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Wayland the Smith, a MythSource painting
Norse

Wayland the Smith

The Smith · Lord of Elves · The Wise Craftsman

01Identity

Wayland the Smith in Norse tradition

At his forge, Wayland the Smith is a Norse-Germanic hero known for smithing and exceptional craftsmanship. He is also associated with forged weapons and rings, vengeance, and escape through flight. In the Wolfdales, Wayland and his brothers found three valkyries beside their swan garments and married them, but after seven winters the women flew away, leaving Wayland alone at his forge.

Top questions

The quick answers

  • Who is Wayland the Smith?

    Wayland the Smith is a Norse hero associated with smithing and metalwork; exceptional craftsmanship; forged weapons and rings; vengeance; and escape and flight.
    Source

    Source

    • Teutonic Mythology: Gods and Goddesses of the Northland
    • Nart Sagas From the Caucasus: Myths and Legends From the Circassians, Abazas, Abkhaz, and Ubykhs
    • Treasury of Norse Mythology
    • Norse Mythology
    • The Poetic Edda

  • What is Wayland the Smith associated with?

    Wayland the Smith is associated with smithing and metalwork; exceptional craftsmanship; forged weapons and rings; vengeance; and escape and flight.
    Source

    Source

    • Teutonic Mythology: Gods and Goddesses of the Northland
    • Nart Sagas From the Caucasus: Myths and Legends From the Circassians, Abazas, Abkhaz, and Ubykhs
    • Treasury of Norse Mythology
    • Norse Mythology
    • The Poetic Edda

  • What family links are recorded for Wayland the Smith?

    Spouse: Hervör alvitr, 1 child, 2 siblings.
02Family

Wayland the Smith’s family, at a glance

Wayland the SmithAgilazSlagfiðr

with Hervör alvitr

Witege
03The names

The names Wayland the Smith answers to

Völundr

Old Norse form of his name

SourceThe Poetic Edda

Weland

Old English form of his name

SourceThe Poetic Edda

Wieland

German form of his name

SourceTeutonic Mythology: Gods and Goddesses of the Northland

Velent

Name used for him in the Þiðreks saga

SourceThe Poetic Edda

04The myths

The myths of Wayland the Smith

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

Wayland and the Swan-Maidens

Wayland, Egil and Slagfid found three women on the shore of a lake in the Wolfdales. They were spinning flax. Their swan garments lay beside them. The poem identifies the women as valkyries. Egil took Olrun as his wife. Slagfid took Swanwhite. Wayland took Alvitr. Another version names Wayland's wife Hervor. The prose introduction calls her Hervor, the Strange-Creature.

They lived together for seven winters. During the eighth year, the women became troubled. In the ninth year, necessity parted them. They longed for the dark wood and for the fate that awaited them. They put on their swan forms and flew away. The brothers' halls stood empty. Egil and Slagfid returned from hunting and found no one there.

Egil went east to search for Olrun. Slagfid went south to look for Swanwhite. Wayland remained alone in the Wolfdales. He sat at his forge and worked with metal. He struck red gold around a firm-set gem and closed serpent rings. He waited in case his wife returned to him. The poem does not say that he followed his brothers or found her.

Wayland and the Swan-Maidens, a MythSource painting of the scene

3 sources· checked 2026-08-19

  1. 1Norse MythologyT1
  2. 2the ancient sourcesT1

    Quote

    “Three valkyries lived with Wayland, Egil and Slagfid for seven winters before longing for the dark wood and the fate awaiting them, then they donned their swan forms and flew away.”

    the ancient sources

  3. 3The Poetic EddaT1