The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
Warning!
Spoilers for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim ahead!
However, the legendary Rohirrim leader isn’t the primary protagonist of the 2024 movie.
Eowyn was the most heavily featured female character inTolkien’sThe Lord of the Rings.
This was years before Hera was born, and most original Shieldmaidens had died outwith the exception being Olwyn.
It’s an effective and poetic retcon of this Lady of Rohan’s story.
Shieldmaidens, or Shield-maidens, are a feature of Scandinavian folklore.
They are trained warriors, and various legends tell of individual women who rose up when they were needed.
Additionally,Shieldmaidens are often associated with Norse Valkyries, female warrior beings who guide souls to Valhalla.
Custom image by Ana Nieves
2024’s new Lord of the Rings movie made a powerful choice placing Hera in the same league.
It’s fitting thatcharacters like Eowynwould be associated with powerful mythical beings like Valkyries.
It’s evident in both this and Tolkien’s central trilogy that Shieldmaidens are a woefully overlooked group.
They aren’t expected to fight, and important figures like Hera are forgotten entirely.
Custom image by Ana Nieves
