Editing Einherjar

{{Short description|Dead warriors of Norse mythology}}
{{about|ghostly warriors in Norse mythology|the band|Einherjer|the sports club|Einherji}}
[[Image:Walhall by Emil Doepler.jpg|thumb|''Valhalla'' (1905) by [[Emil Doepler]]]]

In [[Norse mythology]], the '''einherjar''' (singular '''einheri'''; literally "army of one", "those who fight alone")<ref>Simek, Rudolf (1993). ''Dictionary of Northern Mythology''. Translated by Angela Hall. p. 71.</ref><ref name=ORCHARD36LINDOW104>Orchard (1997:36) and Lindow (2001:104).</ref> are those who have died in battle and are brought to [[Valhalla]] by [[valkyrie]]s. In Valhalla, the einherjar eat their fill of the nightly resurrecting beast [[Sæhrímnir]], and valkyries bring them [[mead]] from the udder of the goat [[Heiðrún]]. The einherjar prepare daily for the events of [[Ragnarök]], when they will advance for an immense battle at the field of [[Vígríðr]].

The einherjar are attested in the ''[[Poetic Edda]]'', compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, the ''[[Prose Edda]]'', written in the 13th century by [[Snorri Sturluson]], the poem ''[[Hákonarmál]]'' (by the 10th century [[skald]] [[Eyvindr skáldaspillir]]) as collected in ''[[Heimskringla]]'', and a stanza of an anonymous 10th century poem commemorating the death of [[Eric Bloodaxe]] known as ''[[Eiríksmál]]'' as compiled in ''[[Fagrskinna]]''.

An [[etymology|etymological]] connection exists between the einherjar and the [[Harii]], a [[Germanic people]] or figures from early Germanic folklore attested in the 1st century AD, and scholars have connected the einherjar to the eternal battle of [[Hjaðningavíg]] and the [[Wild Hunt]]. The einherjar have been the subject of works of art and poetry.

==Attestations==
===''Poetic Edda''===
[[Image:Hild, Thrud and Hløkk by Frølich.jpg|thumb|Three valkyries bearing ale in Valhalla (1895) by [[Lorenz Frølich]]]]
In the poem ''[[Vafþrúðnismál]]'', [[Odin|Óðinn]] engages the wise [[jötunn]] [[Vafþrúðnir]] in a game of wits. Disguised as ''[[List of names of Odin|Gagnráðr]]'', Óðinn asks Vafþrúðnir  "where men fight in courts every day." Vafþrúðnir responds that (here ''einherjar'' is translated as ''einheriar''):

{{poemquote|All the Einheriar fight in Odin's courts
every day;
they choose the slain and ride from battle;
then they sit more at peace together.<ref name=LARRINGTON46>Larrington (1999:46).</ref>}}

In the poem ''[[Grímnismál]]'', Óðinn (disguised as ''[[List of names of Odin|Grímnir]]'') tells the young [[Agnarr Geirröðsson]] that the cook [[Andhrímnir]] boils the beast [[Sæhrímnir]], which he refers to as "the best of pork", in the container [[Eldhrímnir]], yet adds that "but few know by what the einheriar are nourished."<ref name=LARRINGTON54>Larrington (1999:54).</ref> Further into ''Grímnismál'', Odin gives a list of valkyries (Skeggjöld, Skögul, Hildr, [[Þrúðr]], Hlökk, Herfjötur, Göll, Geirahöð, Randgríð, Ráðgríð, and Reginleif), and states that they bear ale to the einherjar.<ref name=LARRINGTON57>Larrington (1999:57).</ref> Towards the end of the poem, another reference to the einherjar appears when Óðinn tells the king [[Geirröd]] (unaware that the man he has been torturing is Óðinn) that Geirröd is drunk, and that Geirröd loses much when he loses his favor and the favor of "all the Einherjar."<ref name=LARRINGTON59>Larrington (1999:59).</ref>

In the poem ''[[Helgakviða Hundingsbana I]]'', the hero [[Sinfjötli]] [[flyting|flyts]] with Guðmundur. Sinfjötli accuses Guðmundur of having once been a female, including that he was "a witch, horrible, unnatural, among Odin's valkyries" and that all of the einherjar "had to fight, headstrong women, on your account".<ref name=LARRINGTON119>Larrington (1999:119)</ref>

===''Prose Edda''===
[[Image:Valkyrie (1834-1835) by H. W. Bissen.jpg|thumb|"Valkyrie" (1834–1835) by [[Herman Wilhelm Bissen]]]]
In the ''Prose Edda'' book ''[[Gylfaginning]]'', the einherjar are introduced in chapter 20. In chapter 20, [[High, Just-As-High, and Third|Third]] tells [[Gylfi|Gangleri]] (described as king [[Gylfi]] in disguise) that Óðinn is called ''Valföðr'' (Old Norse "father of the slain") "since all those who fall in battle are his adopted sons," and that Óðinn assigns them places in Valhalla and [[Vingólf]] where they are known as einherjar.<ref name=FAULKES21>Faulkes (1995:21).</ref> In chapter 35, [[High, Just-As-High, and Third|High]] quotes the ''Grímnismál'' valkyrie list, and says that these valkyries wait in Valhalla, and there serve drink, and look after tableware and drinking vessels in Valhalla. In addition, High says that Óðinn sends valkyries to every battle, that they allot death to men, and govern victory.<ref name=FAULKES31>Faulkes (1995:31).</ref>

In chapter 38, High provides more detail about the einherjar. Gangleri says that "you say that all those men that have fallen in battle since the beginning of the world have now come to Odin in Val-hall. What has he got to offer them food? I should have thought that there must be a pretty large number there." High replies that it is true there are a pretty large number of men there, adding many more have yet to arrive, yet that "there will seem too few when [[Fenrir|the wolf]] comes." However, High adds that food is not a problem because there will never be too many people in Valhalla that the meat of Sæhrímnir (which he calls a [[boar]]) cannot sufficiently feed. High says that Sæhrímnir is cooked every day by the cook Andhrímnir in the pot Eldhrimnir, and is again whole every evening. High then quotes the stanza of ''Grímnismál'' mentioning the cook, meal, and container in reference.<ref name=FAULKES32>Faulkes (1995:32).</ref>

Further into chapter 38, Gangleri asks if Óðinn consumes the same meals as the einherjar. High responds that Óðinn gives the food on his table to his two wolves [[Geri and Freki]], and that Óðinn himself needs no food, for Óðinn gains sustenance from wine as if it were drink and meat. High then quotes another stanza from ''Grímnismál'' in reference. In chapter 39, Gangleri asks what the einherjar drink that is as plentiful as their food, and if they drink water. High responds that it is strange that Gangleri is asking if Óðinn, the All-Father, would invite kings, earls, and other "men of rank" to his home and give them water to drink. High says that he "swears by his faith" that many who come to Valhalla would think that he paid a high price for a drink of water if there were no better beverages there, after having died of wounds and in agony. High continues that atop Valhalla stands the [[goat]] [[Heiðrún]], and it feeds on the foliage of the tree called [[Læraðr]]. From Heiðrún's [[udder]]s flow [[mead]] that fills a vat a day. The vat is so large that all of the einherjar are able to drink to their fullness from it.<ref name=FAULKES33>Faulkes (1995:33).</ref>

In chapter 40, Gangleri says that Valhalla must be an immense building, yet it must often be crowded around the doorways. High responds that there are plenty of doors, and that crowding doesn't occur around them. In support, High again quotes a stanza from ''Grímnismál''. In chapter 41, Gangleri notes that there are very many people in Valhalla, and that Óðinn is a "very great lord when he commands such a troop". Gangleri then asks what entertainment the einherjar have when they're not drinking. High responds that every day, the einherjar get dressed and "put on war-gear and go out into the courtyard and fight each other and fall upon each other. This is their sport." High says that when dinner time arrives, the einherjar ride back to Valhalla and sit down to drink. In reference, High quotes a stanza from ''Grímnismál''.<ref name=FAULKES34>Faulkes (1995:34).</ref>

In chapter 51, High foretells the events of Ragnarök. After the god [[Heimdallr]] awakens all the gods by blowing his horn [[Gjallarhorn]], they will assemble at a [[Thing (assembly)|thing]], Óðinn will ride to the well [[Mímisbrunnr]] and consult [[Mímir]] on behalf of himself and his people, the world tree [[Yggdrasil]] will shake, and then the [[Æsir]] and the einherjar will don their war gear. The Æsir and einherjar will ride to the field [[Vígríðr]] while Óðinn rides before them clad in a golden helmet, mail, and holding his spear [[Gungnir]], and heading towards the wolf Fenrir.<ref name=FAULKES54>Faulkes (1995:54).</ref> 

In chapter 52, Gangleri asks what will happen after the heavens, earth, and all of the world are burned and the gods, einherjar and all of mankind have died, noting that he had previously been told that "everyone will live in some world or other for ever and ever." High replies with a list of locations, and then describes the re-emerging of the world after Ragnarök.<ref name=FAULKES55-56>Faulkes (1995:55–56).</ref> The einherjar receive a final mention in the ''Prose Edda'' in chapter 2 of the book ''[[Skáldskaparmál]]'', where a quote from the anonymous 10th century poem ''[[Eiríksmál]]'' is provided (see the '' Fagrskinna'' section below for more detail and another translation from another source):

{{poemquote|What sort of dream is that, Odin?
I dreamed I rose up before dawn
to clear up Val-hall for slain people.
I aroused the Einheriar,
bade them get up to strew the benches,
clean the beer-cups,
the valkyries to serve wine
for the arrival of a prince.<ref name=FAULKES69>Faulkes (1995:69).</ref>}}

===''Heimskringla''===
[[Image:Heimdallr and valkyries by Frølich.jpg|thumb|An illustration of valkyries encountering the god [[Heimdallr]] as they carry a dead man to Valhalla (1906) by [[Lorenz Frølich]]]]
At the end of the ''[[Heimskringla]]'' saga ''[[Hákonar saga góða]]'', the poem ''[[Hákonarmál]]'' (by the 10th century [[skald]] [[Eyvindr skáldaspillir]]) is presented. The saga relates that king [[Haakon I of Norway]] died in battle, and yet though he is Christian, he requests that since he has died "among heathens, then give me such burial place as seems most fitting to you." The saga relates that, shortly after, Haakon died on the same slab of rock that he was born upon, that he was greatly mourned by friend and foe alike, and that his friends moved his body northward to Sæheim in North [[Hordaland]]. Haakon was there buried in a large burial mound in full armor and his finest clothing, yet with no other valuables. Further, "words were spoken over his grave according to the custom of heathen men, and they put him on the way to Valhalla." The poem ''Hákonarmál'' is then provided.<ref name="HOLLANDER124-125">Hollander (2007:124–125).</ref>

In ''Hákonarmál'', Óðinn sends forth the two valkyries Göndul and Skögul to "choose among the kings' kinsmen" and who in battle should dwell with Óðinn in Valhalla. A battle rages with great slaughter. Haakon and his men die in battle, and they see the valkyrie Göndul leaning on a spear shaft. Göndul comments that "groweth now the gods' following, since Hákon has been with host so goodly bidden home with holy godheads." Haakon hears "what the valkyries said," and the valkyries are described as sitting "high-hearted on horseback," wearing helmets, carrying shields and that the horses wisely bore them.<ref name="HOLLANDER125">Hollander (2007:125).</ref> A brief exchange follows between Haakon and the valkyrie Skögul:

{{poemquote|
:''Hákon said:''
'Why didst Geirskogul grudge us victory?
though worthy we were for the gods to grant it?'
:''Skogul said:''
'Tis owing to us that the issue was won
and your foemen fled.'<ref name="HOLLANDER126">Hollander (2007:126).</ref>}}

Skögul says that they shall now ride forth to the "green homes of the godheads" to tell Óðinn that the king will come to Valhalla. In Valhalla, Haakon is greeted by [[Hermóðr]] and [[Bragi]]. Haakon expresses concern that he shall receive Óðinn's hate ([[Lee Hollander]] theorizes this may be due to Haakon's conversion to Christianity from his Norse religion), yet Bragi responds that he is welcome:

{{poemquote|'All einheriar shall swear oaths to thee:
share thou the Æsir's ale, thou enemy-of-earls!
Here within hast thou brethren eight,' said Bragi.<ref name=HOLLANDER126>Hollander (2007:126).</ref>}}

===''Fagrskinna''===
In chapter 8 of ''[[Fagrskinna]]'', a prose narrative states that, after the death of her husband [[Eric Bloodaxe]], [[Gunnhild Mother of Kings]] had a poem composed about him. The composition is by an anonymous author from the 10th century and is referred to as ''[[Eiríksmál]]'', and describes Eric Bloodaxe and five other kings arriving in Valhalla after their death. The poem begins with comments by Óðinn:

{{poemquote|'What kind of a dream is it,' said Óðinn,
'in which just before daybreak,
I thought I cleared Valhǫll,
for coming of slain men?
I waked the Einherjar,
bade valkyries rise up,
to strew the bench,
and scour the beakers,

wine to carry,
as for a king's coming,
here to me I expect
heroes' coming from the world,
certain great ones,
so glad is my heart.'<ref name=FINLAY58>Finlay (2004:58).</ref>}}

The god Bragi asks where a thundering sound is coming from, and says that the benches of Valhalla are creaking—as if the god Baldr had returned to Valhalla—and that it sounds like the movement of a thousand. Óðinn responds that Bragi knows well that the sounds are for Eric Bloodaxe, who will soon arrive in Valhalla. Óðinn tells the heroes [[Sigmund]] and [[Sinfjötli]] to rise to greet Eric and invite him into the hall, if it is indeed he.<ref name=FINLAY59>Finlay (2004:59).</ref>

Sigmund asks Óðinn why he would expect Eric more than any other king, to which Óðinn responds that Eric has reddened his gore-drenched sword with many other lands. Eric arrives, and Sigmund greets him, tells him that he is welcome to come into the hall, and asks him what other lords he has brought with him to Valhalla. Eric says that with him are five kings, that he will tell them the name of them all, and that he, himself, is the sixth.<ref name=FINLAY59/>

==Theories and proposed etymological connections==
[[Image:Tangelgarda Odin.jpg|thumb|The 8th-century [[Tängelgårda stone]] depicts a figure leading a troop of warriors all bearing rings. [[Valknut]] symbols appear beneath his horse.]]

According to [[John Lindow]], Andy Orchard, and [[Rudolf Simek]], scholars have commonly connected the einherjar to the [[Harii]], a [[Germanic peoples|Germanic tribe]] attested by [[Tacitus]] in his 1st-century AD work ''[[Germania (book)|Germania]]''.<ref name=LINDOW104-105>Lindow (2001:104–105).</ref><ref name=ORCHARD36>Orchard (1997:36).</ref><ref name=SIMEK71>Simek (2007:71).
</ref>
Tacitus writes:

<blockquote>
:As for the Harii, quite apart from their strength, which exceeds that of the other tribes I have just listed, they pander to their innate savagery by skill and timing: with black shields and painted bodies, they choose dark nights to fight, and by means of terror and shadow of a ghostly army they cause panic, since no enemy can bear a sight so unexpected and hellish; in every battle the eyes are the first to be conquered.<ref name=ORCHARD36/>
</blockquote>

Lindow says that "many scholars think there may be basis for the myth in an ancient Odin cult, which would be centered on young warriors who entered into an ecstatic relationship with Odin and that the name ''Harii'' has been [[etymology|etymologically]] connected to the ''-herjar'' element of ''einherjar''.<ref name=LINDOW104-105/> Simek says that since the connection has become widespread, "one tends to interpret these obviously living armies of the dead as religiously motivated bands of warriors, who led to the formation of the concept of the ''einherjar'' as well as the [[Wild Hunt]] [...]". Simek continues that the notion of an eternal battle and daily resurrection appears in book I of [[Saxo Grammaticus]]' ''[[Gesta Danorum]]'' and in reports of the eternal battle of [[Hjaðningavíg]].<ref name=SIMEK71/>

According to [[Guðbrandur Vigfússon]] (1874), the concept of the einherjar links directly to the Old Norse name ''[[Einar]]r''. Vigfússon comments that "the name Einarr is properly = einheri", and points to a relation to the term with the Old Norse common nouns ''einarðr'' (meaning "bold") and ''einörð'' (meaning "valour").<ref name=VIGFUSSON121>Vigfusson (1874:121).</ref>

==See also==

{{wiktionary}}
* [[Fólkvangr]], afterlife field of the goddess [[Freyja]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* Faulkes, Anthony (Trans.) (1995). ''Edda''. [[Everyman's Library|Everyman]]. {{ISBN|0-460-87616-3}}
* Finlay, Alison (2004). ''Fagrskinna, a Catalogue of the Kings of Norway: A Translation with Introduction and Notes''. [[Brill Publishers]]. {{ISBN|90-04-13172-8}}
* Larrington, Carolyne (Trans.) (1999). ''The Poetic Edda''. [[Oxford World's Classics]]. {{ISBN|0-19-283946-2}}
* [[John Lindow|Lindow, John]] (2001). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=KlT7tv3eMSwC Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs]''. [[Oxford University Press]]. {{ISBN|0-19-515382-0}}
* Hollander, Lee Milton (Trans.) (2007). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=qHpwje7-wNkC&q=Heimskringla:+History+of+the+Kings+of+Norway Heimskringla: History of the Kings of Norway]''. [[University of Texas Press]] {{ISBN|978-0-292-73061-8}}
* Orchard, Andy (1997). ''Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend''. [[Orion Publishing Group|Cassell]]. {{ISBN|0-304-34520-2}}
* Simek, Rudolf (2007) translated by Angela Hall. ''Dictionary of Northern Mythology''. [[Boydell & Brewer|D.S. Brewer]] {{ISBN|0-85991-513-1}}
* [[Guðbrandur Vigfússon|Vigfusson, Gudbrand]] (1874). ''An Icelandic-English Dictionary: Based on the MS. Collections of the Late Richard Cleasby''. [[Oxford University Press|Oxford at the Clarendon Press]].
{{refend}}

{{Death in Germanic mythology}}
{{Odin}}
{{Norse mythology}}

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[[Category:Heroes in Norse myths and legends]]
[[Category:Norse mythology]]
[[Category:Ghosts]]
[[Category:Odin]]
[[Category:Wild Hunt]]