Andvari

In Norse mythology, Andvari (12th c. Old Norse: [ˈɑndˌwɑre]; "careful one"^[1]) is a dwarf who lives underneath a waterfall and has the power to change himself into a pike (gedda) at will.

Andvari had a magical ring Andvaranaut, which helped him become wealthy. Using a net provided by Ran, Loki catches him as a pike and forces him to give up his gold and Andvaranaut. Andvari cursed the stolen gold which would destroy anyone who possessed it. After the deaths of Brynhild and Sigurd, Gunnar left Andvari's gold in a cave. Years later, Andvari discovered the cave and his lost gold, although his ring was lost forever.

In Richard Wagner's cycle of music dramas, Der Ring des Nibelungen, the character Alberich is a combination of Andvari and the character of Alberich from the Nibelungenlied.^[2]

References

^ Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. p. 7. ISBN 0-304-34520-2.
^ Weiner, Marc A. (1997). Richard Wagner and the Anti-Semitic Imagination. U of Nebraska Press. p. 94. ISBN 9780803297920.

[1] Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. p. 7. ISBN 0-304-34520-2.

[2] Weiner, Marc A. (1997). Richard Wagner and the Anti-Semitic Imagination. U of Nebraska Press. p. 94. ISBN 9780803297920.

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[2]

v t e The Völsung Cycle
Attestations	Beowulf Heysham hogback Niflung Cycle Norna-Gests þáttr Sigurd stones Skáldskaparmál Volsunga saga
People	Attila Brynhild Granmar Gudrun Gunnar Hogni Helgi Hundingsbane Högne Rerir Siggeir Sigi Sigmund Signy Sigurd Sinfjötli Svanhildr Völsung
Other figures	Andvari Fáfnir Grani Hreiðmarr Odin Ótr Regin
Objects	Andvaranaut Barnstokkr Gram
Related	Þiðrekssaga Hagbard and Signy The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún The Lord of the Rings Nibelungenlied The Story of Sigurd the Volsung and the Fall of the Niblungs