ABSTRACT

The adventures of Sigmund and Sinfiötli are told in the Völsunga saga (chs 11-13), the Eddic poems about them have been lost apart from a couple of lines preserved (ch. 13), but without doubt once existed. Sigmund conceives Sinfiötli with his sister, without recognising her, since she had taken a strange shape, and as he because of this is not only his son but also his sister’s son, the expression ‘uncle and nephew’ in the Anglo-Saxon poem can be explained. They travel round together, are companions at need, and for a time commit wicked deeds, firinwerke, while transformed into wolves, as it says here in agreement with Helgakviða I.