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Fafnir: Difference between revisions
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In [[:Category:Origin: Norse Mythology|Norse Mythology]], '''Fáfnir''' or '''Frænir''' was a son of the dwarf king [[Hreidmar]] and brother of [[Regin]] and [[Ótr]]. In the ''[[Volsunga saga]]'', Fáfnir was a dwarf gifted with a powerful arm and fearless soul. He wore the [[Aegis]] helmet and guarded his father's house of glittering gold and flashing gems. He was the strongest and most aggressive of the three brothers. | |||
[[ | [[Image:Ring41.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Fáfnir guards the gold hoard in this illustration by Arthur Rackham to Richard Wagner's ''Siegfried''.]] | ||
In [[Norse Mythology]], '''Fáfnir''' ( | |||
==Story== | |||
===The Völsunga Saga=== | |||
After [[Ótr]] was killed by [[Loki]], Hreidmar received the cursed gold of [[Andvari]]'s as repayment for the loss of his son. Fáfnir and Regin then killed their father to get the gold, but Fáfnir decided he wanted it all, turning into a dragon (symbol of greed) and disputed the gold to his brother. Regin, infuriated sent his foster-son, [[Sigurd]], to kill the dragon. Sigurd succeeded by digging a pit under the trail Fáfnir used to walk to a stream and plunging his sword Gram into his heart as he walked past. Regin, however, corrupted by the curse on Andvari's gold, planned to kill Sigurd to take the treasure for himself, but Sigurd, having eaten part of Fáfnir's cooked heart, was warned by birds of Regin's attack and ended up killing him. | |||
The Völsunga Saga is an Icelandic interpretation made by the end of the XIII century - century of origin and declination of the Volsung clan in which the existence of Sigurd, Brynhild and the destruction of the Burgundians - is documented. The German epic poem Nibelungenlied (The Song of the Nibelungs) is based on these old histories, that were popular in all the Germanic lands, but re-tells the traditional material and includes ingredients of the medieval scope of the court. | |||
===Nibelungenlied=== | |||
Nibelungenlied tells that Siegfried was the one who killed the dragon in the court of the Burgundians, thanks to this he could become owner of the treasure of the Nibelungs. After killing him, he bathed in the blood of this mythical animal and became an invulnerable man, except by a small weak point that was left, where a linden tree leaf fell while he was soaked with the blood of Fafnir: his back. Like Achilles' heel, his back will be the fatal spot that the treacherous Hagen will choose to betray him. | |||
As '''Fafner''', he is featured in Richard Wagner's ''Der Ring des Nibelungen'', although he began life as a [[Jotun]] rather than a [[dwarf]], before once again turning into a [[dragon]] to better guard the gold. | |||
Some versions are more specific about Fafnir's treasure hoard, mentioning the swords Ridill and Hrotti as part of it. | |||
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[[File:Ring41.jpg|thumb|right|Fáfnir guards the gold hoard in this illustration by Arthur Rackham to Richard Wagner's ''Siegfried''.]] | |||
In [[:Category:Origin: Norse Mythology|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> | ||
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==In Art and Music== | ==In Art and Music== | ||
Fafnir appears — as "Fafner" — in | Fafnir appears — as "Fafner" — in Richard Wagner's epic opera cycle ''Der Ring des Nibelungen'' (1848-1874), although he began life as a [[Jötunn|giant]] rather than a [[Norse dwarves|dwarf]]. In the first opera, ''[[Das Rheingold]]'' (1869), Fafner and his brother Fasolt win a massive hoard of treasure from [[Odin|Wotan]], the king of the gods, in exchange for building the castle [[Valhalla]]. The treasure includes the magic helmet [[Tarnhelm]] and a magic [[Andvarinaut|Ring]]. As they divide the treasure, Fafner kills Fasolt and takes the Ring for himself. Escaping to earth, he uses the Tarnhelm to transform himself into a [[western dragon|dragon]] and guards the treasure in a cave for many years before being ultimately killed by Wotan's mortal grandson [[Sigurd|Siegfried]], as depicted in the [[Siegfried_(opera)|opera of the same name]]. | ||
==Popular culture references== | ==Popular culture references== | ||
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[[Category:Dragon Names]] | [[Category:Dragon Names]] | ||
[[Category:Race: Snake]] | [[Category:Race: Snake]] | ||
[[Category:Continent: | [[Category:Continent: Europe]] | ||
[[Category:Needs_Revision]] | |||
