page_title: Swan maiden
hierarchical_section_title: Swan maiden
caption_attribution_description: The three swan-maidens / valkyries of Völundarkviða with their swan-cloaks off. In the poem, they're spinning linen, not bathing nude.
context_page_description: The swan maiden is a mythical creature who shapeshifts from human form to swan form. The key to the transformation is usually a swan skin, or a garment with swan feathers attached. In folktales of this type, the male character spies the maiden, typically by some body of water, then snatches away the feather garment, which prevents her from flying away, forcing her to become his wife.
  There are parallels around the world, notably the Völundarkviða and Grimms' Fairy Tales KHM 193 "The Drummer". There are also many parallels involving creatures other than swans.
context_section_description: The swan maiden is a mythical creature who shapeshifts from human form to swan form. The key to the transformation is usually a swan skin, or a garment with swan feathers attached. In folktales of this type, the male character spies the maiden, typically by some body of water (usually bathing), then snatches away the feather garment (or some other article of clothing), which prevents her from flying away (or swimming away, or renders her helpless in some other manner), forcing her to become his wife.
  There are parallels around the world, notably the Völundarkviða and Grimms' Fairy Tales KHM 193 "The Drummer". There are also many parallels involving creatures other than swans.
caption: In the Völundarkviða, Wayland Smith and his brothers marry valkyries who dress in swan skins.
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