Sigmund
Volsung’s son who draws the sword left by Odin; his broken weapon later becomes Sigurd’s Gram.
Overview
Sigmund turns the Volsung line toward Sigurd’s story. He first draws Odin’s sword and later leaves its shards, preserved by Hjordis for his unborn son.
Key facts
Draws the tree-sword
In chapter III, others cannot draw the sword, but Sigmund succeeds.
Further spoiler details are available in the interactive atlas.
Relationships
- Volsungfather of
Volsung is Sigmund’s father.
- Gramdraws sword
Sigmund draws the sword others cannot draw.
- Sigurdson of
Sigurd is Sigmund’s son.
- Helgi Hundingsbanefather of
The poem calls Helgi the son of Sigmund.
- Borghildoffers atonement-money
offers atonement-money
- Sinfjotlitells him to let the drink run through his beard
tells him to let the drink run through his beard
- Sinfjotlicarries the body to the fjord
carries the body to the fjord
Story appearances
- Sigurd and the VolsungsSword-drawer and father
Sigmund draws the sword and leaves its shards for Sigurd’s inheritance.
- The First Lay of Helgi HundingsbaneFather who names his son
Sigmund names Helgi, placing him in his family line.
- Fra Dautha Sinfjotla: Three Poisoned Horns and the FjordFigure in Fra Dautha Sinfjotla
Volsung’s son who draws the sword left by Odin; his broken weapon later becomes Sigurd’s Gram.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.
- Anonymous, Volsunga Saga, Chapter III, Odin sets the sword in the Branstock and Sigmund draws it
- Anonymous, Volsunga Saga, Chapters XI-XII, Sigmund's last battle, Hjordis and the shards of Gram
- Anonymous; translated by Henry Adams Bellows, The Poetic Edda: Fra Dautha Sinfjotla, Opening prose: the death of Borghild’s unnamed brother, her demand that Sinfjotli leave, and Sigmund’s compensation.
- Anonymous; translated by Henry Adams Bellows, The Poetic Edda: Fra Dautha Sinfjotla, Funeral-feast prose: Borghild brings three poisoned horns; Sigmund drinks the first two, and Sinfjotli dies after the third.
- Anonymous; translated by Henry Adams Bellows, The Poetic Edda: Fra Dautha Sinfjotla, Closing prose: Sigmund carries the body to a fjord; an unnamed ferryman takes it away and disappears, before the prose turns to Sigmund and Sigurth.