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The fire god, Loge, knows the attraction of the gold. Taking the form of a ring, materialized gold curses those who desire it.  Mother Earth, Erda, has experienced the rise and fall of civilizations throughout the course of human history.  Once again, she warns against the danger that lies ahead. From piles of gold, the gods had constructed a “Kingdom of Gold” called Walhalla, and a legend circulates: the gold was stolen from the Rhine, but it will some day be returned.  Working together, Mother Earth and Loge attempt to retrieve the gold and return it to its proper place—the depths of the Rhine.  But there are those who covet the ring. Catching a glimpse of Freia’s life-giving fruit, a product of the golden tree of life, but unable to grasp it, the accursed girl curses God.  What, then, does one’s sense of complete independence produce?--“Angstgefühl,” the feeling of fear and anxiety.  In what will one’s legacy consist?  What kingdom does one forge for oneself solely out of one’s sense of self?  A monument takes shape as a maiden descends into the river’s waters.   Having been forged from the gold and earthly elements, the monument reflects her image.  But what, or who does the girl see when she peers into the mirror?

 
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