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The Tarnhelm is a magic helmet in Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen (written 1848–1874, first performed 1876). It was crafted by Mime at the demand of his brother Alberich. It is used as a cloak of invisibility by Alberich in Das Rheingold. It also allows one to change one's form:
- Alberich changes to a giant snake and then a toad in Das Rheingold, Scene 3.
- Fafner changes to a dragon after the end of Das Rheingold and appears thus in Siegfried, Act II. (It is never made clear whether Fafner actually used the Tarnhelm to transform, or simply transformed as many giants and gods did in the myths. There is no Tarnhelm present in the original Andvari myth from Reginsmál in the Poetic Edda from which Wagner drew inspiration for this scene.)
- Siegfried changes to Gunther's form in Götterdämmerung Act I, Scene 3.
Finally, it allows one to travel long distances instantly, as Siegfried does in Götterdämmerung, Act II.
The stage directions[citation needed] in Das Rheingold and Siegfried describe the Tarnhelm as a golden chain-mail helmet which covers the wearer's face.