Valkyrie vs. Shieldmaiden: the difference

The two terms "valkyrie" and "shielmaiden" are not as interchangeable in Old Norse as they are in pop culture. · Videos I mention here: Verner's Law (    • Verner's Law   ), the on-site discussion of the shieldmaiden's grave at Birka (    • The Warrior Woman's Grave: On Location at ...   ), plus I have fond memories of making something like a decent point about the Valkyrie's role in this video (    • Valkyries (Valkyrjur)   ). · I mention three of my books here: my translation of the Poetic Edda ( https://amzn.to/3JdQNny ), and my translations of the Saga of the Volsungs ( https://amzn.to/4rEtYJB ) and two other sagas of mythical heroes, including the Saga of Hervor and Heidrek ( https://amzn.to/41fsmLB ). You can also order signed copies mailed to you from Boulder Book Store (as long as you live in the US, Canada, or Australia) at https://boulderbookstore.net/signed-j... · A relevant course I'm teaching on Zoom in April-May 2026 is a deep reading of Vǫluspá and Hávamál in Old Norse (though you don't have to know Old Norse to participate; you can read it in translation and I'll explain the difficulties and nuances of the original). Enroll at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/original... (or check out something else, like Intro. to Runic Studies, at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduc... or Intermediate Old Norse at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/intermed... ).