Signy

Family: Volsungs · Role: daughter of Volsung · First appears: Chapter II · Of the Birth of Volsung, the Son of Rerir, who was the Son of Sigi

In Chapter II, Signy is born to Volsung and Ljod as one of their ten sons and one daughter; she and her twin brother Sigmund are foremost and fairest among the children. In Chapter III, Volsung gives her to Siggeir in marriage, and in Chapter IV they wed and leave together for his home. That same night in Gothland, she warns her father and brothers that Siggeir means to betray them and urges them to flee, but Volsung sends her back to her husband. After Volsung is slain and her brothers captured, she persuades Siggeir to keep them in stocks rather than kill them at once.

In Chapters V and VI, Signy works to aid Sigmund: she sends honey to him in the stocks, then hides him in an underground house and supplies him. She sends her sons to Sigmund, counselling him to kill them when they prove unfit for her purpose. In Chapter VII, she bears Sinfjotli, fathered by Sigmund, and sends him to Sigmund’s earth-house when he grows up. In Chapter VIII, she and Sigmund agree to avenge Volsung. She gives Sinfjotli Sigmund’s sword in secret, then reveals that Sinfjotli is their son and that she has acted to bring about Siggeir’s death. After kissing Sigmund and Sinfjotli, she returns to the fire and dies with Siggeir.