The dragon slain by Sigurd; originally a dwarf or man transformed by greed for the gold.
Fáfnir is one of the most celebrated figures in Old Norse heroic legend. He was originally a son of the dwarf Hreiðmarr and brother to Reginn and Ótr. When the Æsir paid blood-compensation with Andvari's gold, Fáfnir was transformed by desire and assumed dragon form to possess the treasure alone. He is described in Fáfnismál, Völsunga saga, and Skáldskaparmál.
Sigurd's battle against Fáfnir is a central motif in the Völsung tradition. Reginn instructs Sigurd to dig a pit along the dragon's path and kill him from below with the sword Gramr. After drinking Fáfnir's blood, Sigurd understands the language of birds and receives warning of Reginn's treachery. The motif reflects an archaic theme of overcoming a draconic guardian and seizing his hoard.
Sources in the Eddas
- Fáfnismál
- The dialogue between Sigurd and the dying Fáfnir. Own translation.
- Völsunga saga 14-20
- The prose account of Fáfnir's origin and his slaying. Own translation.
Interpretive traditions
A What we know
Fáfnir is the dragon slain by Sigurd; his origin as a person transformed by greed is attested in Fáfnismál and Völsunga saga.
B What we think we know
The Fáfnir motif belongs to a broad Indo-European dragon tradition and may have roots older than the preserved Völsung version.