The word "Valhalla" can be translated from the ancient Icelandic language as "hall of the fallen" (warriors in battle). You can often encounter different spellings of the word "Valhalla". This is Valhalla, Valhalla, Valhalla. Any transcription is valid.

According to the legends of the ancient Scandinavians, Valhalla is the hall of Asgard, in which the god Odin rules. The owner of Valhalla asks the warriors if they died with dignity and takes the best into his squad, which will fight with him when Rognarok comes.

The Hard Road to Valhalla

The road to Valhalla is hard and only worthy warriors will find it. Not every warrior who fell in battle was worthy to enter Valhalla. Only the best got there. Some of the dead did not reach Valhalla, but were "redirected" to Folkvangr to Freya, which was considered not so honorable. The Vikings, who were lucky enough to get to Odin, became his personal guard (in some sources they are called ice warriors). In order for the road to Valhalla to lead the warrior to Odin, the Viking had to fall with a weapon in his hands. Mortally wounded soldiers asked their comrades to put a sword or an ax in their hands, otherwise the road to Valhalla would not open to him.

It should be mentioned separately that the weapon was a kind of guide to Valhalla. Without a sword or other weapon, the road to Valhalla will not open, and the warrior will forever wander in search of it.

The ice warriors of Valhalla have been fighting each other since morning until the only survivor remains. After that, all the fallen are resurrected, their wounds heal, and the severed limbs grow back. After the battle, the path of the heroes lies in the hall of Odin, where they are met by the owner of Valhalla himself. There, the brave feast until the evening, remembering their exploits and honoring today's winner. At night, the Vikings disperse throughout Valhalla, and charming maidens come to them, who please them until the morning. Some believe that warriors who have fallen into their paradise have fun with the Valkyries, but the beauties of the night are not at all.

Joining the ranks of Odin's warriors could be done in several ways:

1. The owner of Valhalla took the best fighters for himself, and the Vikings believed that Odin could specially send the Valkyries to the battlefield to prevent the heroes from fighting. If a warrior suddenly stumbled or missed, this meant that Odin wanted to quickly get him into his halls;
2. If a warrior lived to old age, he could commit ritual suicide by hanging himself from an oak tree. Thus he repeated the sacrificial suicide of Odin, who hanged himself to learn the wisdom of the runes;
3. The most severe was the third option - a courageous death through a specific execution, which was called the "bloody eagle". If the Viking endured such an execution without screams and groans, the entrance to Valhalla was considered open for him, and he could count on a place of honor among the ice warriors of Odin;
4. It is believed that there is no other way to Valhalla, but there was another cruel custom. The Vikings rarely let captured enemies die with dignity, but courageous warriors knew how to get into Valhalla in this case. They asked to open their stomachs and nail their intestines to a high post. Then the brave man walked around the pillar, winding guts around it and mocking his enemies. If he did not lose his composure and bravely endured the pain, the enemies burned his body, asking Odin to accept the valiant warrior.

How is Valhalla and the halls of Odin

The halls of Valhalla are a large banquet hall, but instead of a roof, it has the golden shields of Odin's (Einherjar) guards. The walls are made of huge copies of the heroes who feast in the hall. In the morning, leaving for battle, the soldiers dismantle the walls and roof, in fact, taking the halls with them.

In total, there are 540 doors in the banquet hall, 800 fighters should come out of each when Rognarok comes. In total, there should be 432,000 warriors ready to support the gods in the last battle with the giants.

Despite the fact that women in the culture of the Vikings occupied a rather privileged position and often fought on an equal footing with men, there is not a single mention in the Scandinavian sagas about where beautiful warriors go. The only woman mentioned in the sagas was Brunnhilde, who was exiled to earth as a punishment and deprived of her Valkyrie status. In the ancient sagas, she is not considered either a human or a Valkyrie.

In the very middle of Valhalla stands the throne of Odin, from which the stern god examines all the worlds with a single eye, so as not to miss the beginning of the end of the world.

It is worth noting that such a wild and harsh life was seen by the pagan Vikings as a real paradise, because their real life was a series of battles, murders and drunken fun.

What did Valhalla see in Christian times

It is very interesting what opinion about Valhalla were the first Christians who learned about the paradise of the harsh northern warriors. The first missionaries who visited the Scandinavians and learned aspects of their harsh religion were amazed to the core. Christians already considered the Vikings to be real demons, and having learned that their paradise resembles a Christian hell, they completely confirmed their opinion. The daily resurrection of soldiers in order to kill each other again the next day was interpreted by Christians as the torment of sinners in hell. Odin himself in this place was the embodiment of Satan.

The fearless warriors of the north, who rushed into battle against detachments of enemies several times superior to them and were not afraid of death, terrified civilized Europeans. And the elite of the Vikings - berserkers and ulfhednar - suggested thoughts of tamed demons from hell.

Despite the adoption of Christianity by the Norwegians, many pagans fled to Iceland, where the Asatru religion (which means faith in the Asses) has survived to this day. Modern Icelandic special forces soldiers still use the Viking battle cry "Till Valhall!", Which in our language means "To Valhalla!".

Gates of Valhalla

To enter Valhalla, dead heroes must unlock the gates of Valgrind. Their meaning is still not clear, although logically, they should lock Valhalla from unwanted visitors. This theory is also supported by the fact that one of the Scandinavian Eddas clearly says that only the dead can open the gates of Valgrind. The lock of this gate is one of the unique artifacts that were made by the dark elves.

These characters are the prototype of the dark elves, so widely replicated thanks to modern games. Although unlike games in which dark and light elves are close relatives, the Scandinavian Eddas say that dark elves have a completely different nature than light elves (elves).

The castle has magical powers, anyone unworthy to touch it will be bound forever when touched.

Some folklorists and publicists in Sweden (in particular Viktor Rydberg) believe that the name of the gates of Valhalla can be translated as “loudly clapping”. This statement is based on an ancient belief that connected the peals of thunder and the opening of the gates of Valgrind into one.

Warriors of Odin Einherja - selected from the best

In the culture of the ancient Scandinavians, one can find quite detailed descriptions of the heroes of Valhalla, the Einherii. Although great heroes were called this word, its exact meaning has been lost and no one knows what it really means.

Fighting against each other, the warriors of Odin hone their skills, as they will have to come to grips with terrible giants during the last battle of the gods. Since the wounds of the eitherii always heal, they are immortal.

During the feast in the halls, the fallen heroes drink the magical mead that flows from the udder of the goat Heidrun. Scandinavian mythology does not give us an answer to the question of whether this drink is alcoholic, although knowing the life of the Vikings, it is not difficult to assume that they would be bored in paradise without drinking. The main dish at the feast is the meat of the huge boar Sehrimnir, which, in addition to being able to feed an unlimited number of warriors, is reborn every day.

And the Germanic Scandinavian mythology of the underworld, the realm of the dead, the possession of Hel. (Source: "Dictionary of spirits and gods of Germanic Scandinavian, Egyptian, Greek, Irish, Japanese mythology, Mayan and Aztec mythologies.") ... Encyclopedia of mythology

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One Goes to Helheim (1908 illustration) by W. G. Collingwood. Helheim (literally Hel's Domain) in Norse mythology is one of the nine worlds, the world of the dead, ruled by Hel. It's cold, dark and foggy... Wikipedia

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Books

• Norse Myths for Children, Alex Frith, Louis Stowell. Scandinavian myths are firmly rooted in modern culture. J. R. R. Tolkien, who wrote the history of Middle-earth, drew inspiration from their plots, Richard Wagner composed a cycle of operas “The Ring ...
• Scandinavian Myths for Children, Freight A., Stowell L.. Scandinavian myths are firmly rooted in modern culture. J. R. R. Tolkien, who wrote the history of Middle-earth, drew inspiration from their plots, Richard Wagner composed a cycle of operas “The Ring ...

At the turn of the 1st and 2nd millennia of our era, all of Europe, especially the inhabitants of its coastal territories, experienced constant horror before the bloodthirsty Vikings, who knew neither pity nor fear, known in Western Europe as the Normans, and in Eastern Europe as the Vikings. The horror of the Vikings was explained by their extreme cruelty. Not without reason one of the most popular prayers in southern England and northern France was: "God save us from the Normans" .
But the Vikings caused not only horror, but also admiration for their bravery and fearlessness in battle, which was included in the legends. That is why the Vikings-Varangians were the elite part of the squads of Russian princes of the times of Kievan Rus. Yes, and many kings of Western Europe sought to hire the Vikings, knowing about their neglect before death in battles, of which there were many in those days.
What is the reason for the legendary fearlessness of the Vikings?
In my opinion, one of the main reasons for the fearlessness of the Normans during the battles was their religious beliefs, which were based not on the fear of God's punishment, as in Christianity, but on the conviction that only a valiant death in battle guarantees them a happy afterlife existence in Scandinavian mythological paradise - VALHALLE- the kingdom of the supreme deity Odin. And get there without help VALKYRIES was impossible.
So who are these Valkyries?
The answer to this question is the subject of this illustrated essay.

VALKYRIES in Scandinavian mythology VALKYRJA- from Old Norse - "chooser of the slain" ) called warlike maidens, subordinate to Odin and participating in the distribution of victories and deaths in battles.

"... maidens in helmets from the vastness of heaven
Rushed in chain mail, spattered with blood,
The spears of the Valkyries radiated light."

(See: "The first song about Helga the Killer of Hunding" / Scandinavian epic: Elder Edda, Younger Edda. Icelandic sagas. - M, 2009. S. 81.)

Possessing the appearance of beautiful maidens, the Valkyries were akin to the Norns, only the Norns determined the fate of the world and the gods, and the Valkyries - of each individual person, more precisely, a warrior in battle. Figuratively speaking, "out of bones and guts" the Valkyries wove the future of each battle.
These are the words that were put into the mouths of the Valkyries in "Nyala's Saga":

"The fabric is woven, big as a cloud,
To proclaim doom to the warriors.
Let's bleed her.
Firmly fabric, steel from spears,
Bloody duck battle ferocious
We must weave.
Let's make tissue from human intestines...

We weave, we weave the battle banner,
Bold warriors rush forward.
We will protect the king's life, -
We choose who will die in the battle."

(See: Icelandic sagas. In 2 volumes. - St. Petersburg, 1999.)

Having determined the outcome of the battle in advance, the Valkyries circled over the battlefield in the form of horsemen riding on winged cloud horses. From the manes of the cloud-steeds of the Valkyries, fertilizing dew dripped onto the ground, and light emanated from their swords and spears. During the bloodiest action, the Valkyries hovered over the battle and took brave warriors from the bloody ground (or the deck of the Drakkar) - EINHEREEV. They were taken not just somewhere, but carried away to Valhalla (from Old Norse - "hall killed" ).

In the dwelling in the sky, which belonged to Odin himself, the brave warriors who fell in battle - einheria spend their afterlife in the earthly realities familiar to them in life: deadly duels. But the mortal wounds they inflict on each other heal by themselves, and the limbs cut off by battle axes and swords magically grow back.

After the battles, the einherjar feast at the table of Odin, drink inexhaustible honey intoxicated milk Heidrun goats and eat never ending meat Boar Sahrimnir, which brews in cauldron Eldhrimnir cook Andhrimnir. At the same time, the magical boar eaten by the brave dead is daily reborn safe and sound.
During the feasts in Valhalla, Valkyries serve the brave dead warriors. They bring them drinks, change dishes and bowls.

There are thirteen Valkyries in total. Known for the saga "Greenmere Speeches" from "Elder Edda", which provides a complete list of Valkyries:

"Christ and Mist let the horn be brought to me,
Skegjöld and Skegul, Hild and Labor,
Hlökk and Herfiötur, Geir and Geyrölul,
Rangrid and Radgrid and Reginleia
They also sip beer to the Einherjars."

(See: "Grinmir's Speeches" / Scandinavian epic ... S. 42-43.)

Some valkyries names are deciphered:

- Hild- "battle";
- Herfjotur- "fetters of the army";
- Hlökk- "battle noise";
- Work- "strength";
-Christ- "amazing";
- Mist- "foggy".
Other names: Skeggjold, Skögul, Göl (Geir), Geirahed (Geyrölul), Randgrid, Radgrid and Reginleya- the exact decoding is not yet served.

(See: Myths of the peoples of the world. Encyclopedia in 2 volumes. - M., 1994. Vol. 1. S. 211.)

However, given the transcultural parallels, most likely the Valkyries provided other services to the Einherjars, pleasing them at night. At least in the later, romanticized tradition.

In late Scandinavian myths, the image of the Valkyries was romanticized, and they turned into Nordic beauties with dazzlingly bright blue eyes and long blond hair. As a worthy pair of fallen heroes, the Valkyries were dressed accordingly: usually in armor (most often in a lightweight version), in their hands - swords or spears, on their heads - a helmet decorated with horns or bird wings.

According to legends, from the shine of their armor, the northern lights appear in the sky.

The romanticization of the image led to the fact that the Valkyries became more independent characters, able to resist the will of Odin, fall in love with earthly heroes, marry them and give birth to children from them. The nature of the Valkyries has seriously changed: they ceased to be the daughters of Odin and acquired a human essence.

"One king was called Eilimi. He had a daughter, Svava. She was a Valkyrie and rushed across the sky and across the sea. She gave Helgi a name and often then defended him in battles."

(See: "Song of Helga the son of Hjervard" / Scandinavian epic ... S. 88.)

During the Christianization of Scandinavia, all these mythological characters were, of course, demonized. VALHALLA became associated with Hell - the underworld, the gods of Scandinavian mythology - aces - turned into demons, warrior heroes - einherii - became great sinners, and the Valkyries, of course, became witches and succubi.

Thank you for attention.

Sergei Vorobyov.

A mixture of cultures in the head of the main character.

Regardless of what actually happens, Hellblade draws heavily on images and concepts not only from Scandinavian but also from Celtic mythology. Some things are told along the way, but some things can elude the player, and Ninja Theory allowed themselves to rethink some points. We figured out how everything really was myths.

The text contains minor spoilers.

Celtic roots

Senua hails from the Orkney Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Scotland. The islands were inhabited by the Picts, a people descended from the Celts. At the end of the 9th century, according to the Orkney Saga, the first king of Norway, Harald Fair-Haired, captured the archipelago, as a result of which Celtic mythology began to give way to Scandinavian.

Senua sails to Helheim to ask the goddess of the underworld to bring her fiancé back to life. She believes that Dillian's severed head still contains the soul of a man, but the Vikings simply had no such concept.

The word "soul" (sál) appeared in the Old Norse language only after its adoption by the carriers of Christianity. The closest analogue to this concept may be Hugr, which, according to the Vikings, characterizes a person. His thoughts, views, beliefs - all this is Hug. The Vikings believed that people with whom he was especially strong could influence others simply by the power of thought.

The Celts also trace the cult of the human head. The ancient Greek historian Strabo stated that they treated the severed heads of enemies with cedar oil and boasted about them. And although archaeological finds confirm the fact of embalming body parts in this way, why the Celts actually did it and how common it was, it is not completely clear. In addition, there is reason to believe that ancient Greek and Roman sources often portrayed their enemies as crueler than they really were in order to justify conquering their lands.

Heads and faces are often found in Celtic ornaments, and it is also a common motif in Celtic sculpture.

The head as the seat of the soul in Celtic culture is considered by the archaeologist Ann Ross in a book written in 1974. At the moment, there is no consensus among researchers on this matter, however, given how often the image of a human head appears in Celtic ornaments, the possibility of a sacred meaning of this part of the body is not denied.

As for Senua's companion, Drut, he came from Erin. So the Celts called Ireland. The man mentions that before turning his back on the old gods, he worshiped the Tuatha Dé Danann, a mythical people from Irish mythology. Each of its members was responsible for some of the forces of nature. The tribe was destroyed during the Battle of Tailty, where the people of the goddess Danu met with the Sons of Mil - the ancestors of the modern Irish.

The Riders of the Seeds (1911) by Scottish modernist artist John Duncan depicts the most notable of the Tuatha.

Land of the Dead

The land of the dead is ruled by Hel, the daughter of Loki and the giantess Angrboda, who gave birth to two more children from God: the snake Jormungand and the wolf Fenrir. Upon learning of this, Odin instructed to bring all three of them to him. The aces kept the wolf, the snake was plunged into the sea, and Hel was sent to oversee the world of the dead, called Helheim.

According to the "Vision of Gylvi" - the first part of the "Younger Edda", written by the Icelandic skald Snorri Sturluson (there is a theory that he is the brother of the author of the "Orkney Saga") - people "who died of disease or old age" get here, while those who have been killed go to Valhalla.

Helheim in Hellblade

Despite the fact that the "Younger Edda" is one of the main sources in the study of German-Scandinavian folklore, it is customary among researchers to treat it with caution, due to the large number of inaccuracies and inconsistencies. In particular, as Balder, who died a violent death from a spear (from an arrow or a rod in other interpretations) launched by the blind Höd, goes to Helheim at the Icelandic skald, although he should have feasted in Valhalla.

Sturluson projects into Viking mythology the concepts of punishment and reward after death, accepted in the Christian tradition, as a result of which Helheim appears as an eerie place, reminiscent of Hell. Moreover, in the Prose Edda, Hel eats from a dish called "hunger", sleeps on a "sickness bed" and her skin is half blue and half "meat-colored". The double color of the daughter of Loki and in Hellblade, and her realm in the game resembles the Christian afterlife with rivers of blood, fire and red skies.

Hel in the game

Woodcut from the painting "Hel" by the German illustrator Johannes Geerts

Apart from the Edda Minor, not many descriptions of Helheim have survived, but Hilda Ellis-Davidson, in her work The Road to Hel: A Study of the Conception of the Dead in Old Norse Literature, citing older sources, states that the afterlife in the Nordic tradition, it was not such a terrible place - the dead settled here with their families, communicated with friends and generally did the same things that they did in life, without experiencing inconvenience.

The geography of the underworld can be judged from the "Younger Edda" and the "Acts of the Danes" - a chronicle written by Saxo Grammatik in the 12th century. Grammar and Sturluson's descriptions have similarities that are reflected in Hellblade as well. So, both authors say that Helheim is surrounded by the Gjöll River (translated as “loud noise”), through which the golden Gjallarbru bridge is thrown. It is guarded by the giantess Modgud. The gates to the kingdom of Hel open only to those who have already died. The living, who want to get into the underworld, have to look for workarounds (for example, as Hermod, who went to rescue Balder from Helheim, jumped over the gate on his horse).

Since Senua passed through the gate, it can be concluded that she is already dead (or believes herself to be). Another proof of this is the fact that Gjallarbru, according to the “Vision of Gulvi”, makes a loud noise when a living person walks on it. The bridge does not make any special sounds in the game. when the heroine walks on it.

Bridge over the Gjöll in Hellblade. In myths, the river thunders from weapons that have sunk in its waters.

Enemies

To get to the bridge, Senua must kill two gods - Surt and Valravn. In Helheim, she meets with another formidable opponent - the guardian of the underworld Garm.

surt

Surt in the game

And such a fiery giant was depicted by the English artist John Dollman in 1909

Giant, lord of the fiery world of Muspelheim. The latter existed even when there were no other worlds. It was located on the southern edge of the Ginnungagap abyss, opposite Niflheim - the world of cold and snow (in it, by the way, there is a stream from which Gjoll and 10 more rivers flow). When the frost from Niflheim melted under the influence of the heat of the fiery world, Ymir was born - the first of the giants and the first living creature in general.

Gylvi's Vision looks strange in this context. Here Surt is mentioned at the moment when it comes to the creation of the world, while there are no clear indications of when the fire giant appeared.

There used to be a country in the south, its name was Muspell. This is a bright and hot country, everything in it burns and burns. And there is no access there for those who do not live there and do not lead their family from there. Surt is the name given to the one who sits on the edge of Muspell and protects it. ​

"Vision of Gylvi", About Niflheim and Muspell

In general, little is known about the origin of Surt. Both Eddas focus on his role in Ragnarok and the final battle between aesir and monsters. But even here there are differences between the two sources.

In Sturluson, the “sons of Muspell”, led by Surt, will descend from the sky during the battle, and in the “Volva Divination” - the opening song of the Elder Edda - it is said that Loki will lead Muspelheim’s troops and they will sail “from the east in a boat”. The giant himself will come from the south, that is, from where the fiery world is located. However, both there and there Surt ends the battle, burning the earth to the ground with the flame of his sword.

"Sinmara", Yeni Nyström (1893)

Another interesting detail concerns Surt's wife. Presumably she is the giantess Sinmara. She is only mentioned in the "Song of Fjölsvidr" from the Elder Edda.

Vidofnir bird is called brilliant,

She Mimameydr serve as housing;

He brought many unceasing worries

Sinmare and Surtra golden rooster.

"The Song of Fjolsvidre"

Here she is described as the keeper of the sword Levatein, capable of killing Vidofnir. The secret of Sinmara's identity allows you to build the most daring hypotheses. So, the famous linguist and philologist Hjalmar Falk, after analyzing the description of the giantess, suggested at the beginning of the 20th century that Sinmara is Hel.

This may explain why Surt in Hellblade is so close to Helheim. But most likely, both gods are simply preparing for Ragnarok, which, according to Drut, will come soon, and in the decisive battle, the fire giant and the queen of the underworld will fight shoulder to shoulder.

Valravn

With Valravn, things are more complicated - Senua fights with a creature assembled from several mythological characters at once.

In Hellblade, Drut refers to him as the "god of illusion" and "lord of the ravens". In fact, there is no god of illusion in Norse mythology. There is a god of deceit - Loki - but he can be associated with horses (which he gives birth to) and snakes (which give birth to him), but not with ravens.

As for these birds, the song "Grimnir's Speech" from the "Elder Edda" speaks of Hugin and Munin - two world ravens, about whose fate Odin is worried.

Hugin and Munin

over the world all the time

fly tirelessly;

I'm scared for Hugin

more terrible for Munin, -

will the crows return!

"Speech of Grimnir"

It is the leader of the Ases in the "Younger Edda" who is called the "god of ravens." Hugin and Munin (whose names translate as "thought" and "memory" respectively) sat on Odin's shoulders at Sturluson. At dawn, he sent them to fly around the world, and by breakfast the birds returned and told the owner what they had seen.

Odin with his faithful ravens was often depicted on helmets and jewelry.

And this is how the leader of the aces, Hugin and Munin was portrayed by Johannes Gerts

The word "valravn" refers to fantastic creatures from Danish folklore. They appeared, according to research by Danish folktale collector Ewald Christensen, when ravens pecked at the corpse of a fallen king on the battlefield that the soldiers could not find. By eating his heart, the birds received a human mind and the ability to turn, according to various sources, into people or half-wolves-half-ravens.

Garm

Towards the end of the game, Senua meets Garm, the guardian of the gates to the world of Hel. The fight takes place in the Gnipahellir cave, where the beast languishes until Ragnarök. Almost nothing is known about where he came from. Moreover, even its essence is not completely clear.

In "Grimnir's Speeches" Garm is called a dog (the best of his kind), while in "Volva's Divination" he is a wolf. During Ragnarök, Garm breaks free and kills the one-armed ace Tyr. Then another beast throws off its fetters - the wolf Fenrir, in the battle with which Tyr lost his arm. Due to such coincidences, some researchers believe that Fenrir and Garm are the same being.

magic sword

Gram in the hands of Senua shines with a blue light

In one of the episodes of the game, Senua loses her sword, but instead finds another one - the legendary Gram. The appearance of the weapon is very different from how it is described in sagas and songs. According to the Volsunga Saga, the sword shone so that the blacksmith's apprentices thought it was "like a flame is beating from the blade", and in Hellblade, Gram emits a blue glow. In addition, some translations say that the sword had an engraving of a dragon, which is not in the game. Nevertheless, the story about Gram is perhaps the most detailed of all that is found in it.

In the chambers of the king of the "kingdom in the Hun land" of Volsung, the father of Sigmund (and nine more boys and one girl - Signy), an apple tree grows. During the feast, Odin came into the hall, stuck a sword into a tree and said that the weapon would be received by the one who could pull it out. Only Sigmund succeeded. King Siggeir offered his son Volsung for the blade "triple the weight of a sword in gold", but he refused.

“He waved his sword and plunged it into the trunk so that the sword went into the tree up to the hilt”

Siggeir later called on Volsung's troops to help in the battle and tricked them. The king was killed, and his sons were taken alive, chained in a log and left in the forest. Every night a she-wolf came out to them and ate one of the warriors, until only Sigmund remained alive. Signy (who at that time was Siggeir's wife) sent a servant to him, whom she ordered to smear her brother's face with honey. At night, the she-wolf began to lick the honey, and Sigmund bit her tongue and got out. After that, he wandered through the forests.

After some time, Signy sent two of her sons to her brother, “in order to help him if he wants to do something in revenge for his father.” Sigmund killed both boys on the advice of his sister. It is not known what the second one was guilty of, but the first simply refused to knead the dough due to the fact that something was swarming in the flour.

Then Signy changed her appearance with a sorceress and conceived a son from her brother. The boy was named Sinfjotli. Before sending him to Sigmund's dugout, Signy sewed the sleeves of his clothes to his body, and then sharply tore off the fabric along with the skin. Sinfjotli did not move, saying only that "this pain would have seemed small to Volsung." When Sigmund, as usual, asked his son to bake bread, he kneaded the dough along with what frightened his older brother (as Sigmund later admitted, this “something” was a snake, the poison of which he took inside).

Sinfjotli died after drinking poisoned wine that was intended for Sigmund. The father took the body of his son to the fjords, where he met Odin. God took the corpse of Sinfjotli and sailed with him to Valhalla

The sword reappears in the saga after Sigmund and Sinfjotli are caught by Siggeir. With the help of a blade, they cut the stone slab with which the king separated them, and get out of the trap. Later, the sword helped Sigmund more than once, but in a battle with King Lungvi, he split in two, hitting Odin's spear. Apparently, it was thanks to this sword that the son of Volsung won battles.

And when King Sigmund struck with all his strength, the sword collided with the spear and broke in half into two parts. Here Sigmund-King left Good Luck, and many fell from his retinue. ​

The Saga of the Volsungs, XI

Hjordis, the wife of Sigmund, handed over the fragments of the sword to her son, Sigurd. His mentor was the dwarf Regin, who forged the pieces of his father's blade into Gram. With his help, Sigurd took revenge on King Lingvi, cutting him into two parts, and also slew his teacher's brother, the dragon Fafnir.

“Sigurd struck the anvil and cut it in half to the foot, but the sword did not crack or break”

The last mention of Gram occurs in the scene of Sigurd's burial. The hero, while he was sleeping, was slaughtered by the Hunnic king Gottor. Brynhild - Sigurd's wife - asks to put her husband's body on a large fire, along with the corpse of her own three-year-old child (whom she previously ordered to be killed), five maids, eight servants and two falcons. After that, she herself goes up to the fire and puts Gram between herself and Sigurd.

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a bizarre combination of Celtic and Norse mythologies. Many of the references are outside of Drut's narrative and stories. Take at least the gates of Helheim, which depict Yggdrasil, or the triskelion, which appears on the mirror of the main character and in the interface elements. It is the mixture of cultures, as well as the use of mythological plots and characters that are not the most hackneyed, that make the lore of the game so interesting.