The Völsunga saga is a late 13th century Icelandic prose rendition of the origin and decline of the Volsung clan (including the story of Sigurd and Brynhild and destruction of the Burgundians). It is largely based on epic poetry. The Middle High German epic poem Nibelungenlied is based largely on the old stories, which were commonly known in all of the Germanic lands from the early Middle Ages on, but reworks the material into a courtly medieval setting.

As depicted in the Ramsund carving

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The Ramsund carving in Sweden depicts Sigurd's life as described in the Völsunga saga:

1. Sigurd sits naked in front of a fire preparing the dragon Fafnir's heart for his foster-father, Regin (who is Fafnir's brother) to eat. The heart is not yet finished when Sigurd touches it, burning himself, and sticks his finger into his mouth. Tasting the dragon's blood allows him to understand birds' song.
2. The birds tell Sigurd that Regin will betray him, compelling Sigurd to cut off his foster-father's head.
3. Regin lies dead beside his own head; his smithy tools, with which he reforged Sigurd's sword Gram, are scattered around him.
4. Regin's horse is laden with the dragon's treasure.
5. Sigurd kills Fafnir.
6. Otr from the saga's beginning.

External links

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• Fornaldarsögur Norðurlanda and Völsunga saga in Old Norse from «Kulturformidlingen norrøne tekster og kvad» Norway.
• Read the Volsunga Saga Here
• Timeless Myths: Volsunga Saga

Epics | History of the Germanic peoples | Legendary sagas | Medieval literature | Sources of Norse mythology

Völsunga-Saga | Saga Volsunga | Saga rodu Wölsungów | Völsungasagan