Weyland

\nWeyland (also spelled Wayland, Weland and Watlende) is the mythical smith-god of the Saxon immigrants into Britain. He is synonymous with the North-Germanic/Norse Volund/Volundr of the Volundarkvida/volundakvitha, a chapter in the Elder Edda. He had two brothers, Egil and Slagfidur. His wife's name was Hervor. Once upon a time, after his wife (a swan maiden) left him, he was captured while asleep by king Nidud who ordered him hamstrung and 'prisoned on the island of Saeverstod. There he was forced to forge items for the king. His (Wayland's) wife's ring was given to the king's daughter, Bodvild. Nidud wore Wayland's sword. For revenge, Wayland killed the king's sons when they visited him in secret, fashioned goblets from their skulls, jewels from their eyes, and a brooch from their teeth. He sent the goblets to the king, the jewels to the queen and the brooch to the kings' daughter. When Bodvild took her ring to him to be mended; he took the ring and seduced her, fathering a son and escaping on wings he made. Wayland forged the sword Balmung, and the armour in which Beowulf fought Grendel.\n \nHe is particulary associated with Wayland's Smithy, a burial mound in Oxfordshire. This was named by the Saxons but this mound significantly predates them. It is from this association that the superstition came about that a horse left there overnight with a small silver coin (a groat) would be shod by morning. Watlende which is also a Manor house in Kent.

See also

\n*Balmung\n*culture of Nericia\n*Deor\n*Nidud\n*Sigurd Category:Norse gods\nCategory:Smithing gods