Ancient Worms, Germany is central to the story of Germanic hero Siegfried and epic poem Nibelungenlied (Song of the Nibelungs). Prince of Xanten, Siegfried's not discriminating. He treats dragons, Dwarfs and damsels with equal disdain. Scheming relatives are his nemesis.
The city of Worms (English pron. ~ Voorms) is on the west bank of the Rhine. The name comes from the Celtic Borbetomagus meaning 'settlement in a watery place'. From this arises Latin Vormatia in the 6th century, and finally Worms.
In antiquity the city is a stronghold and center of administration for the Burgundians, a German tribe who cross the Rhine in 406 - 7 AD. They figure prominently in the adventures of Siegfried, who weds Burgundian princess Kriemhild.
According to Nibelungenlied, Siegfried slays the dragon Fafnir at Gnita-Heath, near the city of Worms. Dated c. 1200, in the High Middle Ages, Nibelungenlied is a handwritten account of the infamous exploits of Siegfried, set in the 5th century.
The Nibelungen are a race of mountain Dwarfs in the northern realms. Siegfried tricks the Dwarf Sorcerer King Alberich and steals his Tarnkappe, a cloak of invisibility.
The epic poem weaves through the plots of the powerful Burgundians. It conveys the agony of beautiful Kriemhild; the tragic fate of Brunhilde, once Queen of Iceland; betrayal of brothers, and how uncertain allies like Attila the Hun are part of myth and history of Germania.
Although Siegfried is known as an epic hero he does some un-heroic things which seal the fates of two Queens and their kingdoms. Of course, it's a rat-eat-rat world and when her delusions are shattered, Kriemhild knows her best ally is strategy.
Despite the jealousy between them, two true stars of the Nibelungen story are Kriemhild and Brunhilde. Both women emerge in the tale as warriors whose prowess is affected in different ways, entwined with love and deceit.
In the Lora Ley fantasy fiction novel Nibelung, half-Nyx Lora and friends are thrown back in time to the days of Kriemhild, Brunhilde, Siegfried and the Nibelungen treasure. Complications arise as midsummer festivities get into full swing, a Dwarf King rises and war breaks out with Romans. Attila the Hun makes a feature appearance, love potions go awry, and how does Shakespeare fit into all this?
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READ: Lora Ley Adventures - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series
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