"라인의 금" (The Rhine Gold) is the first opera in Richard Wagner's four-opera cycle called Der Ring des Nibelungen. It tells the story of a magical gold found in the Rhine River that grants immense power to its possessor. The gold is guarded by the Rhinemaidens, who are ultimately tricked by the dwarf Alberich. The opera explores themes of greed, power, and the consequences of desire. Alberich renounces love to forge a ring from the gold, setting off a chain of events that leads to conflict among gods, giants, and mortals. The narrative serves as a foundation for the subsequent operas in the cycle.