Andvari

Dwarf in the Völsunga Saga (Volsunga Saga). Andvari had the remarkable ability to change himself into a salmon. Andvari possessed treasure that included several magic armours, such as the Helm of Awe and Gold Byrnie (byrnie mean corselet or cuirass wore by Norse/Vikings). Andvari also possessed a gold ring that allowed the wearer to find more gold, because of its attraction to the precious metal. When Andvari lost his treasure and his ring to Loki, he brought a curse upon any mortal who chose to wear the ring. Loki stole the treasure to release the hostages, and used it to ransom two bound gods.

Andvari's treasure hoard became known as Ottergild ("Otter's Ransom"). The treasure came into Hreidmar's possession before he lost his life and treasure to his son, Fafnir. Then the treasure belonged to Sigurd, when the hero killed Fafnir, before it finally belonged to the Giukings (Gunnar and Hogni). The Guikings buried the treasure somewhere along the Rhine, to hide it from Atli. The treasure was never found again.

The most precious item that Andvari had made was the gold ring, Andvaranaut, but the dwarf cursed anyone who wore the ring. Fafnir had worn the ring until Sigurd won the ring with the treasure. At first, he bestowed the ring to Brynhild, before he took it back and gave it to his wife Gudrun. Gudrun used the ring as proof that Sigurd was the hero who rode through the flame to Brynhild twice, not her brother Gunnar, whom Brynhild thought. This proof brought death to Sigurd and Brynhild.

Gudrun still wore the ring (Andvaranaut) when she was tricked into marrying Atli. She sent the ring as a message for her brothers not to come to Atli's land, because her husband was treacherous, seeking the treasure of Sigurd. She had carved runes as warning, and wrapped a strand of wolf hair around the ring. Gunnar and Hogni came to Atli despite the warning and the visions from their wives. They were captured and killed.

The ring was behind this cycle of the treachery and violent death. The German composer Richard Wagner (1813-1883) used the ring as the instrument of a curse that brought down a hero and the Burgundian family, called Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung).

See Volsunga Saga about the ring, Sigurd and Guikings (Nibelungs).