In Norse mythology, Volsung was murdered by the Geatish king Siggeir and avenged by one of his sons, Sigmund. Volsung was the common ancestor of the ill-fortuned clan of the Volsungs, including the greatest of Norse heroes, Sigurd. Their legend is known in Norse myth through the Volsungasaga and the Drap Niflungs and in Old German through the Nibelungenlied.

Ironically, in Beowulf, when the Geatish warrior Beowulf has killed Grendel, a Danish bard at Hrothgar's court sings about Sigmund and his father Waels.