Sigurðr in the Medieval North

Sigurðr the Dragon-Slayer was a preeminent hero of the Helen F. Leslie-Jacobsen Medieval North and remembered in both narrative and art. University of Bergen [email protected]

Sigurðr stabs the dragon Fáfnir on Comparative Analysis the Ramsund carving. Here the The Sigurðr legend existed in dragon is also the band containing the runic inscription (11th century, several variations, some more Sweden). developed than others. These, usually written sources, can be used to establish key scenes.

Key scenes can be used to Sigurðr on Norwegian Stave identify Völsung scenes on artistic Churches material, many of which are Sigurðr decorates the portals of disputed. four Norwegian stave churches One contribution the project will (Hylestad, Vegusdal, Lardal, and make is a catalogue and Mael). He is a figure in which the assessment of all material that legendary and supernatural blur: has been posited as showing although he is ostensibly human, Sigurðr. he has many supernatural attributes and encounters (such Sigurðr kills Reginn on the as that with the dragon). Hylestad stave church, from the ABSTRACT The Aim late 12th to early 13th century The Function of Sigurðr (Norway). Sigurðr is the supreme hero The aim of the project is to Jesse Byock (1990) argues that of the Völsung legend. He is investigate the impulses behind the function of Sigurd on the widely represented in the art and the structure and stave church doors is a and narrative of medieval development of the legend protective one. He replaces the surrounding the hero Sigurðr Danish and German preference Europe. Fáfnisbani in the medieval North. for the archangel Michael (also a dragon slayer and a figure of Sources Dragon-Slayer, King, protection). Husband and Hero, the Both literary and artistic sources depict Sigurðr. From literature, Did they believe in Sigurðr? multifaceted character of sagas (such as Völsunga saga), Sigurðr forms the core of my eddic poems from Iceland, the While the archangel Michael is project to develop a Nibelungenlied from Germany, biblical, and thus a legitimate comprehensive analysis of and the Scandinavian and object of belief for medieval churchgoers, this is less his legend, its cultural Faroese ballads present various versions of the legend. immediately obvious where it context and how it concerns Sigurðr. We can ask: developed over time. Sigurðr is found depicted pictorially on material from the •How was Sigurðr British Isles, Germany and conceptualised and understood The earliest depictions of Scandinavia. in medieval Norway, particularly REFERENCES Sigurðr are found on rune with regards to his physicality? Jesse Byock. 1990. “Sigurðr Fáfnisbani: and image stones, mainly We are presented with actual An Eddic Hero Carved on Norwegian from Sweden. From the pictures of him on the portals. Stave Churches.” Poetry in the What did he look like? Scandinavian Middle Ages. The Seventh 12th and 13th centuries, International Saga Conference. Ed. Sigurðr decorates the Theresa Pàroli. Spoleto: Centro Italiano •Did he indeed play a protective di Studi Sull’Alto Medioevo. Pp. 619-628. portals of four Norwegian role and how might those who stave churches (Hylestad, viewed the pictures of Sigurðr PICTURE CREDITS Vegusdal, Lardal, and have expected to ‘experience’ Ramsung carving: By Ann-Sofi Cullhed him? (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 Mael), as well as appearing (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by- in a number of written texts. sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons If the people who were behind Hylestad, roasting the heart: By Marieke the pictures of Sigurðr on stave Kuijjer from Leiden, The Netherlands churchs truly expected Sigurðr to (sigurd portal) [CC BY-SA 2.0 protect them, they must have (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by- believed in him and his ability to sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Sigurðr roasts the heart of the Hylestad, Sigurðr killing Reginn: By dragon Fáfnir on the Hylestad continue to be active on the Jeblad (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 stave church, from the late 12th to supernatural plane after his (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by- early 13th century (Norway). death, at least to some extent. sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons