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In Steins;Gate , Okarin gives some of his projects operation names, such as
"Operation Urd".

He mentions that the names he has given them don't really mean anything, but
looking at what the names are referencing, it seems otherwise.

![3norns](https://i.stack.imgur.com/v4Y83.jpg)

Urd (or Urðr), Verthandi(Verðandi) and Skuld are a trio of Norns that are
described as deciding the fates of people. They represent Past, Present and
Future respectively. These reflect the time-travel theme of the show

There are ones that I haven't been figured out, such as Operation Eldhrimnir
(episode 10) and Operation Valkyria (episode 18). How do these Norse Mythology
references fit into the show (and any other ones i may have missed) ?


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steins-gate
What are the meaning behind the operation names in Steins;Gate?


According to [Episode Glossary article on Steins;Gate Wiki](http://steins-
gate.wikia.com/wiki/Episode_Glossary), there are 5 operation names coined
throughout the series:

  * Operation Urd (Episode 6)
  * Operation Eldhrimnir (Episode 10)
  * Operation Verthandi (Episode 11)
  * Operation Valkyria (Episode 18)
  * Operation Skuld (Episode 23)

* * *

_**Operation Eldhrímnir**_ is coined by Okabe in [episode
10](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Steins;Gate_episodes) for the plan to
invite [Suzuha](http://steins-gate.wikia.com/wiki/Suzuha_Amane) to a party on
the following day regardless whether she meets her father or not. The party is
meant to be a celebration party in case Suzuha meets her father, and in case
she doesn't, it is a farewell party for her.

According to [Wikipedia entry on
Eldhrímnir](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eldhr%C3%ADmnir):

> In Norse mythology, **Eldhrímnir** (Old Norse "fire-sooty") is the cauldron
> in which the cook of the gods, Andhrímnir, prepares Sæhrímnir every evening.

The name is probably chosen due to the similarity in the _meal_ theme.

Looking at the entry for [Einherjar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einherjar):

> In Norse mythology, the **einherjar** (Old Norse "single (or once)
> fighters") are those that have died in battle and are brought to Valhalla by
> valkyries. In Valhalla, the einherjar eat their fill of the nightly-
> resurrecting beast Sæhrímnir, and are brought their fill of mead (from the
> udder of the goat Heiðrún) by valkyries.

And [Sæhrímnir](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A6hr%C3%ADmnir):

> In Norse mythology, **Sæhrímnir** is the creature killed and eaten every
> night by the Æsir and einherjar. The cook of the gods, Andhrímnir, is
> responsible for the slaughter of Sæhrímnir and its preparation in the
> cauldron Eldhrímnir. After Sæhrímnir is eaten, the beast is brought back to
> life again to provide sustenance for the following day.

I hope I am not reading too far into this, but since **Eldhrímnir** is the
cauldron which is used to cook food for the **einherjar** who died in battle,
it bears resemblance to the fact that Suzuha introduce herself as a "soldier",
and how she fails to meet up with her father the next day. Or maybe the name
just simply refers to the party with all the food and drinks, which relates to
the fact that the cauldron is the cook for preparing a feast.

* * *

**Operation Valkyria** is coined by [Kurisu](http://steins-
gate.wikia.com/wiki/Kurisu_Makise) in [episode
18](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Steins;Gate_episodes), before the
date between Okabe and [Ruka](http://steins-
gate.wikia.com/wiki/Ruka_Urushibara) (this occurs in the world line where Ruka
is an actual girl).

As for the meaning of
[Valkyria/Valkyrie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valkyrie), citing from
Wikipedia:

> In Norse mythology, a **valkyrie** (from Old Norse valkyrja "chooser of the
> slain") is one of a host of female figures who decide which soldiers die in
> battle and which live. Selecting among half of those who die in battle (the
> other half go to the goddess Freyja's afterlife field Fólkvangr), the
> valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla,
> ruled over by the god Odin. There, the deceased warriors become einherjar.
> When the einherjar are not preparing for the events of Ragnarök, the
> valkyries bear them mead.
>
> The word _valkyrie_ derives from Old Norse _valkyrja_ (plural _valkyrjur_ ),
> which is composed of two words; the noun _valr_ (referring to the slain on
> the battlefield) and the verb _kjósa_ (meaning "to choose"). Together, they
> mean "chooser of the slain".

Putting the context and story behind the name **Valkyria** together, it
_probably_ refers to the role of Kurisu as she tails Okabe and Ruka during
their date. The date can also be thought of as a battlefield for Okabe, since
this is his first time going on a date. And the fact that Okabe keeps screwing
up during the date can also be thought of as "die in battle". (This is the
best I can come up with to connect the name and the context of the story).


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Being Icelandic and speaking the language (which is the closest language to
Old Norse), I noticed that Norse mythology is prevalent throughout this
series. For example, immediately on episode 18 during Operation Valkyria,
Okabe is on the date with Ruka at the cafe "Völuspá Café". The sign can be
seen when they enter the cafe and again when they exit on episode 18.

Völuspá is the first and best known poem of the Edda (collection of Old Norse
poems). In the 19th verse of Völuspá, the 3 Norns - Urður, Verðandi, and Skuld
are talked about being home at one of the three roots attached to Yggdrasill,
the tree of life. In the 30th verse, Valkyries are gathering because a warrior
has fallen and they are preparing to bring him to the afterlife, Valhöll.

Considering all the Norse mythology in this series and that the sign is shown
so clearly, it is worth mentioning.


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