Study › Runes & Norse › Helgi Hundingsbane
Helgi Hundingsbane, son of Sigmund, is the hero of two lays in the Poetic Edda. At fifteen he killed King Hunding and won his name. He loved the valkyrie Sigrún, and was killed with a spear Odin lent to her brother.
Who was Helgi Hundingsbane?
Helgi, son of Sigmund and Borghild, is the hero of two lays in the Poetic Edda. At fifteen he killed King Hunding, and so won his name, Hundingsbane; when Hunding's sons came for vengeance, he killed them too. He fought a war to win the valkyrie Sigrún, whose story with him is told among the valkyries. In the end Sigrún's brother Dag killed him, with a spear that Odin had lent him. In Valhalla Helgi was so honoured that Odin offered to rule all things together with him, and Helgi set his old enemy Hunding to wash the warriors' feet, kindle the fires and tend the dogs.
His father was Sigmund; his love was a valkyrie, like Brynhild.
Questions
How did Helgi get his name?
By killing King Hunding when he was fifteen.
Who killed Helgi?
Sigrún's brother Dag, with a spear Odin had lent him.