The New Student's Reference Work/Valhalla

Valhalla (văl-hăl′lȧ), in Scandinavian mythology, the "hall of the slain"—the abode of Odin in Asgard, the palace of Immortality, inhabited by the souls of heroes slain in battle. In the old Norse or Viking era, the Eddas relate, Odin and his chiefs dwelt in a sort of Olympus (Asgard)—the Norse Pantheon—which had two mansions, Gladsheim for the gods and Vingolf for the goddesses. There also was Walhalla, wherein Odin placed one half of the heroes slain in battle, the other half being received by Freja, the wife of Odin, who presided over smiling nature, sending sunshine, rain and harvest. The roof of Valhalla was resplendent with gold; spears, shields and armor adorned its walls. Out of this abode rode forth Valkyrs (or choosers of the slain) on invisible horses, to the battles of men on earth, and with their spears pointed out the heroes who should fall, whom they caught as they fell and bore to Valhalla in their arms. Troops of these invisible horsemen issued daily to engage in combat and return at night to be entertained with the never-ending hospitality of Odin. See the Norse prose Edda. Figuratively, Valhalla (or Walhalla) has come to mean a hall or temple adorned with statues and memorials of a nation's great ones, especially its soldier heroes.