Box, they became purveyors of fear and evil. The beautiful
brave Valkyries of the battlefield became the fearsome Harpies – winged, evil
monsters with the bodies of birds, the heads of women, sharp claws, and a foul
smell, who tormented souls with spite. The name harpie means snatcher,
and they supplied the Underworld with souls of
those who died before their time. Harpies - storm goddesses - were robbers and
spoilers raging over battlefields, carrying off weak and wounded, and stealing
children. Originally imaged as beautiful, winged goddesses (the Valkyries), they
became monsters – half-birds, half-females. Angels became, in Christian
mythology, what the Valkyries were for the goddess cultures.
Winged and now male, angels are
messengers of the gods, protectors of the innocent, escorting the souls of the
righteous to heaven. One scripture does mention females with wings:
“Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold,
there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings
like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and
the heaven.” (Zechariah 5:9). There is an interesting connection here between
storks, women, wind, and Odin’s Valkyries. In some
mythologies Valkyries maintain their ancient honor and duties.
Michelle Paula Snyder
Michelle Snyder is a professor of mythology, and an author, publisher, speaker, and artist. She did her post-graduate research at the University of Wales, decoding ancient and prehistoric symbolism, mythology, folklore, and fairy tales. Her artwork has appeared in galleries from Massachusetts to California. Michelle is co-owner of White Knight Studio and founder of FREA.
Symbologist Michelle Snyder
Non-Fiction - Symbology:
Symbology: Decoding Classic Images
Symbology: Decoding Symbols through History
Symbology: Fairy Tales Uncovered
Symbology: Art and Symbols
Symbology: Hidden in Plain Sight
Symbology: ReVision
Symbology: World of Symbols
Symbology: Secrets of the Mermaids
Michelle Paula Snyder
Fiction – Fantasy Wonder Tales:
The Fairy Tales: Once Upon a Time Lessons, First Book
Call of the Dragon and other Tales of Wonder
A Tale of Three Kingdoms, book one: The Lost Unicorn
A Tale of Three Kingdoms, book two The Lost Mermaid
A Tale of Three Kingdoms, book three The Lost Dragon
