Wielandlied

The Wielandlied is a genre of medieval German poetry that focuses on the legendary smith Wieland. Wieland, also known as Wayland or Völundr in other Germanic traditions, is a mythical craftsman renowned for his exceptional skill in forging weapons and armor. These poems typically recount tales of his prowess, his magical abilities, and often his tragic fate or his quest for vengeance. Common themes include his enslavement by a king, his ingenious escape through self-mutilation and crafting his own wings, and his subsequent retribution. The Wielandlied served to celebrate heroic craftsmanship and explore motifs of fate, justice, and individual agency in the face of oppression. Several notable examples exist, often found in manuscript collections of medieval German literature. The narratives often draw on older Germanic mythology, contributing to the preservation and transmission of these ancient stories.