A dwarf named Fafnir was renowned for possessing a powerful right arm and a fearless heart. He had two brothers, Otr and Regin, and was the son of a dwarf king Hreidmar. He aided by serving as a guard to defend their property while he was a young boy living in his father’s home. Fafnir was selected for the position because he was the toughest and most aggressive of the three brothers. Being the ruler of the dwarves, Hreidmar had a lot of money, and their home was constructed of glittering gold and sparkling gems.
His other son, Fafnir, regarded as being more brutal and violent than his other brothers and thus best fitted for the role, guarded it for him. He built it with his son Regin, a brilliant smith and artisan. Otr, the other brother of Fafnir, was a skilled fisherman who frequently adopted the appearance of otters to capture his prey.
The lovely otter known as Otr was encountered by the Norse gods Odin, Loki, and Hoenir while they were on their travels. Loki used a stone to kill the otter, which he then skinned for its exquisite fur. Later that day, when they reached the dwarf king’s home, Loki could not help but display his find. As soon as they realized, Hreimdar, Regin, and Fafnir grabbed Loki and demanded that he make up for the life that had taken.
They requested that Loki provide them with Otr’s weight in gold because they were Norse dwarves who loved riches. Loki recalled discovering a massive treasure within the same lake where they first met Otr. He went back to the lake and looked into its depths for his ransom. There, another shape-shifting dwarf named Andvari was guarding a large pile of treasure with a massive pike.
Andvari agreed to give up his whole collection for a chance to keep the exquisite gold ring known as Andvaranaut, one of several significant rings in Nose mythology, which would save him from Loki and his life. Loki declined since he thought the ring was the best piece in the collection. Andvari cursed the ring, making anyone who wore it suffer disaster and devastation. To settle his due, Loki brought the treasure to Hreimdar. Additionally, he gave a ring to a dwarven king and told him about the curse, but Hreidmar had already begun to feel the effects of the ring’s enchantment and had made up his mind to keep it for himself.
The combination of Fafnir as a dragon with Helm of Awe—which appears in the Norse tales to have been an accurate helm worn on Fafnir, the man—reiterates his might. However, Viking warriors also utilized the Helm with Awe as a Norse runic emblem to strengthen themselves. Dragons in Norse culture are both a symbol of power and greed. Fafnir’s transformation was prompted by his desire and unwavering determination to take his father’s fortune for himself.
He transformed into a dragon and breathed poison over the earth around his father’s home, keeping everyone away from his riches. He also struck fear into the hearts of everybody who approached. This exemplifies the deadly consequences that greed may have on a person and a group of people.
The famous hero of the Volsunga Saga, Siegfried, eventually killed Fafnir. Regin, who was banished from his father’s home by Fafnir, is characterized as Regin’s foster son or ward. Regin moved to live in another realm and work as a blacksmith. Siegfried can get revenge on his father’s murder thanks to Regin, a skilled blacksmith, who reforged his father’s broken sword. Siegfried uses the sword to split the anvil right down the middle, demonstrating its power.
Siegfried agrees to slay Fafnir for Regin in exchange for this favour so that Regin can take possession of the cursed ring that still has a magnetic pull on his heart. The support of Odin seems to have been something Siegfried valued. According to some legends, Siegfried came upon Odin inside the forest, and the Norse god’s ruler handed Siegfried the horse Grani, a descendant of Sleipner, Odin’s mount.
Later, Siegfried receives guidance from Odin in his effort to kill Fafnir. Siegfried sneaks into Fafnir’s domain and excavates a hole next to the lake where the dragon bathes to kill it. The dragon will be stabbed in the belly once Siegfried hides in the hole. Odin shows up just while Siegfried is getting ready and tells him to make several holes so that Fafnir’s blood can drain.
Siegfried can gravely hurt the dragon when Fafnir appears and releases poison into the air. Fafnir warns Siegfried as he passes away that Regin, their father’s treasure, and particularly the ring, would be Siegfried’s demise. Regin shows up while Siegfried is still waiting to finish his mission and consumes some of Fafnir’s blood to bolster his strength.
Moreover, he requests that Siegfried prepare Fafnir’s heart so that he can consume it. When Siegfried licks his finger, it appears like he gains the capacity to comprehend bird language after touching the heart to determine whether it is ready. Siegfried can communicate with Odin’s two ravens through this, and they inform him of Regin’s plans to assassinate Siegfried and take all the wealth for himself. Then, based on the Norse legend, Siegfried murders Regin, consumes a portion of the heart, and takes the ring and as much wealth as possible before departing and passing the curse to his line.
