Shieldmaiden

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Hervor dying after the battle with the Huns. A painting by Peter Nicolai Arbo

A skjaldmö - norwegian, skjoldmø - danish (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 Éowyn.

Examples of shieldmaidens mentioned by name in the Norse sagas include Brynhild in the Volsunga saga, Hervor in Hervarar saga, the Brynhild of the Bósa saga ok Herrauds, the Swedish princess Thornbjörg in Hrólfs 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 Bråvalla.

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