A Changed Shape and a Ride Through Fire
Why did Sigurd change his appearance?
In *Skaldskaparmal*, Sigurd lives for a long time at King Gjuki's court. He marries the king's daughter Gudrun and swears an oath of brotherhood with Gunnar and Hogni. In time, they set off to seek Brynhild as a bride for Gunnar.
Brynhild's hall was surrounded by flickering flames. She had sworn to marry only a man brave enough to ride through them. But Gunnar's horse would not leap into the fire. So Sigurd exchanged appearances with Gunnar.
Sigurd rode his own horse, Grani, through the flames. That night, he married Brynhild. In bed, he laid a drawn sword between them. When he returned to his companions, he and Gunnar exchanged appearances again. The company took Brynhild back to Gjuki.
Sources for this story (2)A Changed Shape and a Ride Through Fire
Þá hljóp Sigurðr á Grana ok reið vafrlogann.
Sigurd leaped onto Grani and rode through the flickering flames.
“The Language of Poetry” Chapter 48
“The Language of Poetry”Skáldskaparmál
“The Short Lay of Sigurd”Sigurðarkviða in skamma
Image details
John Charles Dollman “Sigurd and Gunnar at the Fire by J. C. Dollman” 1909 Public domain View original image
This SNES-style picture is based on an older artwork. Use the button to see it.