shieldmaiden

A skjaldm (Shieldmaiden) was a virgin who had chosen to fight as a warrior, in Scandinavian mythology. They are often mentioned in sagas such as Hervarar saga and in Gesta Danorum. According to Nordisk familjebok, shieldmaidens appear also in stories of other Germanic nations: Goths, Cimbri and Marcomanni. They were the inspiration for the Valkyries and they were J.R.R. Tolkien's inspiration for owyn. Shieldmaidens known by name were e.g. Brynhild in the Volsunga saga, Hervor in Hervarar saga, the Bryhild of the Bsa saga ok Herrauds, the Swedish princess Thornbjrg in Hrlfs saga Gautrekssonar and Hed, Visna and Veborg in Gesta Danorum. According to Saxo Grammaticus, 300 shieldmaidens fought on the Danish side at the Battle of Brvalla.

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