Phil's photos with the keyword: Norse

In Norse mythology a valkyrie is one of a host of female figures who choose those who may die in battle and those who may live. Selecting half of those who die in battle, the valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin whilst the other half go to the goddess Freyja's afterlife field, Fólkvangr. Valkyries also appear as lovers of heroes and other mortals where they are sometimes described as the daughters of royalty, sometimes accompanied by ravens and sometimes connected to swans or horses. (Wikipedia). Camera Sony RX100. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

In Norse mythology Freyja (Old Norse "Lady") is a Goddess associated with love, sexuality, beauty, fertility, gold, war and death. Freyja is the owner of the fabled necklace Brísingamen. She rides a chariot pulled by two cats or, when not using her chariot, rides the boar Hildisvíni (which is also said to be Freyja's human lover Otta in disguise and is the reason why the God Loki consistently accuses her of being "wanton" by "riding her lover in public"). She possesses a cloak of falcon feathers and, by her husband Óðr, is the mother of two daughters, Hnoss and Gersemi. Along with her brother, father and mother, she is a member of the Vanir. Modern forms of the name include Freya, Freija, Frejya, Freyia, Frøya, Frøjya, Freia, and Freja. Freyja rules over her heavenly afterlife field Fólkvangr and there receives half of those that die in battle.........the other half go to the God Odin's hall, Valhalla. Freyja assists other deities by allowing them to use her feathered cloak, is invoked in matters of fertility and love and is frequently sought after by powerful Jötnar who wish to make her their wife. Freyja's husband, the God Óðr, is frequently absent. She cries tears of amber (or "red gold") for him and constantly searches for him under assumed names. Amber is plentiful in the Scandinavian / Baltic regions and is often referred to as "The Tears of The Goddess". Scholars have theorized about whether Freyja and the Scandinavian Goddess Frigg ultimately stem from a single Goddess common among the Germanic peoples and about her connection to the Valkyries, female battlefield choosers of the slain. Freyja's name appears in numerous place names in Scandinavia with a high concentration in Southern Sweden. Various plants in Scandinavia once bore her name (before they were, apparently, "converted" to Christianity) and rural Scandinavians continued to acknowledge Freyja into the 19th century and beyond. (Wikipedia....edited & shortened). Camera Sony RX100. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2. Cold-cast figurine from Nemesis Now ("Willow Hall" collection).