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  • Sylvia Rose

Nibelung - Heroes and Worms

Updated: May 29

The ancient city of Worms, Germany is central to the story of Germanic hero Siegfried and the Middle Ages epic poem Nibelungenlied (Song of the Nibelungs). A Prince of Xanten, Siegfried's not discriminating. He treats dragons, Dwarfs and damsels with equal disdain; but, as often happens, double-crossing relatives become 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?


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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 arose the 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 crossed the Rhine in 406 - 7, and figure prominently in the adventures of Siegfried.


According to Nibelungenlied, the hero Siegfried of Xanten slew the dragon Fafnir at Gnita-Heath, not far from the city of Worms. Dated around 1200, during the High Middle Ages, Nibelungenlied is a handwritten account of the infamous adventures of Siegfried. Although a powerful figure in Late Antiquity, he's not the smartest of heroes, being subject to manipulation by Dwarfs, family and trusted friends. Still, he has a good sword arm and eventually becomes King of Xanten.


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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 weaved through the plots and stories of the powerful Burgundians; the agony of beautiful Kriemhild; the tragic fate of Brunhilde, once Queen of Iceland; the betrayal of brothers, and how the armies of uncertain allies like Attila the Hun are entwined in the 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 this 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. While Brunhilde meets a sad end, the fate of Kriemhild has several versions in Germanic lore, and remains a mystery.





 

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