Sigurd and Fafnir
Sigurd is a hero of northern legend who kills Fafnir, a dragon guarding cursed treasure. In the most common version, tasting the dragon’s blood lets Sigurd understand birds. Their story links courage and wisdom with the dangers of greed, betrayal, and inherited treasure.
Key stories of Sigurd and Fafnir
Fafnir and the cursed hoard
Fafnir kills his father to seize a treasure hoard and becomes a dragon guarding it. The gold carries a curse that brings ruin to those who possess it.
In The Saga of the Volsungs, Regin tells Sigurd how his brother Fafnir took their father’s treasure and withdrew to guard it in dragon form.
In The Saga of the Volsungs by Anonymous
Sigurd kills the dragon
Encouraged by Regin, Sigurd digs a pit in Fafnir’s path and strikes the dragon from below. The dying Fafnir warns him that the treasure will bring destruction.
In The Saga of the Volsungs, Sigurd waits beneath Fafnir’s route to water and drives his sword into the dragon as it passes overhead.
In The Saga of the Volsungs by Anonymous
The dragon’s blood and the birds
While roasting Fafnir’s heart for Regin, Sigurd tastes the dragon’s blood and gains the ability to understand birds. Their warnings reveal that Regin plans to betray him.
In The Saga of the Volsungs, Sigurd burns his finger while testing the heart and puts it in his mouth. He then understands birds discussing Regin’s treachery and kills Regin before taking the treasure.
In The Saga of the Volsungs by Anonymous
How to recognise Sigurd and Fafnir in stories
- Look for a dragon guarding a cursed treasure hoard.
- Notice a hero striking the dragon from a pit.
- Watch for dragon’s blood that makes birds understandable.
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Are Sigurd and Siegfried the same hero?
Sigurd and Siegfried are related versions of the same legendary hero, but their stories differ. Sigurd belongs to the northern tradition represented by The Saga of the Volsungs. Siegfried appears in the German Nibelungenlied, where dragon blood makes his skin almost invulnerable.
Was Fafnir always a dragon?
No, Fafnir was not always a dragon. In the most common version, he is Regin’s brother and takes dragon form after killing their father for his treasure. In The Saga of the Volsungs, his transformation connects the monster’s physical shape with his violent greed.
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