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Fafnir: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Ring41.jpg|thumb|right|Fáfnir guards the gold hoard in this illustration by | [[File:Ring41.jpg|thumb|right|Fáfnir guards the gold hoard in this illustration by Arthur Rackham to Richard Wagner's ''Siegfried''.]] | ||
In [[Origin: Norse Mythology]], '''Fáfnir''' ( | In [[Category:Origin: Norse Mythology]], '''Fáfnir''' (Old Norse and Icelandic) or '''Frænir''' was a son of the dwarf king [[Hreidmar]] and brother of [[Regin]] and [[Ótr]]. | ||
==Narrative== | ==Narrative== | ||
In the | In the Icelandic ''[[Volsunga Saga]]'' (late 13th century), Fáfnir was a dwarf gifted with a powerful arm and fearless soul. He guarded his father's house of glittering gold and flashing gems. He was the strongest and most aggressive of the three brothers.<ref>[http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~alvismal/2sigurd.pdf ''Sigurd—ein Held des Mittelalters'' (Edgar Haimerl)]</ref> | ||
[[Regin]] recounts to [[Sigurd]] how [[Odin]], [[Loki]] and [[Hœnir]] were traveling when they came across [[Ótr]], who had the likeness of an [[otter]] during the day. Loki killed the otter with a stone and the three [[Æsir]] skinned their catch. The gods came to [[Hreidmar]]’s dwelling that evening and were pleased to show off the otter's skin. Hreidmar and his remaining two sons then seized the gods and held them captive while [[Loki]] was made to gather the ransom, which was to stuff the otter’s skin with gold and cover its outside with red gold. Loki fulfilled the task by gathering the cursed gold of [[Andvari]]'s as well as the ring, [[Andvaranaut]], both of which were told to Loki as items that would bring about the death of whoever possessed them. Fáfnir then killed Hreidmar to get all the gold for himself. He became very [[ill-natured]] and greedy, so he went out into the wilderness to keep his fortune, eventually turning into a [[serpent (symbolism)|serpent]] or [[European dragon|dragon]] (symbol of greed) to guard his treasure.<ref>{{Harvnb|Byock|1990|pp=57–59}}</ref> Fáfnir also breathed poison into the land around him so no one would go near him and his treasure, wreaking terror in the hearts of the people.<ref>{{Harvnb|Byock|1990|p=64}}</ref> | [[Regin]] recounts to [[Sigurd]] how [[Odin]], [[Loki]] and [[Hœnir]] were traveling when they came across [[Ótr]], who had the likeness of an [[otter]] during the day. Loki killed the otter with a stone and the three [[Æsir]] skinned their catch. The gods came to [[Hreidmar]]’s dwelling that evening and were pleased to show off the otter's skin. Hreidmar and his remaining two sons then seized the gods and held them captive while [[Loki]] was made to gather the ransom, which was to stuff the otter’s skin with gold and cover its outside with red gold. Loki fulfilled the task by gathering the cursed gold of [[Andvari]]'s as well as the ring, [[Andvaranaut]], both of which were told to Loki as items that would bring about the death of whoever possessed them. Fáfnir then killed Hreidmar to get all the gold for himself. He became very [[ill-natured]] and greedy, so he went out into the wilderness to keep his fortune, eventually turning into a [[serpent (symbolism)|serpent]] or [[European dragon|dragon]] (symbol of greed) to guard his treasure.<ref>{{Harvnb|Byock|1990|pp=57–59}}</ref> Fáfnir also breathed poison into the land around him so no one would go near him and his treasure, wreaking terror in the hearts of the people.<ref>{{Harvnb|Byock|1990|p=64}}</ref> | ||
