In Norse mythology, Herfjötur (Old Norse: Herfjǫtur, "war-fetter",[1] "host-fetter"[2] or "fetter of the army"[3]) is a valkyrie. Herfjötur is attested as among the 13 valkyries listed in the Poetic Edda poem Grímnismál, and in the longer of the two Nafnaþulur lists found in the Prose Edda.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/The_Ride_of_the_Valkyrs.jpg/220px-The_Ride_of_the_Valkyrs.jpg)
Rudolf Simek says the name is kenning-like and that the name likely refers to the "fortune determining function of the valkyries especially in battle."[3] Simek points to a connection between the name and the idisi mentioned in one of the two Merseburg Incantations and says that "these Idisi are obviously a kind of valkyrie, as these also have the power to hamper enemies in Norse mythology."[4]
Notes edit
References edit
- Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-34520-2
- Simek, Rudolf (2007) translated by Angela Hall. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. D.S. Brewer ISBN 0-85991-513-1