Who are the Valkyries in Ring of Nibelung?

In Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, the Valkyries are a group of eight warrior goddesses who serve the god Wotan. They are led by their eldest sister, Brünnhilde. The Valkyries are responsible for collecting the souls of fallen warriors and bringing them to Valhalla, Wotan's hall. They are also skilled in battle and often assist Wotan in his wars.

The Valkyries are first introduced in the opera Die Walküre. In this opera, they are seen gathering the bodies of fallen warriors from a battlefield. They are then confronted by Wotan, who orders them to take the body of his favorite son, Siegmund, to Valhalla. However, Brünnhilde disobeys Wotan's orders and instead helps Siegmund escape. This act of disobedience angers Wotan and he punishes Brünnhilde by stripping her of her divinity and putting her into a deep sleep.

The Valkyries are also important characters in the operas Siegfried and Götterdämmerung. In Siegfried, they are seen helping Siegfried to forge the sword Nothung. In Götterdämmerung, they are seen attempting to prevent the destruction of Valhalla. However, they are ultimately defeated by the forces of evil and Valhalla is destroyed.

The Valkyries are a powerful and important part of the Ring of the Nibelung. They are symbols of strength, courage, and loyalty. They are also a reminder of the fragility of power and the consequences of disobedience.