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 undoing.
In the Lora Ley fantasy fiction novel Nibelung, half-Nyx Lora and friends travel back in time to revisit the story of Siegfried of Xanten and find the Nibelungen treasure. Complications arise as midsummer festivities get into full swing, and war breaks out with the Romans. Attila the Hun makes an appearance, love potions go awry, and how does Shakespeare fit into all this?
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.
The city was a stronghold and center of administration for the Burgundians, a German tribe who cross the Rhine in 406 - 7 AD, and figure prominently in the adventures of Siegfried.
According to Nibelungenlied, the hero Siegfried of Xanten 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 in late antiquity.
The Nibelungen are a race of mountain Dwarfs in the northern realms. Siegfried tricks the Dwarf Sorcerer 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 Germany.
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, the 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 - one because of love, the other deceit.
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