Dáinn (Old Norse:[ˈdɑːenː], "Dead") orDain is a character inNorse mythology. Mostly the tales relate to him being adwarf and in others as king ofelves.
His name is found on kingHögni's swordDáinsleif ("Dáinn's legacy"). It is laid with a curse which says it must always kill a man when it is drawn.
In theHyndluljóð(7) he is said to have madeFreyja's boarHildisvíni, along with another dwarf, his brother Nabbi.
Dáinn is referred to as a dwarf in the dwarf-þula of theVöluspá(11) and in a stanza bySigvatr Þórðarson. But in theHávamál(153) he is said to be anelf who carved therunes:
"Odin for Aesir, and Dain for the elves,
Dvalin for the dwarfs,
Asvid for the giants,
I myself carve some".~~Havamal 143[1]
In theconstellations of Norse mythology there is also a constellation named after Dain, one that resembles a deer. It is considered as an elven name. Whereas there is also a constellation named Dvalin, which is considered a dwarf name and constellation.[2]
InThe Hobbit byJ. R. R. Tolkien, Dáin II Ironfoot is a Dwarvish King who helps his cousin Thorin Oakenshield in the Battle of the Five Armies.