description Wayland the Smith Overview
Wayland the Smith, known as Völundr in Old Norse sources, is a legendary master metalworker and protagonist of Germanic heroic legend. His story is most famously preserved in the Old English poem "Deor" and the Old Norse "Völundarkviða" from the Poetic Edda. The narratives detail his capture and crippling by a greedy king, his subsequent forced labor crafting magical treasures, his brutal revenge against the royal family, and his eventual escape using mechanical wings.
help Wayland the Smith FAQ
What are the primary sources that preserve the legend of Wayland the Smith?
Wayland's story is most famously preserved in the Old English poem "Deor" and the Old Norse "Völundarkviða" from the Poetic Edda. He is known as Wayland in English traditions and Völundr in Old Norse sources.
What is Wayland the Smith famous for making?
Wayland is a legendary master metalworker and the protagonist of Germanic heroic legend who crafted magical items. The narratives detail his creation of incredible weapons, armors, and a famous flying wing to escape his captivity.
Where does the legend of Wayland the Smith take place?
According to the "Völundarkviða," Wayland operates his smithy in a location often associated with Sweden. There is also a famous Neolithic long barrow in Oxfordshire, England, known as Wayland's Smithy, which locals historically connected to his legend.
What happened to Wayland in the Norse legends?
In the legends, Wayland was hamstrung by a greedy king and forced to work in an isolated forge on an island. He ultimately exacted a gruesome revenge on the king's family before escaping on his hand-crafted wings.
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