Deep into history

The story of Sigurd and his tribe was written down as the Volsunga saga by an unknown author in Iceland in the thirteenth century AD. But before that it had already had a long life, traveling the world, between the gothic or Germanic tribes and roman empire in central Europe, all the way up to a narrow valley deep in the heart of Norway, called Setesdal.

It describes events from the ancient wars between the kings of the Burgundians, Huns, and Goths. Small pieces of this saga are to be found all over Europe maybe as far back as 200-300 AD. During its long life the story has taken many forms. Elements can be spotted in sagas, rhymes, songs, tapestries, rock carvings, wood carvings, names and much more. It must have been a very familiar story to people throughout medieval Europe. Just one single character – like the dragon or the horse, the sword or the snakes was enough to evoke the whole narrative in the observer. Much like how the simple bow of the sports brand Nike today might give us associations to particular clothes, running shoes, being active, celebrities endorsing the brand and so on. It encompassed a whole world of connections, actions, ways of being, gender roles and much more,

Below you can try out our game proposal to get to know the Hyelstad portal a little better, as well as read the whole story of Siegfried’s adventures.

Example of How to Play as a group

Take it in turns to read out the description on the description card.

Then try and find a picture, a sound or tactile object that you think matches the description the most.

Keep going until every description card has a pair. You can change your mind and change your pairs at any time.

When you are happy with your pairs, try and put the story in the correct order. You can compare it to the story or the 3D model to see if you’re right.

To make it more interesting, one person should right down the pairs they think work best and others can try and guess.

We’ve gathered together lots of sources and made our own little summary here. We hope you like it, but you can follow our sources yourselves at the bottom of this Page.

Odin, Sigurd and a treasure of gold

The story starts long before Sigurd is born. And through a complicated genealogy we understand that he is a direct heir of Odin himself.

Once Odin is out walking with his two brothers Loke and Høne, they come upon an otter, called Oter swimming by the Andvare waterfall. Loke admires the shiny fur of the otter and kills him. The otter’s father, Reidmar, gets very upset and demands a big ransom in gold for the loss of his son. The treasure should fill up the skin of Otter he says. Loke, being the villain, returns to the waterfall where he finds the dwarf Andvari. He demands that Andvari gives him a large gold treasure. And so he does.

Andvari has two other sons: Fafnir and Regin. And they both want the gold. Fafnir steals the gold, escapes and changes into a dragon to protect the gold from everyone else.

But Regin is not giving up the possibility of getting his hands on the gold. He works on a large estate as a black smith. Sigurd who has lost his father also lives on the same farm. It is said about Sigurd that he had a particular aura and gaze about him. Everyone could see that he was destine to greatness. Regin decides to foster Sigurd to make him the best in the art of runes, spelling, warfare and everything needed to steel back the hoard.

Gram – The magical sword and the heart of the dragon

Regin forges a sword for Sigurd, but when he puts it to use, it immediately breaks down. Then Sigurd finds the remnants of his long-gone father’s sword, Gram. (Gram means wreath) Regin repairs the sword. It is claimed that this sword will kill and destroy everything it gets in contact with. Sigurd then travels to the cave where the Dragon is dwelling over the gold. Through a tremendous fight he finally kills the dragon.

Sigurd rejoins Regin, not knowing that he is scheming against him. Together they carve out the dragon’s heart and Regin says they should eat it to get unbeatable strength. While Regin sleeps, Sigurd puts the dragon heart over the fire. While doing so, he cuts his finger, he licks the blood from his finger and when he gets a taste of the dragon blood, he suddenly understands the language of the birds. All the birds in the trees are singing that Regin is planning to kill Sigurd and steal the gold hoard.

Sigurd instead kills Regin and loads all the gold on the back of his famous horse, Grane. Grane is the son of Odins eight-legged horse Sleipnir. He is such a strong and vital horse that he can carry all the gold which normally would be divided between at least three horses.

Brynhild – The Valkyrie on Hindafell

The birds prompted Sigurd to continue his journey to Hindafell, a castle on a mountain, where the Valkyrie, Brynhild sleeps. She is condemned to endless sleep by Odin. The only one who can wake her up is a man that do not feel fear. Sigurd enters the castle and finds Brynhild dressed in full armour. He sliced through the armour, and she wakes up from her long sleep. Brynhild possesses magical powers and she serves Sigurd a drink from a golden drinking horn to give him wisdom. Brynhild and Sigurd are very much taken with each other. He wants to stay with her, but Brynhild says that: “it is not fated that we shall live together. I am a shield maiden. I wear a helmet and ride with the warrior kings”. Sigurd replies: “Our lives will be most fruitful if spent together. If we do not live together, the grief will be harder to endure than a sharp weapon”. Brynhild foresees that Sigurd will marry Gudrun and not her.

Sigurd marries gudrun and rides through fire

In a kingdom south of the Rhine, there was a king named Gjuki. He had three sons; Gunnar, Hogni and Guttorm. He also had a daughter named Gudrun. She was the most famous of maidens. Gjuki was married to Grimhild, a woman well versed in magic. One evening she went to Sigurd, who were visting their castel, and she served him a horn with a drink. This was a magical drink that made him forget Brynhild. Grimhild then went to her king and persuaded him to marry off his daughter to Sigurd, the strongest, richest and fairest of all young men. Sigurd and Gunhild were joined in marriage and their son Sigmund was born. Grimhild now went to her son Gunnar and asked why he was still not married even though he was prosperous in all other matters. She suggested him marring Brynhild, and he was not unwilling.

Gunnar now travelled with his father, brother and Sigurd to Hindarfell the hall where Brynhild reigned. Brynhild had claimed that she would only marry the man who can ride through the blazing fire surrounding her hall. Gunnar spurred his horse toward the fire, but he shied away. Sigurd and Gunnar now exchanged shapes, as Grimhild had taught them. Sigurd rode with Gram, the sword in his hand through the fire and into the hall where Brynhild sat in a beautiful room. He presented himself as Gunnar and claimed her as his bride reminding her of her vow, to marry the man who could ride through the flames without any fear. She recognized the truth in this and received him well.

However, when Brynhild learns that Gunnar really is Sigurd in disguise, she wants revenge and plots against Sigurd to have him killed by her kinsmen. After this she arrange a big pyre for herself and Sigurd to be united in death.

Everyone who now heard the news said no man of Sigurd`s like remained in the world, and never again would a man be born equal to Sigurd in all things. His name would never be forgotten in the German tongue and in the northern lands, as long as the world endures.

The end of two dynasties

Full of grief and sorrow, Gudrun drifted into the woods for a long time. Grimhild again plotted to have her children marrying into powerful clans and families. This time Gudrun was married to Atli the king of Huns. People said it was a love less marriage and soon enough Alti also wanted the gold once in Sigurds possession, now controlled by Gunnar and his brother Hogni. A war broke out between the Huns and the Gjukungs (Gunnar and Hogni`s clan). Hogni was captured and his heart was cut out. Gunnar was placed in a snake pit with many serpents, and his hands were bound fast. Gudrun sent him a harp which he artfully played with his toes until the serpents had fallen asleep, expert for one large adder which crawled up and struck his heart. And there, Gunnar lost his life. Gudrun did not want to live after these deeds. Thus the conflict was brought to an end with these events.