Cursed Gold
Andvari’s hoard becomes a cross-generation death chain after the curse, linking Hreidmar, Fafnir, Sigurd and Atli.
Overview
The cursed gold is the causal spine of the Volsung story. It is not a simple prize: each transfer brings the next family conflict or killing closer.
Key facts
Comes from Andvari
The gold first belongs to Andvari and is taken for compensation.
Further spoiler details are available in the interactive atlas.
Relationships
- Andvaricurses
After losing the hoard, Andvari curses the gold so that it brings death.
- Hreidmarpaid as compensation
The cursed gold is paid to Hreidmar as compensation for Otr’s death.
- Fafnirguards gold
Fafnir keeps the gold in dragon form.
- Sigurdtakes gold
After killing Fafnir and Regin, Sigurd takes the treasure.
- Atliseeks gold
Atli seeks the gold left by Sigurd.
- Sigurdbrings Fafnir’s gold
Brynhild says Sigurd arrives with the gold Fafnir guarded.
- Fafnirleaves the hoard for water
leaves the hoard for water
- Sigurdtakes Fafnir's hoard
takes Fafnir's hoard
- Andvarimakes the gold bring death
makes the gold bring death
Story appearances
- Sigurd and the VolsungsTreasure of cross-family disaster
The cursed gold moves from Andvari to Hreidmar, Fafnir, Sigurd and Atli, continuing to bring death.
- Brynhild’s Hell-Ride: A Defense on the Hel-RoadFigure or event in the Hell-Ride’s Hel-road exchange, memory, or defense
Andvari’s hoard becomes a cross-generation death chain after the curse, linking Hreidmar, Fafnir, Sigurd and Atli.
- Fafnismol: Dragon Blood and Bird-SpeechFigure or object in Fafnismol
Andvari’s hoard becomes a cross-generation death chain after the curse, linking Hreidmar, Fafnir, Sigurd and Atli.
- Reginsmol: Gold, Sword, and Broken OmensFigure or artifact in Reginsmol
Andvari’s hoard becomes a cross-generation death chain after the curse, linking Hreidmar, Fafnir, Sigurd and Atli.
- Gripir’s Prophecy: Asking Fate to Its EndFigure or hoard in Gripisspo
Andvari’s hoard becomes a cross-generation death chain after the curse, linking Hreidmar, Fafnir, Sigurd and Atli.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.
- Anonymous, Volsunga Saga, Chapter XIV, Regin tells of Hreidmar, Otr, Fafnir, Andvari and Andvari's hoard
- Anonymous, Volsunga Saga, Chapter XIX, Sigurd kills Regin and takes Fafnir's treasure
- Anonymous, Volsunga Saga, Chapters XXXIII-XXXIX, Gudrun weds Atli, Atli seeks the gold, Gunnar and Hogni die, and Gudrun takes vengeance
- Anonymous; translated by Henry Adams Bellows, The Poetic Edda: Reginsmol, Introduction, prose, and stanzas 1–12: Andvari, the ransom gold, Hreithmar’s death, and Regin’s inheritance claim.
- Anonymous; translated by Henry Adams Bellows, The Poetic Edda: Gripisspo, Stanzas 7–19: Gripir foretells vengeance on Hunding’s sons, Fafnir and Regin, the hoard, a sleeping woman, and Heimir.