Norse
Sigurd is the mythical son of Sigmund and Hjordis, as depicted in the Volsung Saga. Sigmund dies in a battle, leaving his shattered sword to his unborn son. Hjordis eventually remarries, this time to Alf, the legendary Swedish king. Alf has Sigurd sent away to a man named Regin.
Regin tries to corrupt Sigurd by tempting him to greed over his late father's wealth (which is controlled by Alf). Sigurd claims that he can get anything he wants. Regin then asks why Sigurd is content with his position at Alf's court, and Sigurd contends that he is treated as an equal. Regin's then asks Sigurd why he has no horse. Sigurd goes to the stable to pick out a horse. He is advised in his choice by Odin in disguise, which results in him getting the best horse--Grani, descended from Odin's horse Sleipnir.
Regin next tells Sigurd a story from his past. Regin was known to be an excellent smith, while his brother Otr was an excellent swimmer. One day while Otr was swimming near the waterfall of a dwarf named Andvari, Loki saw him and, believing him to be an otter, killed him. Loki took the body to Otr's father, Hreidmar, to show off his catch. Hreidmar recognized his son and immediately demanded compensation for his death. He demanded that Loki cover and fill Otr's body with gold. Loki stole the gold from Andvari, stealing Andvari's magic ring, the Andvarinaut, as well. Andvari cursed the ring, wishing death to its possessor. Loki paid his debt with Andvari's gold, and left the ring on Otr's body. Otr and Regin's other brother, Fafnir, steals the the gold and the ring, killing Hreidmar in the process. Due to his greed, he becomes a dragon.
Regin then convinces Sigurd to kill Fafnir. Regin forges Sigurd a sword for the task, but when Sigurd strikes the anvil with the sword, it shatters. Regin's second attempt meets a similar fate. Finally, Sigurd tells Regin to forge a sword from the fragments of his father's sword. This new sword, Gram, slices through the anvil.
Regin suggests that Sigurd dig a pit, and stab Fafnir from underneath. Odin, once again disguised, also suggests that Sigurd dig several trenches to drain the blood and bathe in it. Sigurd kills Fafnir and bathes in his blood, gaining invulnerability--except in one area on his shoulder covered by a fallen leaf. Sigurd roasts Fafnir's heart so that Regin may eat it, but in doing so he burns his finger. He sticks his finger in his mouth, tasting the dragon's blood and granting him the power to speak to birds. The birds caution Sigurd that Regin will betray him. Angered, Sigurd beheads Regin and consumes part of Fafnir's heart, gaining wisdom.
A depiction of Sigurd killing Regin and Fafnir
Sigurd then meets Brynhild, who is imprisoned inside a castle surrounded by flames that only Sigurd can pass through. He falls in love with her and proposes with the Andvarinaut. He leaves for the court of Gjuki, the king of Burgundy, but promises to return and wed Brynhild.
While he is at court, however, Gjuki's wife Grimhild plots to make Brynhild marry her son, Gunnar. She makes a potion which causes Sigurd to forget about Brynhild. He exchanges shapes with Gunnar so that Brynhild will think Gunnar has passed the flames to rescue her. Brynhild and Gunnar marry, while Sigurd later marries Grimhild's daughter, Gudrun. Gudrun tells Brynhild of Sigurd's trickery in exchanging shapes with Gunnar, and Brynhild is outraged. She convinces her brother-in-law, Guttorm, to kill Sigurd, while she kills his son. Unwilling to continue living, she throws herself onto the flames of Sigurd's funeral pyre.
The Sigurd myth has influenced numerous modern stories. Richard Wagner's opera Siegfried is a retelling of the Sigurd myth (using his Germanic name). Tolkien also used certain elements in his books, such as the sword reforged and the cursed ring.
