Valkyrjur, Servant or Master?

THERE ARE FEW BEINGS IN WESTERN MYTHOLOGY WHO HOLD SUCH A STRANGLEHOLD ON THE ZEITGEIST AS THE VALKYRIE. THERE'S SOMETHING INCREDIBLY TIMELESS IN THE IMAGE OF THE SOMETIMES-WINGED WARRIOR WOMAN LOOMING OVER THE BATTLEFIELD AND FERRYING THOSE CHOSEN DEAD TO THEIR AFTERLIVES. THOUGH THE VALKYRIES HAVE EVOLVED AND CHANGED OVER THE LAST MILLENNIA TO REFLECT AND FULFIL VARIOUS CULTURAL ROLES, TODAY THEY REMAIN AS MUSES TO CREATIVES AND ARTISTS, OFTEN IN WAYS THAT ECHO THEIR LATER DEPICTIONS IN THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD. THIS WORK EXPLORES THE REPRESENTATION, BEHAVIORS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE VALKYRIES ACROSS THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A PRACTICING NORDIC HEATHEN.