  We analyze Nf=2 nucleon mass data with respect to their dependence on the
pion mass down to mpi = 157 MeV and compare it with predictions from covariant
baryon chiral perturbation theory (BChPT). A novel feature of our approach is
that we fit the nucleon mass data simultaneously with the directly obtained
pion-nucleon sigma-term. Our lattice data below mpi = 435 MeV is well described
by O(p^4) BChPT and we find sigma=37(8)(6) MeV for the sigma-term at the
physical point. Using the nucleon mass to set the scale we obtain a Sommer
parameter of r_0=0.501(10)(11) fm.
