The character who creates this object is forced to renounce love by some river-maidens.
This object's theme consists of descending A minor thirds for four notes, which then reverse and ascend. A four-minute E-flat drone begins an opera titled for this object. The character who creates this object is forced to renounce love by some river-maidens. After this object and Tarnhelm are stolen, the (*) "Death-Curse" motif is first heard. A fight over it leaves Hagen drowned and causes the rest of the gods to die in an inferno. A giant who possesses this object turns into a dragon. This object is created by the dwarf Alberich in The Rhinegold. For 10 points, name this object which titles an operatic cycle including Siegfried and The Valkyrie by Richard Wagner.
This object's theme consists of descending A minor thirds for four notes, which then reverse and ascend.
the Ring of the Nibelungs [or Der Ring des Nibelungen; or Das Rheingold or The Rhine Gold until it is read, since the Ring is made from the Rheingold]