Signy and Hagbard

Signy is the name of two heroines in two legends from Scandinavian mythology which were very popular in medieval Scandinavia. Both appear in the Völsunga saga.

The first Signy is married to the villainous Geatish king Siggeir who has her whole family murdered, except for her brother Sigmund. She saves her brother, has an incestuous affair with him and bears the son Sinfjotle. She burnt herself to death with her hated husband.

The second Signy is the daughter of king Siggeir's nephew Sigar. She fell in love with the sea-king Hagbard, and promised him that she would not live if he died. They were discovered and Hagbard was sentenced to be hanged. Hagbard managed to signal this to Signy who set her house on fire and died in the flames whereupon Hagbard hanged himself in the gallows, see Hagbard and Signy for more.