Difference between revisions of "Volund" - New World Encyclopedia

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[[Image:Völund on ardre.png|thumb|right|180px|Völund's smithy in the centre, Nidud's daughter to the left, and Nidud's dead sons hidden to the right of the smithy. Between the girl and the smithy, Völund can be seen in an eagle fetch flying away. From the [[Ardre image stone]].]]
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[[Image:Völund.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Völundr, Weyland's Scandinavian manifestation]]  
 
'''Weyland''' (also spelled ''Wayland'', ''Weland'' and ''Watlende'') is a mythical [[Smith (metalwork)|smith]]-[[Deity|god]] of the [[Anglo-Saxon polytheism|Anglo-Saxon religion]] brought with the [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] settlers of [[Britain]].  He is synonymous with the [[Norse paganism|Norse]]/[[Germanic paganism|Germanic]] '''Völundr''' of the ''[[Völundarkviða]]'', a poem in the [[Poetic Edda]].
 
'''Weyland''' (also spelled ''Wayland'', ''Weland'' and ''Watlende'') is a mythical [[Smith (metalwork)|smith]]-[[Deity|god]] of the [[Anglo-Saxon polytheism|Anglo-Saxon religion]] brought with the [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] settlers of [[Britain]].  He is synonymous with the [[Norse paganism|Norse]]/[[Germanic paganism|Germanic]] '''Völundr''' of the ''[[Völundarkviða]]'', a poem in the [[Poetic Edda]].
  
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==Mythic Accounts==
 
Weyland had two brothers, [[Agilaz|Egil]] and Slagfiðr (Slagfid/Slagfinn). In one version of the myth, the three brothers lived with three [[Valkyrie]]s: [[Alruna|Ölrún]], Alvitr and Svanhvít.  After nine years, the Valkyries left their lovers. Egil and Slagfiðr followed, never to return.  In another version, Weyland married the [[swan maiden]] Hervör, and they had a son, Heime; Hervör later left him.  In both versions, his love left him with a [[finger ring|ring]]; in the former myth, he forged seven hundred duplicates of this ring.
 
Weyland had two brothers, [[Agilaz|Egil]] and Slagfiðr (Slagfid/Slagfinn). In one version of the myth, the three brothers lived with three [[Valkyrie]]s: [[Alruna|Ölrún]], Alvitr and Svanhvít.  After nine years, the Valkyries left their lovers. Egil and Slagfiðr followed, never to return.  In another version, Weyland married the [[swan maiden]] Hervör, and they had a son, Heime; Hervör later left him.  In both versions, his love left him with a [[finger ring|ring]]; in the former myth, he forged seven hundred duplicates of this ring.
  
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[[Image:Völund.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Völundr, Weyland's Scandinavian manifestation]]  
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[[Image:Völund on ardre.png|thumb|right|180px|Völund's smithy in the centre, Nidud's daughter to the left, and Nidud's dead sons hidden to the right of the smithy. Between the girl and the smithy, Völund can be seen in an eagle fetch flying away. From the [[Ardre image stone]].]]
  
 
At a later point in time, he was captured in his sleep by King [[Nidud]] in [[Nerike]] who ordered him [[Hamstring|hamstrung]] and imprisoned on the island of Sævarstöð.  There he was forced to forge items for the king. Weyland's wife's ring was given to the king's daughter, [[Bodvild]].  Nidud wore Weyland's [[sword]].
 
At a later point in time, he was captured in his sleep by King [[Nidud]] in [[Nerike]] who ordered him [[Hamstring|hamstrung]] and imprisoned on the island of Sævarstöð.  There he was forced to forge items for the king. Weyland's wife's ring was given to the king's daughter, [[Bodvild]].  Nidud wore Weyland's [[sword]].
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He is particularly associated with [[Wayland's Smithy]], a [[burial mound]] in [[Oxfordshire]].  This was named by the Saxons, but the [[megalithic]] mound significantly predates them.  It is from this association that the superstition came about that a [[horse]] left there overnight with a small silver coin (a [[groat]]) would be shod by morning.
 
He is particularly associated with [[Wayland's Smithy]], a [[burial mound]] in [[Oxfordshire]].  This was named by the Saxons, but the [[megalithic]] mound significantly predates them.  It is from this association that the superstition came about that a [[horse]] left there overnight with a small silver coin (a [[groat]]) would be shod by morning.
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==Popular culture==
 
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* The former superstition is mentioned in the first episode of ''Puck of Pook's Hill'' by [[Rudyard Kipling]], "The Sword of Weland", which narrates the rise and fall of the god.
 
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* The character "Weyland Smith" is prominent in the "Animal Farm" story arc of the [[Fables (comic)|''Fables'']] [[comic book]].  He is the administrator of "the Farm" — the rural property in upstate [[New York State]] where non-human-appearing Fables must live, to preserve the secret of their existence.  He is briefly imprisoned as part of the abortive revolution against the Fabletown government, and is replaced as administrator by [[Rose Red]], with whom he becomes involved.  This version of Weyland Smith is a genius with tools and machinery, and during his time in captivity, he is forced to alter "mundy" weaponry to be used by non-human Fables. He fights in the war with the wooden soldiers sent by the Adversary and eventually gives his life protecting Fabletown.
 
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* The [[Weyland-Yutani]] Corporation is a [[List of fictional companies|fictional corporation]] in the film ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'' and its sequels and spinoffs. In the film ''[[Alien vs. Predator (film)|Alien vs. Predator]]'', one of the firm's founders, [[Charles Bishop Weyland]], mounts an expedition that leads to the discovery of the eponymous [[Xenomorph (Alien)|aliens]] beneath the ice of [[Bouvetoya]] Island, off the coast of [[Antarctica]].
 
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* Another reference is the character Wayland "John" Smith in ''[[The Dark Is Rising]]'' by [[Susan Cooper]]. This Smith serves as a vital guide and protector to the novel's protagonist, Will Stanton. He is one of the mystical and immortal "Old Ones," masquerading as a normal human being in the modern world; unlike other Old Ones however, Smith aids the servants of both the Light and the Dark in his capacity as a smith.
 
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* Weyland is referred to as a historical personage with mythic overtones in ''[[The Hollow Hills]]'', by [[Mary Stewart]]. In this [[Arthurian]] retelling, Weyland is the actual crafter of the sword [[Excalibur]].
 
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* The character Wayland Smith also appears in [[Raymond E. Feist]]'s 1988 fantasy novel, ''A Faerie Tale''.
 
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* The character [[Waylon Smithers]] from the TV show ''[[The Simpsons]]'' may be named after the mythical figure.
 
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* In the TV series ''[[Robin of Sherwood]]'' the episode called "The 7 swords of Wayland" is about 7 swords which are according to an old legend "The 7 swords of Wayland" possessed with the powers of Light and Darkness. The names of the Swords are: Morax, Solas, Orias, Elidor, Beleth, Albion and Flauros.
 
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*  Weyland Smith is mentioned in [[Neil Gaiman]]'s novel ''[[Stardust (book)|Stardust]]''.
 
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* A Neo-Expressionist work by [[Anselm Kiefer]] entitled ''Song of the Wayland'' features a lead wing on a scorched, desolate field.
 
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==See also==
 
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*[[Balmung]]
 
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*[[culture of Nericia]]
 
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*[[Deor]]
 
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*[[Flibbertigibbet]]
 
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*[[Franks Casket]]
 
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*[[Nidud]]
 
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*[[Sigurd]]
 
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*[[Wayland's Smithy]]
 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==

Revision as of 15:37, 18 April 2007

File:Völund.jpg
Völundr, Weyland's Scandinavian manifestation

Weyland (also spelled Wayland, Weland and Watlende) is a mythical smith-god of the Anglo-Saxon religion brought with the Saxon settlers of Britain. He is synonymous with the Norse/Germanic Völundr of the Völundarkviða, a poem in the Poetic Edda.

Mythic Accounts

Weyland had two brothers, Egil and Slagfiðr (Slagfid/Slagfinn). In one version of the myth, the three brothers lived with three Valkyries: Ölrún, Alvitr and Svanhvít. After nine years, the Valkyries left their lovers. Egil and Slagfiðr followed, never to return. In another version, Weyland married the swan maiden Hervör, and they had a son, Heime; Hervör later left him. In both versions, his love left him with a ring; in the former myth, he forged seven hundred duplicates of this ring.

File:Völund on ardre.png
Völund's smithy in the centre, Nidud's daughter to the left, and Nidud's dead sons hidden to the right of the smithy. Between the girl and the smithy, Völund can be seen in an eagle fetch flying away. From the Ardre image stone.

At a later point in time, he was captured in his sleep by King Nidud in Nerike who ordered him hamstrung and imprisoned on the island of Sævarstöð. There he was forced to forge items for the king. Weyland's wife's ring was given to the king's daughter, Bodvild. Nidud wore Weyland's sword.

Depiction of the hamstrung smith Weyland from the front of the Franks Casket.

For revenge, Weyland killed the king's sons when they visited him in secret, fashioned goblets from their skulls, jewels from their eyes, and a brooch from their teeth. He sent the goblets to the king, the jewels to the queen and the brooch to the king's daughter. When Bodvild took her ring to him to be mended, he took the ring and seduced her, fathering a son and escaping on wings he made.

He is particularly associated with Wayland's Smithy, a burial mound in Oxfordshire. This was named by the Saxons, but the megalithic mound significantly predates them. It is from this association that the superstition came about that a horse left there overnight with a small silver coin (a groat) would be shod by morning.

External links

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