Das Lied vom hürnen Seyfrid

"Das Lied vom hürnen Seyfrid" is a German heroic lay that retains old material about the hero Siegfried, though its poem is not attested before about 1500. The central theme of this lay is the release of a maiden from a dragon. Siegfried is a figure from ancient Germanic heroic literature, appearing in both German and Old Norse traditions, known for his exceptional strength and courage. While some stories depict his death, others show him as the triumphant protagonist. The heroic lay, or Heldenlieder, originated between 375 and 500 CE and celebrated dramatic, often tragic, episodes in the lives of Germanic heroes. Very little of this oral literature survives, with the Hildebrandslied being the sole Old High German example.12