Fafnir

Cursed Treasure Dragon of Norse Myth

Fafnir is the tragic dragon of the Norse Völsunga saga and the German Nibelungenlied. Originally a dwarf — one of three sons of dwarf-king Hreidmar — he was consumed by greed for a golden hoard brought as compensation by Loki, which included the cursed ring Andvaranaut. Killing his father and driving away his brother Regin, he transformed into a massive venom-spewing serpent to guard the treasure. The hero Sigurd (Siegfried in German tradition) slew him by digging a pit and stabbing upward into his belly. Drinking Fafnir's blood granted Sigurd the language of birds, and eating his heart granted all wisdom. Central figure of Wagner's Ring Cycle.