Norsery Rhymes from A to Z Gerhilde, The Gleeful Spear Battling Strategist
Well here we are another Thor’s Day and another 20 min sketch of a Norse (and Germanic) mythological characters. This week it’s Gerhilde, Wagners name for one of the Valkyries in Das Rheingold, Die Walkure.
Her name translates to “spear battle". From the Old High German 'ger' / 'gēr' for "spear" and 'hiltja' / 'hild' meaning "battle".
She is the daughter of Wotan and Erda, and her sisters are Helmwige, Waltraute, Schwertleite, Rossweisse, Ortlinde, Grimgerde, Siegrune, and Brunhilde.
She excitedly flies over the fields of battle with her sisters gathering the worthy fallen to bring them to Valhalla.
She is often portrayed as the intellectual strategist of the group. Veering into gleeful performance of her duties. She refuses to help Brunhilde afraid of her father's wrath.
