Definition

Proper noun 1. Valhalla: In Norse mythology, the great hall located in Asgard where Odin receives and hosts the souls of heroes who have died bravely in battle. These chosen warriors, the einherjar, feast and prepare for the events of Ragnarök.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Viking warrior believed that dying with his sword in hand would grant him a place in Walhalla.
  • In the myths, Walhalla is described as having a roof made of shields and rafters made of spears.
  • The concept of Walhalla was central to the Norse ideal of a glorious death.

Advanced Usage

• As a metaphor: The word is sometimes used metaphorically in modern English to refer to a place of honor or a hall of fame for esteemed individuals in a particular field.
  • For a classical musician, performing at that concert hall is like entering Walhalla.
  • The veteran's memorial is a Walhalla for those who served.

Variants and Related Words

• Valhalla: This is the more common modern English spelling of the same word, derived from the Old Norse .
• Valholl: An alternate transliteration from Old Norse.
• Einherjar (plural noun): The souls of the slain heroes who dwell in Walhalla.
• Valkyrie: In Norse myth, a female figure who chooses those who may die in battle and carries them to Walhalla.

Synonyms

• Elysium (in Greek mythology, the final resting place of heroic and virtuous souls).
• Paradise (a place of ideal happiness, often used in a religious context).
• Hall of heroes (a descriptive modern phrase).

Notes on Meaning

The term Walhalla is specific to the Norse mythological tradition. It is not a general afterlife for all souls, but a specific, warrior-centric paradise overseen by Odin. Its depiction emphasizes eternal combat by day and feasting by night.

Noun

1. (Norse mythology) the hall in which the souls of heros slain in battle were received by Odin