Völund

Völund, also known as Wayland the Smith or Wieland, is a mythical figure prominent in Germanic mythology. He is a master craftsman, renowned for his exceptional skill in forging weapons and jewelry. His legend is most fully preserved in the Poetic Edda, specifically in the poem Völundarkviða.

According to the Völundarkviða, Völund was a prince of the Finns. He and his brothers lived with swan maidens, who shed their feathered cloaks and became human for a period. Völund married one of these swan maidens, Hervör. After seven years, Hervör departed, and Völund was left alone.

In a subsequent part of the legend, Völund is captured by King Niðuðr of Sweden. The king, envious of Völund's smithing abilities, has his hamstrings cut so he cannot walk and forces him to work in a dungeon on the island of Sævarstöð. Niðuðr also steals a ring from Völund, which was a gift from Hervör. Völund, seeking revenge, tricks Niðuðr's two sons into visiting his smithy, where he kills them and fashions exquisite items from their remains. He then rapes Niðuðr's daughter, Böðvildr, and crafts rings from her hair and a piece of her torn chemise.

Finally, Völund escapes by crafting himself wings. He flies to the battlements of Niðuðr's hall and reveals himself to the king, boasting of his vengeance and reclaiming his stolen ring. The tale ends with Völund's triumphant escape and a curse upon Niðuðr. Völund's story has parallels in other Germanic traditions, such as the Old English poem Waldere and the German Wielandlied.