Norse mythology
Andvari
Guardian of the Gold That Doomed the World
- Mythology
- Norse mythology
- Group
- Magic · Fate · Shapeshifter · Dwarves · Death
- Places
- Svartalfheim · Nidavellir
- Objects
- Andvaranaut
Listen to “Otter's Gold and the Curse of Andvari” in the app
Andvari is a dwarf who lives as a pike in a waterfall, hoarding a treasure of gold. When Loki, needing a ransom for the otter Otr he killed, captures him in Ran's net, the dwarf surrenders his entire hoard. He tries to keep one ring, Andvaranaut, but Loki strips it from him too. Enraged, Andvari curses the gold and the ring to destroy whoever owns them. The curse runs through the whole Volsung saga: it kills the dragon Fafnir, dooms Sigurd, and brings down the Gjukungs. His brief, bitter appearance sets the bloodiest tragedy in Norse legend in motion.
Related figures
Real episode from the app
Otter's Gold and the Curse of Andvari
Chapter 1
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Andvari?
- Andvari is a dwarf who lives as a pike in a waterfall, hoarding a treasure of gold. When Loki, needing a ransom for the otter Otr he killed, captures him in Ran's net, the dwarf surrenders his entire hoard. He tries to keep one ring, Andvaranaut, but Loki strips it from him too.
- Which mythology does Andvari belong to?
- Andvari belongs to Norse mythology.
- Which stories does Andvari appear in?
- Andvari appears in Otter's Gold and the Curse of Andvari, Sigurd the Dragon Slayer, told as chaptered audio dramas in MythologyNow.
Cite this page
MythologyNow. (2026). Andvari. https://www.mythologynow.app/en/gods/andvari"Andvari." MythologyNow, 2026, https://www.mythologynow.app/en/gods/andvari.MythologyNow. "Andvari." Accessed 2026. https://www.mythologynow.app/en/gods/andvari.Listen to the stories of Andvari
MythologyNow is out. Over 100 myths in audio, in six languages.