Andvaranaut: Magical Ring That Made Gold And Was Stolen By Norse God Loki
Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - In Norse mythology, Andvaranaut, also called Andvari's loom, is a powerful, magical ring capable of producing gold. It was forged by the shape-shifting dwarf Andvari, who could turn himself into a fish.
Credit: Keith Parkinson
In Norse mythology, the ring was one of the masterpieces of dwarf jewelry. The dwarf was wealthy due partly to his ring, Andvaranant, which allowed him to find additional sources of gold.
When the Norse god Loki learned about the ring's magical powers, he stole it from the dwarf. In revenge, Andvari cursed the ring to bring misfortune and destruction to whoever possessed it. Andvari said, "the gold ring would be the death of whoever owned it, and the same applied to all the gold." It is also precisely what happened.
The cursed ring did not bring Loki or anyone who owned it much luck or joy.
On arriving at Hreidmar's house, the king of the Dwarves, Loki, gave a ring to the dwarf because the ring had accidentally killed Hreidmar's son, Ótr.
Left: Credit: Adobe Stock - veraverunchik - Right: Dwarf published in Gjellerup, Karl (1895). Credit: Public Domain
Ótr's brother, Fafnir, then murdered Hreidmar and took the ring, turning it into a dragon to guard it. Sigurd (Siegfried) later killed Fafnir.
In some versions of the story, hero Sigurd later encounters the Valkyrie Brynhild, whom Norse God Odin punished. Sigurd marries her, using the Andvaranaut as a promise ring.
The story of Andvaranaut has been used in musical performances, books, and movies.
For example, Richard Wagner did not use the name "Andvaranaut.", but he told the story of the ring in his famous operatic cycle "Der Ring des Nibelungen" (The Ring of the Nibelung). The ring Andvaranaut is also credited as one of the inspirations for the One Ring in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of The Rings.
Written by Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com
Updated on January 12, 2024
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesMore From Ancient Pages
-
Viminacium Ancient Roman Camp: Sarcophagus With Skeletons, Rich Grave Goods Found In Serbia
Archaeology | Jun 5, 2018
-
Magnificent Golden Silk Cloth Made By 1 Million Spiders Is One Of The World’s Rarest Silk Textiles
Artifacts | May 20, 2021
-
Battle Between The Good And Bad Mind Over Human Souls – Told By The Iroquois Tribes
Featured Stories | Oct 25, 2021
-
Unexpected And Surprising Results Of Ancient DNA Study – Who Were The First People In South America?
Archaeology | Nov 2, 2022
-
Ancient City Of Adab That Flourished In North Sumer
Civilizations | Jul 19, 2017
-
Hundreds Of Exceptional Bronze Age Artifacts Discovered In France Were Probably Offerings
Archaeology | Aug 28, 2021
-
Hundreds Of Fascinating 24,000-Year-Old Cave Paintings Discovered In Eastern Iberia
Archaeology | Sep 11, 2023
-
Secrets Of The Japanese Shirasaya Sword Mounting
Featured Stories | Sep 11, 2018
-
Sir Walter Raleigh ‘Self-Portrait’ Discovered Behind Walls In The Tower Of London
Archaeology | Nov 5, 2018
-
Hua Mulan – Chinese Brave Female Warrior In Disguise Who Fought Instead Of Her Old Father
Featured Stories | May 23, 2019
-
Daily Life Of Ancient Maya
Ancient History Facts | Oct 12, 2020
-
Satellite Images Revealed Lost Ancient Irrigation System In Desert-Like Region Of China
Ancient Technology | Jan 6, 2018
-
Has A New Study Of 5,000-Year-Old DNA Solved The Mystery Of The Tarim Basin Mummies?
Civilizations | Mar 31, 2022
-
Oshun Goddess Of Yoruba People Who Brings All Things That Make Life Worth Living
African Mythology | Mar 29, 2019
-
Grutte Pier – Legendary Giant Frisian Freedom Fighter Who Sought Revenge
Featured Stories | Dec 20, 2018
-
Sphinx Statue With A Smiley Face And Two Dimples Unearthed In Qena, Egypt
Archaeology | Mar 6, 2023
-
New Theory On “Dry Moat” At The Pyramid Of Pharaoh Djoser
Archaeology | Jul 3, 2019
-
On This Day In History: Vädersol Painting Depicting ‘Sun Dog’ Phenomenon Observed Over Stockholm – On Apr 20, 1535
News | Apr 20, 2017
-
Roman Herculaneum: Men And Women Had Different Diets – New Study
Archaeology | Aug 26, 2021
-
Pyrgi Gold Tablets: A Rare Ancient Bilingual Treasure
Artifacts | Nov 23, 2018