Volund
The skilled smith of The Lay of Volund, who escapes by flight after Nithud confines him.
Overview
Volund is the skilled smith of The Lay of Volund. The poem first leaves him without companions and then confines him on an island; his escape is joined to revenge on the royal house, not to a clean heroic victory.
Key facts
Brother at Wolf Lake
The poem opens by naming Volund as one of three brothers living with swan-maidens.
Further spoiler details are available in the interactive atlas.
Relationships
- Egilbrothers
The poem names Volund and Egil as two of the three brothers.
- Slagfithbrothers
The poem names Volund and Slagfith as two of the three brothers.
- Alvitpaired with
At Wolf Lake, the poem pairs Volund with Alvit.
- Nithudcaptures
Nithud sends men to seize Volund while he sleeps.
- Bodvildbrings a broken ring
Bodvild brings a broken ring to the island and asks Volund to mend it.
- Nithud's Two Sonskills
Volund kills the two unnamed princes who come to his island workshop.
- Bodvildcoerces
Volund coerces Bodvild on the island; this is harm, not romance.
- Nithudflies beyond his control
Volund flies beyond Nithud, leaving consequences the king cannot retrieve.
Story appearances
- The Lay of VolundCaptive smith
Volund moves from waiting man to captive and avenger, then flies away.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.