Br�nnehilde
In Norse mythology, Brünnehilde was a shieldmaiden and a Valkyrie. In the Nibelungenlied, she is an Icelandic princess who broke Odin's laws and was imprisoned in a ring of fire and cursed to stay there until rescued by a hero. Sigurd bravely entered the ring of fire (in the shape of a hero who had previously failed at the task, Gunnar), awoke her from a magical sleep; they fell in love and he gave her his cursed ring, Andvarinaut, unaware that it was cursed. Siegfried then betrayed Brünnehilde for a different woman, Gudrun (Gunnar's sister), because he was unknowingly bewitched by the sorceress Grimhild. Brünnehilde killed herself. She may have been a lunar deity originally.
Brunhild was also a historical queen, wife of Sigebert I, and their history (which includes fratricide, a long battle between brothers, and dealings with the Huns) appears to have greatly influenced the Nibelungenlied.
Other names
- Brunhild
- Brunhilde
- Brunhilt
- Brunnehilde
- Brünnehilde
- Brynhild
- Brynhilt
123 Brunhild is an asteroid.
