Heimir

This article is about the character in the Völsunga saga. For the character in Þiðreks saga, see Heime.

Heimir (Old Norse) was a Germanic figure in Germanic heroic legend who appears in Grípisspá, Helreið Brynhildar and the Völsunga saga. He is the king of Hlymdalir, the maternal uncle of Brynhildr and foster-father, or spouse, of Brynhildr's sister Bekkhildr.^[1] He is also the foster-father of Aslaug, Brynhildr's daughter with Sigurd (Sigfried).^[2][1] As the Burgundians wanted to kill the little child,^[1] he kept her hidden in a harp and wandered as a minstrel until he arrived in Spangereid in Norway, where he was murdered in his sleep by Áki and Grima, who believed that Heimir kept valuables in the harp.^[2][1]

"King Heimer and Aslög" (1856) by August Malmström.