The Norse myth that inspired “The Lord of the Rings” - Iseult Gillespie

Download a free audiobook version of “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring“ and support TED-Ed's nonprofit mission: www.audible.com/ted-ed
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The dwarves were master craftspeople. One dwarf, Andvari, forged marvelous creations. He often took the form of a fish and, one day, he swam to the land of the water nymphs, who guarded mounds of gold. When the nymphs laughed at his appearance, Andvari grew infuriated and seized their gold. With it, he crafted himself a special ring. Iseult Gillespie shares the Norse myth of the cursed ring.
Lesson by Iseult Gillespie, directed by BASA.
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[@TEDEd]

If you're not ready to leave this world of cursed rings, epic adventures, and the fight of hope against doom, we highly recommend J. R. R. Tolkien's “The Fellowship of the Ring.” You can download a free audiobook version here: audible.com/ted-ed

[@LustrousCalamity]

Hello!

[@oathbreakerraiden]

yess

[@biswasbudhathoki8144]

Book narrated by 'precious', thats every fan's dream

[@theconductoresplin8092]

One ring to rule them all

[@biswasbudhathoki8144]

@@theconductoresplin8092One cursed ring to have revenge on all

[@derpthing3707]

Most if not all Norse myth could be summarized with "Loki was bored"

[@S0NAL_]

is that a death note reference or a squid game reference?

[@andvan5171]

@@S0NAL_ reference to Norse mythology

[@megasupreme9985]

@@S0NAL_ bro is this a joke

[@biswasbudhathoki8144]

@@S0NAL_ maybe they were influenced by this story too

[@fakuri913]

@@S0NAL_ cringe

[@kyliviie2903]

Norse myth: "Goddamit Loki" Greek myth: "Goddamit Zeus"

[@ecurewitz]

Godsdammit, Loki Godsdammit, Zues

[@biffbroham]

Christian Myth: “Goddamnit humans”

[@boxbox0000]

"ZEUS! YOUR SON HAS RETURNED!"

[@abid5087]

But also: goddammit mortal hero with a fatal flaw

[@GhostBear3067]

@@boxbox0000 Zeus: "Which one?"

[@anony2084]

Loki in every myth he's in: "Im bored, lemme make more lore."

[@mrunknon]

Like Ryuk in Death note

[@David-S.130]

different from the avengers loki huh

[@cc-yv8wp]

Because Loki has to many variet on multiverse

[@depressedgwyndolin]

@@cc-yv8wp sorry but different Loki norse mythology is vary different from marvel Loki

[@thediscracedone4932]

It's pretty clutch actually.

[@pigletimnota8946]

*"But Loki had an idea"* Literally all of Norse mythology

[@GhostBear3067]

Loki no LOKI YES! *people have a bad time*

[@Sigart]

Eh. Not like the other Aesir weren't equally prone to getting themselves into toruble. Like, I dunno, hiring a questionable mason and promising the sun and the moon _and Freya_ if he could complete a wall around Asgard within a year. ..Loki was the one getting them out of that one. Ftr.

[@GhostBear3067]

@@Sigart and that is how a shapeshifting god ends up the mother of an 8-legged horse.

[@jeandarkaov7171]

"But Zeus saw this mortal female" --almost all of Greek mythology

[@GhostBear3067]

@@jeandarkaov7171 if there is a problem in Greek Mythology and you do not know exactly why, just when in doubt assume it is because Zeus could not keep it in his pants.😜

[@biswasbudhathoki8144]

Loki:'takes the ring' Andvari:I will curse the ring not the person who stole it

[@npearce3917]

Maybe he didn't have to power to curse a god. And Loki causes his own doom anyway.

[@SCP--mw7tx]

i doubt he could've kept a god of loki's influence and might cursed for long lol

[@suapanpina]

Andvari: how could that posibly back fire?

[@biswasbudhathoki8144]

@@suapanpina Andvari: Instead it will inspire somebody to write about it

[@sharktos3218]

@@npearce3917 Isn't Loki technically a giant and not a god?

[@Entropic_Alloy]

"This will surely doom us all!" said Odin "lol," said Loki, "lmao"

[@brandonchan5387]

"This snake I'm chained under will surely kill me!" said Loki. "lol," said Odin, "lmao"

[@ecurewitz]

Nah, I'll just give it away

[@deadeye9439]

@@brandonchan5387 "I have an army full of greatest heroes and warriors from Valhalla! Surely Loki will fail", said Odin. "lol", said Loki, "lmao"

[@repentoryouwilllikewiseper8741]

Repent to Jesus Christ! “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬ G

[@hasanmuttaqin464]

@@repentoryouwilllikewiseper8741 nah bruh, odin's way cooler

[@bsgfan1]

Andvari: “I curse the ring to doom all who own it!” Loki: “Okay, have it back. You’re the owner again.” Andvari: “Wait…”

[@BassRemedy]

LOL

[@jep9092]

Ikr

[@gadielgonzalez2755]

Loki would indeed do that.

[@erdemgunduz3527]

Andvari would take the curse back

[@sab_0815]

That would have been good 😂😆

[@MrFright2010]

Story "...his two surviving sons, Fafnir and Regin." Me: "I thought Fafnir was a dragon?" Story: "And then Fafnir did a Gollum, turning into a dragon." Me: "Ah! Makes perfect sense, too."

[@nightcrwler1973]

Same!!!

[@spartacusdeniz2202]

it matches the kobayashi-san chi no dragon maid fafnir perfectly

[@broderickelliott8527]

Almost my thoughts exactly.

[@tabby_cat]

more like did a Eustace (Narnia)

[@mediokay508]

@@spartacusdeniz2202 explains the treasure and curse obsession.

[@adarshkumar3518]

Loki: the God of getting himself into trouble

[@kriteeeshdixit3599]

and others.

[@sumitrana2420]

Wow Ia that Ren from Cardfight Vanguard?

[@biswasbudhathoki8144]

Odin from MCU: Are you Loki, God of getting yourself and others in troubles?

[@lubu682]

never gonna disagree

[@tomsmurf4225]

"That's like saying Thor is the God of getting drunk and hitting stuff!"

[@athanasiospapazoglou7310]

Moral of the Story: Never shapeshift into animals , if there is the possibility of beeing hunted yourself

[@RobinMcBeth]

APEX. AVIAN. PREDATORS.

[@maurice4348]

Imagine being able to turn into ANY animal and not choosing a dragon. At that point you're just asking to be slain

[@biswasbudhathoki8144]

@@maurice4348 its Norse myth. If you become something powerful you sure are to come across Thor for battle

[@maurice4348]

@@biswasbudhathoki8144 Good to know! Next time visiting "the north" i'll go ats no animal at all :b

[@biswasbudhathoki8144]

@@maurice4348 😂😂😂😁😁😁

[@amethystsavage4018]

“At first Andvari wanted to see the nix’s treasure, but when the nymphs laughed at his awkward appearance, Andvari became furious…” In their defense, he decided to be a fish with eyebrows instead of eyes

[@sumitrana2420]

Be prepared unless he doesn't take your treasure away as well.

[@jass1470]

*nymphs

[@amethystsavage4018]

@@jass1470 thanx 👍

[@kevinlane1219]

I for one don't find that to be very humorous.

[@WowUsernameAvailable]

...who was nevertheless able to seize all of their wealth...

[@stupidape]

"All that is gold doesn't glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong doesn't wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be the blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king." ~ Bilbo Baggins, LOTR Currently reading The Two Towers.

[@deeznuts-dq1fd]

Thankyou u are a legend

[@ghostderazgriz]

I think that's every -dichotomous- antithetical phrase ever written put into a single sentence. For posterity.

[@reinebautistamercado4286]

@@ghostderazgriz They're not dichotomies.

[@ghostderazgriz]

@@reinebautistamercado4286 Ah well, if you could please correct me with the proper description that'd be great.

[@reinebautistamercado4286]

@@ghostderazgriz They are paradoxes. Most of them at least.

[@VallisYT]

Another good example that even the greatest artists are standing on the shoulders of giants

[@phuocnguyenngoc7821]

Tolkien's Arda itself was inherently an unshakable wall in the fantasy genre, not because of the foundation on Norse Myth that led to his greatness. The story told in "the lords of the rings" was a footnote in the history of Tolkien's imaginary world.

[@danielcrafter9349]

@@phuocnguyenngoc7821 - think you've missed the point; even the rest of Tolkien's stories about Arda - such as from the Simarillion - are based on something, and there's other myths out there that inspired those other stories Thus, "another good example that even giants of fantasy - like Tolkien - is standing on the shoulders of giants"

[@olibob203]

@@danielcrafter9349 he did often say he was inspired by it. Tolkien is ace, he created 4 ages of history each with like 3000 years of in-depth history. I think borrowing some myth to help shape his world is ok 😉 to be fair I'd you follow Tolkien's work he studied myths throughout the ages, but elves and dwarves have a Viking history, even the gods who make the drawves bare similar names. He himself was deeply religious and you can see biblical ideas play out in characters like gandelf and aragorn. Must say Vikings where ace wish they wrote more down

[@olibob203]

@Diogo Macena yes but you can see the influence on the Hobbit and the rings given to the dwarves that made them greedy, but the one ring is a better ring for sure

[@olibob203]

@Diogo Macena you can see the insperation, Tolkien is unique though, I was responding originally who said he was standing on giants.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

Loki isn't called the god of mischief for nothing. However, without him, we wouldn't have great stories like this

[@sayantikarouth8081]

Loki in every adaptation has a great sense of humour, a "I-don't-give-an-f-about-anything" and is literally the reason why Norse myths and stories exists

[@mattgilbert7347]

He's basically Bart Simpson with superpowers

[@beeman2075]

It's well worth having a quick look at or glimpse of The Ring of Gyges, a morality story told within Plato's Republic about a ring that makes the person who wears it invisible, and then that person proceeds to engage in all man of immoral actions. The story is told to illustrate the dilemma: why be moral if there is no chance of being punished for committing bad deeds? To which Plato provides his own response. There are online sources that differ in suggesting Tolkien may or may not have been aware of the Greek story when writing The Hobbit and LOTR, but it's still fascinating to think of separate 'magic ring' stories existing in both ancient Greek and Norse/Germanic myth/literature.

[@hambos]

He was very well-versed in Ancient Greek lit so it's much probable that this was an inspiration

[@ariaharfang4437]

I think he knew both stories.

[@havcola6983]

Being classically educated in the early 20th century, there's just no way Tolkien wasn't subjected to at least summaries of various parts of Plato's Republic.

[@davidtucker9498]

No way Tolkein hadn't read it, it's Plato! Now, was he consciously inspired by the story? That is harder to say.

[@ejsmith7626]

That Platonic Fable you mentioned is also the inspiration behind the original Invisible Man by HG Wells. Not that many versions keep to it anymore.

[@pr3ll351]

Really cool of Ted to finally start pronouncing the norse names with a more nordic pronunciation! All respect to them for doing that, i had felt like that was missing from earlier videos :))

[@Ypzilonia]

To be fair it sounded a bit weird at times, but they definitely deserve respect for trying!

[@johans7775]

@@Ypzilonia arent all names old norse e.g Icelandic?

[@kenster8270]

Nah, the narrator has a posh Stockholm accent. The modern Icelandic pronunciation would have been closer.

[@pij3333]

@@kenster8270 As I'm used to hearing the names in Norwegian that was all I could focus on lol

[@vilhelm15]

Im used to the danish pronunciation, so i was a bit confused at first. But Then i realised it was most likely the pronunciation of one of the other Nordic languages.

[@subbyplayz6332]

Loki: After all, why not? Why shouldn't I keep it?

[@DuchessofEarlGrey]

I think you should leave the ring behind, Loki. Is that so hard?

[@russellwestbrookyellingatw9381]

@@DuchessofEarlGrey Well, no... and yes😈. Now it comes to it, I don't feel like parting with it! It's mine, I found it! It came to me!

[@jacks1368]

I think in this case, since Loki heard the curse being put on the ring and KNOWS a hardcore curse when he hears one, decided to nope out and drop the ring first opportunity. Hence why he didn’t keep it long.

[@DarkStar27183]

I love how you made the dragon highly resemble Smaug sleeping on his treasure in the famous book cover of the Hobbit.

[@RobertVarulfur]

There's another story about yet another magic ring which I always felt must have had some inspiration. Once there were two brothers, caught out in a storm who took refuge in a cave. Unfortunately for them, this cave happened to be the home of the one eyed giant, a shepherd named Tartalo who had a particular fondness for human flesh. When Tartalo returned to shelter from the storm himself, he was overjoyed to discover his kitchen had been restocked, as it were. He made quick work of the eldest brother, famished as he was from making sure his sheep were safe from the storm that raged outside. Worried his breakfast might slip away in the night, the giant sealed his cave back up and settled into the comfortable sleep of a full stomach. Now Jack, the youngest brother, was clever and quickly devised a plan for escape. He knew he could slay the giant, but then would perish, trapped behind a bolder no human could shift alone. Instead he pulled a burning stick from the fire and ramed it into Tartalo's only eye. The giant roared in pain, but try as he might, he could not find the small human in his cave. The next morning, the storm having run its course, Tartalo opened the cave to let his sheep out, and though he tried to make sure Jack did not slip past, Jack rode out clinging to the belly of a sheep. Now Jack could have snuck away, but Jack loved to make sure people knew he had outsmarted him. "Giant, you have killed my brother, though we simply needed a place to stay for that you lost your sight and I, Jack, shall not be your next meal!" Tartalo grumbled but called out, "Jack, you have outwitted me, though accepting merely my eyesight for the life of your brother seems a poor price. Here, I shall give you my ring, may it bring you what you deserve." Tartalo pulled off a golden ring and tossed it in the general direction of Jack's voice. Jack thought the giant spoke fairly and so quickly grabbed the ring. "Giant this ring is huge, perhaps it might fit on my leg, but certainly not on my finger." "Place it around your finger, for it is a magic ring and will fit." Jack did as he was told and sure enough the ring rapidly shrank until it was snuggly wrapped around his finger. Jack was about to bid his farewell when the ring began shouting "Here I am, here I am". Tartalo, blind but with great hearing, grabbed his club, a tree he had shaped, and swung where the sound came from. Jack threw himself to the side, only barely missing being swatted like a fly. Still the ring called out to its master. Jack frantically tried to remove it, but it was too tight! He rolled again as the giant followed the sound of the ring. Finally, with no other choice, Jack pulled a dagger from his side and cut his own finger off. He tossed the ring, still clenched about the severed finger, into the lake. "Here I am. Here I am," the ring called out as it sank. The giant jumped after the ring, but being unable to swim, quickly drown.

[@lavinialadlass9432]

Sounds like the Greek myth of Odysseus and Polyphemus combined with Jack in the beanstalk.

[@Andemonicum]

Also inspired "Voyage of the Dawn Treader". More specifically the chapter where Eustace turns into a dragon by equipping an arm bracelet (?) and sleeping on a pile of treasure.

[@DuchessofEarlGrey]

And with his growing size the bracelet squeezed and squeezed his arm until he cried and Aslan came to help him. I read that about 15 years ago, once, and that part stuck in my head.

[@xRAINxOFxBLOODx]

I thought the same thing when they talked about Fafnir becoming a dragon! The authors of both book series, Tolkein and Lewis, were good friends. I wouldn't be surprised if one learned of this story from the other.

[@meganofsherwood3665]

"By sleeping on a dragon's gold and thinking dragonish thoughts..." Yep, you're right! As I recall, the rest of the group was getting ready to attack him, too. Glad things worked out better for Eustace than for Fafnir (I'm guessing on the spelling, sorry!)

[@dragongirl4110]

I love Voyage Of The Dawn Treder and Eustace turning into a dragon is my favorite part.

[@FunFilmFare]

Except Eustace didn’t deliberately turn into a dragon, and actually wanted to change back.

[@chase5673]

1:08 "until not even a hair was visible" the emphasys on the details to impress who is listening is what attracts me on norse mithology

[@hiropisku1078]

Fafnir: *becomes a dragon* Sigurd: "Now this is a Gram level quest!"

[@Tamo8]

This is really interesting, I did not know about this. I knew that Gandalf was based on Odin (as Odin the Wanderer) but had no idea there was a Norse myth which inspired the story behind the One Ring.

[@madskristiansen]

I think he might also have been inspired by Plato's story of a man turning invisible with a ring, thus gaining consequence-free actions and theoretically the greatest power.

[@cgt3704]

Andvari: One does not simply take someones ring without the owner cursing it.

[@TheInkPitOx]

So that's his name. I heard it as Unbody.

[@chrismaddock5790]

Sentry: "Sir Odin! The ice giants are attacking the city! Odin: "LOOOOOOOOOKIIII!!!!!! Loki: "Honestly, must EVERYTHING be my fault? Odin: That depends, what did you do this time. Loki: "Well, you see, I went on a stroll and got bored so I- Odin: Aaaaaaand stop right there.

[@piyush_d4501]

It feels as if the Gollum was the worst character in the movie yet he is the most miserable character, engulfed by the only thing that brings him joy (the ring) and he would do anything to get it back.

[@deadmanthehekatonkheire994]

3:40 - “And overtime, Fafnir morphed into a gruesome dragon.” Mimir: Funny how life works, innit?

[@Leightr]

Did a Eustace.

[@curiouspatato8552]

Just a comment to appreciate how much effort Ted-Ed narrators put into pronouncing the local words in the most natural and local way possible.

[@TWStimes]

Almost every norse myth begins with "Loki was bored"

[@aintijustthecutest3863]

Loki's "glorious purpose" is to troll anyone and everyone until Ragnarok happens.

[@_Woody_]

Ah I see now where Tolkien got the idea. I always believed it was the Ring of Gyges he took clear inspiration from. But now that I am familiar with this interesting story, it seems more than obvious that he combined both of these ideas, the norse ring and the Ring of Gyges, into one ring. One ring to rule them all.

[@katka7634]

The biggest inspiration of Tolkien was Nibelungenlied and stories about king Arthur

[@mattgilbert7347]

Ring of Gyges was definitely an inspiration - at least for the invisibility and certain ethical and moral themes.

[@BrokenTreeBranch458]

This takes me back to the second book of Riordan's trilogy Magnus Chase. Such memories...

[@kiraricarte5801]

Same! Especially with Hearthstone, his dad, and Magnus understanding bird speech!

[@BrokenTreeBranch458]

@@kiraricarte5801 i think this is the exact story Hearthstone's arc was based, the skin rug of the animal that killed Hearth's brother is also to be covered with gold, and a single sticking fur led to the ring also being put in there.

[@booklover6845]

Exactly what I was thinking! I believe this entire story was rewritten with the characters

[@lavinialadlass9432]

Love that series.

[@ccings27]

i was looking for this comment lol

[@chrisez3188]

Ted Ed’s timeless animation yet again never disappoints

[@CyanicCore]

4:31 "Hey, pass the knife" "NOT LIKE THAT"

[@nassimesaab170]

Am i the only one who loved how she said “Loki”?

[@Charlotte-xv1pg]

“One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them. One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.” - J.R.R. Tolkien , The Fellowship of the ring

[@baconeater4133]

That was literally the intro of this video

[@Timetravelingsoldiee]

@@baconeater4133yuppies always gotta be offensive lul

[@meabby6816]

can we talk about the narrator's voice and her narration? she's so brilliant I wanna be her when I grow up 🧡

[@jeangale6914]

Considering what happened to Loki not even the gods were safe from andvari's curse.

[@ecurewitz]

just took a bit more time for it to work

[@vish4392]

I just love the narrators voice, it's clear and relaxing, making the whole experience of watching the video more captivating

[@Beatin722]

Fun fact: the myth did not directly inspire Tolkien, instead it inspired a German opera called “Das Rhinegold” that was based on this myth along with other Nors myths so it was the opera that mainly inspired Tolkien.

[@Hojotoho.Yall504]

Das Rheingold is the first of four operas that make up Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen, which covers the whole story, including Siegfried slaying the dragon Fafner and his lover Brunnhilde setting the world on fire.

[@norbnar7197]

This myth always cracked me up. You have Odin the ruler of the gods who literally helped form the WORLD, at the mercy of some dwarves.

[@Luis-mq5ey]

The idea of an all powerful god is from judeo-christian-muslim religions, before that even the most powerful god had human flaws

[@SecretNatureChannel]

⁠@@Luis-mq5eyThe Judeo-Christian god was also made in man’s image and is filled with human flaws. Greed, envy, etc. Also, while traditionally he is viewed as all knowing, all seeing and all powerful, the stories themselves prove none of these are true. It seems all the gods are more similar than believers want to admit.

[@studiogarrisona]

Kratos's Draupnir Spear (Origin Saga)

[@alextheartist3754]

The voice and background ambient music make this animation perfect. Thanks for another awesome video!!

[@AnimeShinigami13]

I'd only heard a very watered down version of this story, with no ring involved. It was in one of my childhood storybooks. Thanks for bringing me the whole thing.

[@charlesaugusto693]

I really love hearing stories of myth from all over the world. Please continue to make these. I love it!!!

[@altinmares8363]

Ted Ed please post more videos about -Aristotle works (metaphysics,four causes,potentiality and actuality,Virtues,Politics,) -Aristotle teaching Alexander The Great -Presocratic philosophers -Judaism origins and Torah -The golden age of Jewish culture in Spain -Plato works -Al Kindi -Al Farabi

[@alquimista4143]

They did one of Plato already

[@altinmares8363]

@@alquimista4143 i want more!!

[@Firstborn0Raz]

I would love to hear Ted Ed cover the Alimut.

[@biswasbudhathoki8144]

How about videos related to movies? Good ones also inspire a lot of people, you know. Like how Matrix made everyone listen to its philosophy

[@PILOSOPAUL]

The background music adds depth to the story, really great choice of music

[@Woletat]

I recently turned on notifications and got surprised after realising how often they posted such high quality animations.

[@darksilver28]

Been watching your channel for a long time it’s been very helpful with my studies tysm

[@freddyelhachem3772]

This couldn’t have had better timing! I just started the series last week.

[@TaurielTheElf]

Lord of the Rings or Norse Mythology?

[@Vugen18]

This is amazing as always! Not to take it for granted but thanks for creating and sharing these fundamental stories!

[@biswasbudhathoki8144]

The narrator's pronunciation of Loki is good

[@zawsrdtygbhjimokpl6998]

the pronunciation is whatever most people use

[@biswasbudhathoki8144]

@@zawsrdtygbhjimokpl6998 or whatever is made up for use

[@kenster8270]

Nah, she pronounces all those Norse names with a posh Stockholm accent. An Icelandic accent would have been more apt.

[@biswasbudhathoki8144]

@@kenster8270 I just like the way she pronounces it.

[@mohjaelshafi981]

I was waiting for this comment

[@yowlolstfu6759]

Ring Norse: will make your riches grow and grow Middle-earth: makes tiny human invisible 👀

[@ornessarhithfaeron3576]

Actually, no. Read the books.

[@yowlolstfu6759]

@@ornessarhithfaeron3576 yea I know there’s more to it but it does, no matter how you want to explain it, make the bearer invisible so aint wrong 🤷

[@farahwyn8733]

Sauron: You underestimate my power!

[@killerpussy84]

"Tiny human"?! How dare you insult the Hobbits by comparing them the clumsy, loud and ever destroying humans!!

[@farahwyn8733]

@@yowlolstfu6759 It doesn't make Sauron invisible tho.😅 And I doubt it'll make Galadriel or Gandalf invisible either. Maybe the power of the ring depends on the power of the wearer. I know you're just joking around but you gotta give The One ring more credit tho.. it's shown in the movies that it has its own mind and can easily corrupt anyone....😅

[@lxohoo1805]

Glad to see the story of the Andvaranaut on this channel. Thank you.

[@CntrazZombie4]

Before his death, Tolkien refuted that the Ring of Nibelung had any role in The Lord of The Ring saying "The ring was round, and there the resemblance ceased"

[@silenttrickster9064]

"loki is always up with a plan"

[@zeybarur]

There's also the short myth of The Ring of Gyges, told in Book 2 of Plato's Republic. It turns the wearer invisible at will, and Gyges used it to kill a king and marry his wife.

[@noelavison6064]

The whole point of that story is that power without accountability is corrupting, which is one of the main themes in Lord of the Rings.

[@rjlicano]

Power is not corrupting. People are inherently corrupt. That was the whole point of that story.

[@rjlicano]

@Kung Fu Warlock read the book to find out ; )

[@peterdue7676]

Having played god of war 4, this is really nice to hear the real stories from people like fafnir and andvari, especially concidering it kinda matches with the game

[@bengagnon2894]

This is the most complicated and elaborated ad for otter pelts that I've ever heard.

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

_"MYYYY PRECIOUUSSS!"_ *~ Gollum (Lord of the Rings)*

[@russellwestbrookyellingatw9381]

What did you say?

[@cipherking4798]

When Loki is in a Norse myth you KNOW shit’s gonna get real. 😂🤣

[@CyFss]

The Myths and Legends podcast told this entire story early on in it's existence. Was a five part retelling of the Volsung Saga, that this story is one part of. Think it's episodes 3A-3E.

[@adryarahi1119]

I just love how the narrator just pronounced the words as beautifully and with accent!

[@havock76]

Amazing animations!!! How long does it take for different people all over the world to come together just for 5 min video! Hats off

[@anshisalad]

dear TED-Ed, I really love ur AMAZING videos, you explain it in such a way even me, a kid can understand, & the smooth animation is just superb. Keep up the learning!! :D

[@kimmycassie]

This was so well-done as expected,, just wow

[@Craw1011]

Just found out you guys are doing your book rec videos again! I don't know if these videos are in danger of being the last, but I really hope you continue to make them especially given the move to censor books. Each of these videos is wonderfully done and I love just how much it makes me want to read. Also, if you are looking for suggestions, I would love to watch a video on Pynchon, especially Gravity's Rainbow! Regardless, thank you for the work and care that goes into each of these videos!

[@overdragoon4757]

Poor Sindri

[@theodore4017]

Actually long long before any norse mythology there was a greek myth about the Ring of Gyges written by Plato. The owner of the ring had the ability to go invisible at will when wearing it.

[@Brodie.McLeod]

This video could not have been more perfectly timed! I just finished reading the Prose Edda and its telling of this myth.

[@josueromerotorrico4453]

The narration on this one was AMAZING. Cheers!

[@wiggy5209]

"Partly inspired" Tolken studied a plethora of mythologies and his time in the war was also of great influence ....

[@welcometotheinternet574]

“So Loki was bored” Everyone, embrace your loved ones, it’s happening again..ñ

[@wolferl5]

TED-ED is the awesomest channel here and you gotta love the animations! ❤️

[@redalchemy7322]

Bit of a side note note but there was also something called the ring of Gyges as mentioned in Plato's Republic. It was more of a philosophical experiment than a form of mythology, but it was a ring that would turn the wearer invisible. The concept was to determine if a person would remain good if they could be shielded from the consequences. Seems relevant to the Tolkien's work.

[@shreyasvramanan2729]

First time since I started seeing Ted Ed I am here within the first hr And I have been watching this channel since the pirate puzzle video...

[@sanfransiscon]

Another likely inspiration is Plato's story of Gyges' ring, which makes the wearer invisible. It questions if someone could stay in good moral standing if they didn't need to fear punishment for any action.

[@jesusisking3935]

What book is that? It sounds insanely good!

[@ennui9745]

@@jesusisking3935 Plato's Republic

[@mythosandlogos]

This is such a fantastic narration. Great job.

[@Anonymous_30]

I have to appreciate ted-Ed for pronunciation of the names of the Norse gods

[@philliphunt1556]

Wonderfully done! As huge fans of the "Ring" series, we especially enjoyed this production. We were tremendously impressed by the narration. So clear and correctly rendered.

[@juanisol8275]

👏😍 Thank you to bring into animation this epic Germanic Norse Saga!! The epic and tragedy of the Volsunga Saga!!

[@333angeleyes]

OMG! THANK YOU! Finally a different Norse mythology story! Every youtuber tells the same old stories, I was starting to think there were no other Norse myths.

[@alexrexaros9837]

“Both rings were round, and there the resemblance ceased.” - J. R. R. Tolkien

[@Jin-TV]

Ah, so thats where dragon maid got the name Fafnir

[@dinocaster3371]

By the grace of the Valar, how have I never heard of this tale? Thank you!

[@TENZEN._.]

TED-Ed, you guys are always teaching me stuff. Idk, that about the Lord of the Rings! Thank you TED-Ed!

[@LilfoxTheHybridHylian5967]

0:47 but it's not Loki's fault, he didn't know it was his son. If it's any thing, they should both take fault

[@skymaster4121]

“Seething, Andvari cursed the ring, declaring that it would be the doom of all its consequential owners” Loki: “Allright, I give it back to you now..” Andvari: 😖😖😖

[@KTChamberlain]

Solomon's Ring was also said to be one of the inspirations behind the One Ring from Lord of the Rings. It even has the Tolkien-like imagery of one ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all and in the darkness, bind them.

[@mathieuleader8601]

love the coral music it really sets the tone of the video

[@anonymous-ix7kr]

every rapper when making videos be like: 2:44

[@alexamacusa]

The Norse mythology videos are the best! Keep up the good work :)

[@acertainelytra]

‘Loki was bored, Loki was hungry, Loki wanted trouble’ When is anyone else gonna be the cause of the problem?

[@free22]

Ancient plot device

[@acertainelytra]

@@free22 maybe they just ran out of trouble-causers in the stories and just used Loki the whole time

[@Kserijaro]

He is always low key villain. Get it... low key? Loki? Ok....

[@acertainelytra]

@@Kserijaro lol

[@s0ngf0rx]

watching the movies and this was exactly what i was looking for. love you guys, ted-ed

[@alleenahaiderwaseem7309]

i ADORE this animation style!!

[@muhammadfazlurrahman4929]

I like how the dwarf king like "Oh no, my son died... Anyways where's my gold in exchange for my son?"

[@havcola6983]

This was actually common law during the viking age. Instead of endless blood feuds there was a sort of system called Weregild (lit. 'Man Payment') which was a measure of how much you were worth - ie what compensation someone could demand from your killer. Someone like a servant would have a pretty low weregild, while obviously a king would be fabulously expensive.

[@theonewhoknocks6353]

Also Wagner's Ring Cycle is based on Norse Mythology and Plato's "The Ring of Gyges" as told in his "Republic".