For questions on the Saga of the Volsungs. Fafnir, Brynhild, Sigurð, Atli (Atilla "the Hun"), et al.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/völsung
Online text for the saga: The Story of the Volsungs [Project Gutenberg]
Questions tagged [volsunga]
11 questions
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Who is the Greek king Brynhild fought?
In chapter 27 of the Saga of the Völsungs, Brynhild brags of having been in battles with a king of Greeks:
She answered in heavy mood from her seat, whereas she sat like unto swan on billow, having a sword in her hand and a helm on her head, and…
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Did Odin heal Sinfjotli?
In chapter 8 of the Saga of the Völsungs, Sigmund (in wolf form) attacks and almost kills his son Sinfjotli (also in wolf form). Sinfjotli is only saved when Sigmund is pointed to a miraculous herb by a couple of weasels and a raven:
Then Sigmund…
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Who is Völsung's mother?
Völsung's mother, despite giving birth to the clan's namesake in a rather bizarre manner, is never named in the Völsunga saga.
Is her name mentioned anywhere else in the Völsung cycle? Do we know anything about her, other than being Rerir's wife and…
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Why did Brynhild disobey Odin?
When Sigurd wakes up Brynhild, we learn that her imprisonment was the result of her defiance to Odin's command:
Then Brynhild speaks again and says, "Two kings fought, one hight Helm Gunnar, an old man, and the greatest of warriors, and Odin had…
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Why does Sigurd reveal himself to Fafnir?
Sigurd refuses to tell his name to the dying Fafnir:
So whenas Fafnir had his death-wound, he asked "Who art thou? And who is thy father? And what thy kin, that thou wert so hardy as to bear weapons against me?"
Sigurd answered, "Unknown to men is…
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How large were Norse dragons?
In chapter 10 of the Saga of the Völsungs, Regin is trying to convince Sigurd that Fafnir is an average size dragon:
"Young am I," says Sigurd, "yet know I the fashion of this worm, and how that none durst go against him, so huge and evil is…
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What is the significance of the very long time Völsung spent in the womb?
Völsung's mother carried him in her womb for six years:
Now no otherwise it goes with the queen's sickness than heretofore, nor may she be the lighter of her child, and six winters wore away with the sickness still heavy on her; so that at the last…
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Why does Odin favour Sigi at the beginning of the Saga of the Völsungs?
In the beginning of the Saga of the Völsungs, we learn of the senseless murder of the thrall Bredi at the hands of Sigi. Although Sigi is condemned and declared a "wolf in holy places" (an outlaw), Odin helps him attain warships and troops and he…
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Why did Odin forsake Sigmund?
In the first ten chapters of the of the Saga of the Volsungs, Odin strongly favors the eponymous clan. In chapter 11, however, the Allfather sides with King Lyngi and attacks Sigmund, shattering the same sword he had gifted Volsung's son earlier in…
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Who is the boatman that took away Sinfjotli's corpse?
In chapter 10 of the Saga of the Völsungs, Sigmund's son Sinfjotli dies. His corpse is presumably carried to the underworld by a mysterious boatman, in a manner reminiscent of the Greek ferryman of Hades, Charon:
So Sinfjotli drank, and straightway…
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Where is Sigi from?
In the Saga of the Völsungs, we learn that the patriarch Sigi is exiled from his homeland and eventually becomes a king in the land of the Huns (or France, according to the Prose Edda). However, the name of his homeland in not mentioned.
Do we know…
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