Hogni

Overview

Hogni represents internal family judgment. He is involved in Sigurd’s death, then shares Gunnar’s fate in Atli’s gold-driven violence.

Relationships

• Giukifather of

  Giuki is Hogni’s father.

• Sigurd's Deathshares decision

  Hogni is involved in the brotherly decision around Sigurd’s death.

• Atlikills for gold

  Atli kills Hogni for the gold.

• Kostberawife of

  The poem calls Kostbera Hogni’s wife.

• Kostberawarns

  Kostbera urges Hogni not to go, reading both runes and dreams.

• Snaeverfather of

  Snaever is called a son of Hogni.

• Solarfather of

  Solar is called a son of Hogni.

• Atliorders death of

  Atli orders Hogni’s heart cut out.

• Sigurdswears oaths with him

  Sigurd and Hogni are both inside the oaths of Gjuki’s sons.

• Gunnarrefuses oath-breaking

  Hogni says the oaths sworn with Sigurd should not be broken by swords.

• Brynhildnames her anger

  Hogni says Brynhild has whetted Gunnar’s hate.

• Brynhildforesees the Niflung fall

  Brynhild says the whole Niflung race will die.

• Gudruntells of death on the southern road

  tells of death on the southern road

• Gudrunforesees brothers’ fate

  foresees brothers’ fate

• Atlihas Hogni killed

  has Hogni killed

• Knefröthinvites him to the hall

  invites him to the hall

• Gudrunwarns with a wolf-hair ring

  warns with a wolf-hair ring

• Gunnarasks his counsel

  asks his counsel

• Atlirides through Myrkwood

  rides through Myrkwood

• Gunnarfights for his brother

  fights for his brother

• Atlitakes Hogni’s heart

  takes Hogni’s heart

Story appearances

• Sigurd and the VolsungsBrother in family decisions

  Hogni is involved in the family decision to kill Sigurd and later faces Atli with Gunnar.

• The Greenland Ballad of AtliExisting figure in the longer Atli poem

  This poem presents this existing figure with different details.

• The Short Lay of Sigurd: An Oath-Broken BedsideFigure or event in the Short Lay’s oaths, killing, or dying words

  Giuki’s son and Gunnar’s brother; he carries the family side of the decisions in Sigurd’s death and Atli’s aftershock.

• Fragment of a Sigurd Lay: The Outdoor Killing VersionFigure or event in the Fragment of a Sigurd Lay

  Giuki’s son and Gunnar’s brother; he carries the family side of the decisions in Sigurd’s death and Atli’s aftershock.

• The Old Lay of Guthrun: Recollection and Ominous DreamFigure or event in the Old Lay of Guthrun

  Giuki’s son and Gunnar’s brother; he carries the family side of the decisions in Sigurd’s death and Atli’s aftershock.

• The Lament of Oddrun: The Journey and the Failed RescueFigure in the Lament of Oddrun

  Giuki’s son and Gunnar’s brother; he carries the family side of the decisions in Sigurd’s death and Atli’s aftershock.

• The Lay of Atli: Ring, Serpents, and RevengeFigure in the Lay of Atli

  Giuki’s son and Gunnar’s brother; he carries the family side of the decisions in Sigurd’s death and Atli’s aftershock.

• Guthrun’s Inciting: A Daughter’s Death and Final LamentFigure in Guthrunarhvot

  Giuki’s son and Gunnar’s brother; he carries the family side of the decisions in Sigurd’s death and Atli’s aftershock.

• Drap Niflunga: A Bridge between LaysFigure in prose bridge

  Giuki’s son and Gunnar’s brother; he carries the family side of the decisions in Sigurd’s death and Atli’s aftershock.

Ancient sources

MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.

• Anonymous, Volsunga Saga, Chapters XXVI-XXIX, Sigurd at Giuki's court, Gudrun, Gunnar's wooing and Brynhild's grief
• Anonymous, Volsunga Saga, Chapters XXX-XXXII, Sigurd's killing, Gudrun's lament and Brynhild's ending
• Anonymous, Volsunga Saga, Chapters XXXIII-XXXIX, Gudrun weds Atli, Atli seeks the gold, Gunnar and Hogni die, and Gudrun takes vengeance
• Anonymous, Poetic Edda, Sigurtharkvitha en skamma, Bellows, Brynhild, Gunnar, Hogni, Gudrun and Sigurd's death passages