Hervör is the name shared by two female characters in the Tyrfing Cycle, presented in The Saga of Hervör and Heidrek with parts found in the Poetic Edda. The first, the viking Hervör, challenged her father Angantýr's ghost in his gravemound for his cursed sword Tyrfing. She had a son, Heidrek, father of the other Hervör. The second Hervör was a commander killed in battle with her brother. The two are thought by some academics to be the same character, duplicated. Hervör, daughter of Angantyr Childhood Hervör was born after her father Angantyr died during a duel against the Swedish hero Hjalmar. His mother was Svafa, who was daughter of a Jarl Bjarmar. Rather than take on sewing or be raised as a bond-maid like other girls, Hervör proved to be as strong as the boys and learned archery, swordsmanship, and horse riding. She dressed like a man, fought, killed and pillaged under her male surname Hjörvard. When she learned of her father's identity, she decided to live as her father and to find Tyrfing, the magic sword. Summoning the dead One day, Hervör arrived with her fleet to Munarvágr on Samsø (Samsey), but she was the only one who dared go ashore upon the haunted island. The remainder of her crew feared the nightly activities around the barrows on the island. As she approached the barrows, she saw a fire shining above them, and she approached the largest one. She then spoke with a loud voice summoning her father Angantyr to reveal himself. She said that as his daughter she was entitled to her rightful inheritance, the cursed sword Tyrfing. She went on to summon her eleven uncles and did so with such a loud voice and such harsh words that finally, her father's voice was heard and he asked not to pursue her quest. She did not give in but continued to ask for her rightful inheritance. Finally, the grave opened, and in its centre, a fire was shining. There she saw her father, and he warned her not to ask for the sword as it would bring death to their whole clan if she used it. Still, she persisted. Finally the sword was cast out of the grave, and she eagerly gripped it, bid farewell to her dead kinsmen and walked to the shore. However, when she arrived at the shore, the ships were gone. Her crew