Gram (mythology)

Legendary sword owned by Sigurd

Not to be confused with the creature known as Garmr or Garm.

"Balmung" redirects here. For the character from the ".hack" franchise, see Balmung (.hack).

A depiction of Sigurd with Gram on the Ramsund carving, dated to around the year 1030

In Germanic mythology, Gram in Norse legend (Old Norse: Gramr, "Wrath"),[1] or Balmung in the Middle High German epic poem Nibelungenlied,[2] is a magical godlike sword, specifically the sword that the hero Sigurd used to kill the dragon Fafnir.[3] It is primarily used by the Völsungs in the Völsung Cycle, however, it is also seen in other legends, such as the Thidrekssaga in which it is wielded by Hildebrand.

The myth of Gram may be related to the British myth of "the sword in the stone", Excalibur, as Gram has been thrust into a tree, from which only the hero Sigmund can pull it out, much like how Excalibur only can be pulled out by the true king of England, King Arthur. The myth of Gram being broken and then reforged was also the inspiration of Tolkien's sword Narsil.[4]

In Richard Wagner's work, Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), it is referred to as Nothung ([ˈnoːtʊŋ], "child of need").[5]

## Description

[edit]

Nowhere in the Völsunga saga is a clear description of Gram given, but there is enough scattered throughout the story to draw a picture of the sword. Sigurd's weapons, Gram included, are described as being "all decked with gold and gleaming bright".[6] Depending on how the text is read, the sword may or may not have a dragon emblazoned on it and/or depending on the translation have been "brown of hue".[7]

## History

[edit]

Sigmund's Sword
by Johannes Gehrts (1889) Sigurd proofs the sword Gram by Johannes Gehrts (1901)

Gram is primarily seen in the Volsunga Saga used by men in the Völsung line after Sigmund. Sigmund receives it during the wedding feast for his sister, Signy. Part of the way through the feast a strange man appears carrying a sword. Although unknown to Sigmund, this is the god Odin. He thrusts the sword into the Barnstokkr tree that grew in the middle of the hall and said, “The man to pull out this sword from the trunk shall receive it from me as a gift and he will find out for himself that he never bore in hand a better sword than this.” Soon after he departed every man made his attempt to pull the sword out of the wood. All fail except Sigmund, who easily extracts it. The sword is a fine sword, and King Siggeir is covetous of it, offering Sigmund three times its weight in gold. When he refuses, King Siggeir grows angry and secretly begins plotting to steal it from Sigmund, eventually killing his father and capturing him and all of his brothers. After this, the sword disappears from the narrative until Signy secretly gives it back to Sigmund as he is buried alive with Sinfjotli. After Sigmund avenges his family, he uses the sword in several battles before it is eventually broken by Odin during Sigmund's final battle with King Lyngvi.

Hjördis, Sigmund's wife, takes up the two halves of the blade and keeps them for Sigurd, their son.[8] The dwarven smith Regin later trains an adult Sigurd in metalworking. After a period of time, he tells Sigurd of the mighty dragon, Fafnir, and the treasure which it guards, asking Sigurd to slay it for him. Sigurd agrees on one condition: that Regin makes him a mighty sword capable of slaying such a monster.

Regin confidently makes Sigurd an admirable sword, but when Sigurd sees it, he is disappointed when it easily breaks with a single blow. On his second attempt, Regin makes him a sword superior to the last, but it also breaks. On his third attempt, Sigurd brings Regin the two halves of Gram, his father's sword, and when he strikes the anvil, it is cloven in two. Once he tested the strength of the sword, he left the workshop and went to a nearby stream to check its edge. Throwing a piece of wool upstream, he lets it press against Gram, causing it to be sliced through. After testing the blade's sharpness, he uses it to avenge his father, Sigmund, by slaying Lyngvi. Of the many feats done by Gram, by far the most well-known and important is the slaying of Fafnir the dragon. This deed is accomplished by Sigurd with a single, mighty thrust to the left shoulder where he drives the sword so deep, he gets his arms bloodied up to the shoulder. Eventually, Gram is used as a sign of chastity when it is placed between Sigurd and Brynhild on their funeral pyre after Brynhild arranged Sigurd's death before killing herself in turn. After this, the sword is no longer found in the manuscript.[9]

## In Der Ring des Nibelungen

[edit]

In Siegfried, the third of the four operas in the Ring des Nibelungen cycle, Mime, who essentially takes Regin's part, is unable to reforge Nothung (as Gram is called in the Ring). Siegfried, however, manages. Apart from this, the story of Regin and Sigurd is more or less identical to that of Mime and Siegfried.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. pp. 59–60. ISBN 0-304-34520-2.
2. ^ The Nibelungenlied: A Prose Translation. Translated by Armour, Margaret. London: J. M. Dent & Sons. 1934 [c. 1200]. Retrieved 2019-04-26 - via Project Gutenberg.
3. ^ Sigurd—ein Held des Mittelalters (Edgar Haimerl)
4. ^ Drout, Michael D. C. (2007). J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment. Taylor & Francis. p. 703\. ISBN 9780415969420. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
5. ^ Cord, W. O. (1989). The Teutonic Mythology of Richard Wagner's "The Ring of the Nibelung". United Kingdom: Edwin Mellen Press. p. 22.
6. ^ Vsnrweb-publications. Viking Society Web Publications. Web. Apr.-May 2016.
7. ^ Volsunga Saga. Trans. Eirikr Magnusson and William Morris. London: n.p., 1888. N. pag.Sacred-texts. Web. 8 May 2016.
8. ^ Vsnrweb-publications. Viking Society Web Publications. Web. Apr.-May 2016.
9. ^ Vsnrweb-publications. Viking Society Web Publications. Web. Apr.-May 2016.

* 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

* v
* t
* e

Old Norse religion and mythology

Mythological Norse people, items and places

Deities,
dwarfs, jötnar,
and other figures

| Æsir|

* Almáttki áss
* Baldr
* Bragi
* Dellingr
* Forseti
* Heimdall
* Hermóðr
* Höðr
* Hœnir
* Ítreksjóð
* Lóðurr
* Loki
* Máni
* Meili
* Mímir
* Móði and Magni
* Odin
* Óðr
* Thor
* Týr
* Ullr
* Váli (son of Odin)
* Víðarr
* Vili and Vé

|

Ásynjur|

* Bil
* Eir
* Frigg
* Fulla
* Gefjon
* Gerðr
* Gná
* Hlín
* Iðunn
* Ilmr
* Irpa
* Lofn
* Nanna
* Njörun
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* Rindr
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* Sif
* Sigyn
* Sjöfn
* Skaði
* Snotra
* Sól
* Syn
* Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr
* Þrúðr
* Vár
* Vör

Vanir|

* Freyja
* Freyr
* Ingunar-Freyr
* Yngvi
* Gersemi
* Gullveig
* Hnoss
* Kvasir
* Njörðr
* Sister-wife of Njörðr

Jötnar|

* Ægir
* Alvaldi
* Angrboða
* Aurboða
* Baugi
* Beli
* Bergelmir
* Bestla
* Bölþorn
* Býleistr
* Eggþér
* Fárbauti
* Fjölvar
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* Gangr
* Geirröðr
* Gillingr
* Gjálp and Greip
* Gríðr
* Gunnlöð
* Gymir
* Harðgreipr
* Helblindi
* Helreginn
* Hljod
* Hræsvelgr
* Hrímgerðr
* Hrímgrímnir
* Hrímnir
* Hroðr
* Hrungnir
* Hrymr
* Hymir
* Hyrrokkin
* Iði
* Ím
* Járnsaxa
* Laufey
* Leikn
* Litr
* Logi
* Mögþrasir
* Narfi (father of Nott)
* Sökkmímir
* Surtr
* Suttungr
* Þjazi
* Þökk
* Þrívaldi
* Þrúðgelmir
* Þrymr
* Útgarða-Loki
* Vafþrúðnir
* Víðblindi
* Vosud
* Vörnir
* Ymir

Dwarfs|

* Alvíss
* Andvari
* Austri, Vestri, Norðri and Suðri
* Billingr
* Dáinn
* Durinn
* Dúrnir
* Dvalinn
* Fáfnir
* Fjalar and Galar
* Gandalf
* Hreiðmarr
* Litr
* Mótsognir
* Ótr
* Regin
* Sons of Ivaldi
* Brokkr
* Eitri

Heroes|

* List of figures in Germanic heroic legend
* A
* B–C
* D–E
* F–G
* H–He
* Hi–Hy
* I–O
* P–S
* T–Y
* people, clan, and place names in Germanic heroic legend
* named animals and plants
* named weapons, armour and treasures

Others|

* Ask and Embla
* Auðr
* Auðumbla
* Aurvandill
* Beyla
* Borr
* Búri
* Byggvir
* Dísir
* Landdísir
* Dragons
* Draugs
* Einherjar
* Eldir
* Elves
* Dark elves (Dökkálfar)
* Light elves (Ljósálfar)
* Black elves (Svartálfar)
* Fimafeng
* Fjalar (rooster)
* Fenrir
* Fjörgyn and Fjörgynn
* Fylgja
* Garmr
* Gullinbursti
* Hati Hróðvitnisson
* Hel
* Hildisvíni
* Hjúki
* Horses of the Æsir
* Árvakr and Alsviðr
* Blóðughófi
* Falhófnir
* Gísl
* Glaðr
* Glær
* Glenr
* Grani
* Gullfaxi
* Gulltoppr
* Gyllir
* Hamskerpir and Garðrofa
* Hófvarpnir
* Skinfaxi and Hrímfaxi
* Sleipnir
* Svaðilfari
* Jörð
* Jörmungandr
* Líf and Lífthrasir
* Loddfáfnir
* Móðguðr
* Nine Daughters of Ægir and Rán
* Nine Mothers of Heimdallr
* Narfi (son of Loki)
* Níðhöggr
* Norns
* Personifications
* Dagr
* Elli
* Nótt
* Sumarr and Vetr
* Sæhrímnir
* Skírnir
* Sköll
* Shield-maiden
* Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr
* Troll
* Þjálfi and Röskva
* Vættir
* Landvættir
* Váli (son of Loki)
* Valkyries
* Völundr
* Vörðr

Places
(Cosmology)|

| Underworld|

* Hel
* Éljúðnir
* Gjallarbrú
* Náströnd
* Niflhel
* Niðafjöll

|

Rivers|

* Élivágar
* Gjöll
* Ífingr
* Kerlaugar
* Körmt and Örmt
* Slidr River
* Vadgelmir
* Vimur River

Other locations|

* Asgard
* Amsvartnir
* Andlang
* Barri
* Bifröst
* Bilskirnir
* Brávellir
* Brimir
* Fensalir
* Fólkvangr
* Fornsigtuna
* Fyrisvellir
* Gálgviðr
* Gandvik
* Gastropnir
* Gimlé
* Ginnungagap
* Glaðsheimr
* Glæsisvellir
* Glitnir
* Gnipahellir
* Grove of fetters
* Heiðr
* Himinbjörg
* Hindarfjall
* Hlidskjalf
* Hnitbjorg
* Hoddmímis holt
* Iðavöllr
* Járnviðr
* Jötunheimr
* Mímameiðr
* Myrkviðr
* Munarvágr
* Nóatún
* Okolnir
* Sessrúmnir
* Sindri
* Singasteinn
* Þrúðheimr
* Þrúðvangr
* Þrymheimr
* Uppsala
* Útgarðar
* Valaskjálf
* Valhalla
* Vanaheimr
* Víðbláinn
* Vígríðr
* Vingólf
* Wells
* Hvergelmir
* Mímisbrunnr
* Urðarbrunnr
* Ýdalir
* Yggdrasil

Events|

* Æsir–Vanir War
* Fimbulvetr
* Fróði's Peace
* Hjaðningavíg
* Ragnarök

Sources|

* Gesta Danorum
* Edda
* Poetic Edda
* Prose Edda
* Runestones
* Sagas
* Jómsvíkinga
* Legendary
* Tyrfing Cycle
* Völsung Cycle
* Old Norse language
* Orthography
* Later influence

Society|

| Religious practice|

* Anthropomorphic wooden cult figurines of Central and Northern Europe
* Blót
* Hof
* Heitstrenging
* Horses
* Hörgr
* Worship
* Öndvegissúlur
* Reginnaglar
* Sacred trees and groves
* Sonargöltr
* Temple at Uppsala
* Til árs ok friðar
* Vé
* Wetlands and islands

|

Festivals and holy periods|

* Álfablót
* Dísablót
* Germanic calendar
* Þorrablót
* Vetrnætr
* Yule

Other|

* Death
* Ergi
* Félag
* Galdr
* Goði
* Hamingja
* Heiti
* Kenning
* Mead hall
* Nīþ
* Numbers
* Philosophy
* Rings
* Runes
* Seiðr
* Skald
* Viking Age
* Völva

See also|

* Family tree of the Norse gods
* Germanic paganism
* Heathenry (new religious movement)
* Nordic Bronze Age

* v
* t
* e

Notable swords

Historical|

| Eastern|

* Preah Khan Reach
* Seven-Branched Sword
* Sugari no Ontachi
* Sword of Goujian
* Sword of Osman
* Sword of Victory
* Tenka-Goken

|

Western|

* Ballinderry Sword
* Blessed swords
* Colada
* Curtana
* Curved saber of San Martín
* Grunwald Swords
* Joyeuse
* Lobera
* Legbiter
* Sword of Islam
* Sword of Peter
* Sword of Saint Wenceslas
* Sword of State of South Carolina
* Sword of Stalingrad
* Szczerbiec
* Tizona
* Ulfberht swords
* Wallace Sword

Mythical or
legendary|

| Eastern|

* Asi
* Cura Si Manjakini
* Gan Jiang and Mo Ye
* Kris Mpu Gandring
* Kris Setan Kober
* Kris Taming Sari
* Kusanagi
* Nandaka
* Shamshir-e Zomorrodnegar
* Thuận Thiên
* Totsuka-no-Tsurugi
* Zulfiqar

|

Western|

* Almace
* Caladbolg
* Carnwennan
* Claíomh Solais
* Clarent
* Dáinsleif
* Durendal
* Dyrnwyn
* Excalibur (Caledfwlch)
* Fragarach
* Gram
* Harpe
* Hauteclere
* Hǫfuð
* Hrotti
* Hrunting
* Kladenets
* Lævateinn
* Mimung
* Mistilteinn
* Murgleys
* Nægling
* Précieuse
* Riðill
* Skofnung
* Sword of Freyr
* Sword of Attila
* Sword of Damocles
* Tyrfing

Note: some of the existing swords are named after earlier legendary ones.
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