Hreiðmarr

Hreiðmarr is a prominent figure in Norse mythology, primarily known as the father of the infamous dragon-slayer Sigurd. He appears in the Poetic Edda, specifically in the Völsunga Saga, a legendary saga that recounts the deeds of the Völsung clan. Hreiðmarr was a powerful and wealthy king who resided in a magnificent hall. His wealth was said to be immense, largely due to his acquisition of the cursed treasure of the dwarf Andvari.

The story of Hreiðmarr's acquisition of this treasure is central to his narrative. Andvari had a magical ring, Andvaranaut, which was stolen by the gods Odin and Loki. To compensate Andvari for his loss, Odin was commanded to collect a ransom of gold. Loki, in his role as the one who had wronged Andvari, was tasked with gathering the gold. Loki eventually came across Hreiðmarr, who possessed a large hoard of gold. Loki tricked Hreiðmarr into giving up his gold, and in exchange, Hreiðmarr was given the cursed treasure, including the ring Andvaranaut.

Hreiðmarr's downfall came at the hands of his own sons, Fafnir and Regin. Driven by greed for the cursed treasure, Fafnir murdered his father and took possession of the gold, transforming himself into a dragon to guard it. Regin, resentful of Fafnir's actions and also coveting the treasure, eventually persuaded his half-brother Sigurd to slay Fafnir. Thus, Hreiðmarr's story serves as the tragic prelude to Sigurd's legendary exploits and the complex web of fate and greed that defines the Völsunga Saga.