In 
Norse mythology, 
Brünnehilde was a heroine, a 
Valkyrie.  In the 
Nibelungenlied, she is an 
Icelandic princess who broke 
Odin's laws and was imprisoned in a ring of fire and cursed to stay there until rescued by a hero.  
Sigurd bravely entered the ring of fire (in the shape of a hero who had previously failed at the task, 
Gunnar), awoke her from a magical sleep; they fell in love and he gave her his cursed ring, 
Andvarinaut, unaware that it was cursed.  Siegfried then betrayed Brünnehilde for a different woman, 
Gudrun (Gunnar's sister), because he was unknowingly bewitched by the sorceress 
Grimhild.  Brünnehilde killed herself.  She may have been a 
lunar deity originally.
Alternative: Brunhilt, Brynhild, Brünnehilde, Brunnehilde, Brunhilde, Brynhilt, Brunhild
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