Influenced by later folklore and popular culture, we tend to think about elves, dwarves, and many other supernatural beings as having certain characteristics which makes them very easily identifiable. Please support World History Encyclopedia. Elves and dwarves represent minor divine figures in Norse mythology. After it is decided that this is indeed the greatest gift, Brokk has Thor catch Loki for him, but the deceitful Loki says he wagered his head, not his neck, and the dwarf's brother Alr seals Loki's lips. The name translates into English as the stronghold/enclosure of Aesir, the principal gods in Norse religion. The surviving literature about Viking elves and the origin of elves in the Nordic landscape is somewhat blurry. It is implied that they are shorter by the use of the phrase dvergrofvoxt, short like a dwarf. Elves are humanoid beings which originate from Germanic mythology and English folklore. Elves, on the other hand, accompany the gods in poetry but do not really have individual stories, except for Vlund the smith. In folklore, dwarves are generally associated with craftsmanship, mining, mountains, earth, and their appearance does not seem too enticing. Scholars believe his being a squirrel has little significance or is perhaps an insult to those who would spread rumors and gossip. Because Odin oversees Valhalla, the land of those who died in battle, this connection makes sense. The worship of the elves persisted centuries after the Germanic peoples formal conversion to Christianity, as medieval law codes prohibiting such practices demonstrate. The light elves in particular are often depicted as being fair in complexion, with blond hair and blue eyes, particularly in modern literature. Throughout the Nordic sagas and Eddic poetry, elves are mentioned somewhat frequently, but they remain some of the most mysterious creatures in Norse lore. This article was originally published in ancient.eu on March 8, 2021. But beyond that, ravens are exceptionally intelligent birds, and we can see that the names of Odins ravens represent intelligence. Sif, Thors wife, has her hair cut off byLokias a prank. Jules William Press was founded in 2013 to address the needs of modern students, teachers, and self-learners for accessible and affordable Old Norse texts. . She says that "his eyes are glowing like glistening snakes" and he "gnashes his teeth" when he sees the sword and ring , so they cut his hamstrings and place him on an island (Hildebrand, 359). While this site provides the ultimate online introduction to the topic, my book The Viking Spirit provides the ultimate introduction to Norse mythology and religion period. 6. p. 232. In the Skldskaparml ("Language of poetry"), Snorri tells us this tale as an answer to the question of why Sifs hair is called gold. In one story, Thor fishes for the great sea serpent in the deep part of the ocean with a great oxs head. They are referenced many times in both the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, but often in passing.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'planetnorway_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_4',150,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-planetnorway_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Todays fantasy worlds such as Dungeons and Dragons and Warhammer Fantasy seem to take inspiration from this dualism of elves, each having both light and dark elves. Daniel McCoy 2012-2019. In Norse mythology, Dkklfar ("Dark Elves") [a] and Ljslfar ("Light Elves") [b] are two contrasting types of elves; the dark elves dwell within the earth and have a dark complexion, while the light elves live in lfheimr, and are "fairer than the sun to look at". Fafnir killed their father, turned into a dragon, and hid all the treasure, while Regin became a smith. Of these, the gods and the giants figure most prominently in Viking myths and legends. Medical texts, possibly under Christian influence, see them rather negatively, as demons. A Note About Viking Names. Interestingly, the elves appear in eleven answers about naming these elements, as the poem seems to draw a line between these races. The Franks CasketThe Trustees of the British Museum (CC BY-NC-SA). (28). if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'planetnorway_com-leader-2','ezslot_7',169,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-planetnorway_com-leader-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'planetnorway_com-leader-2','ezslot_8',169,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-planetnorway_com-leader-2-0_1');.leader-2-multi-169{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. World History Encyclopedia. Dwarves are described as pitch-black in complexion in Norse mythology. Submitted by Irina-Maria Manea, published on 08 March 2021. Included among the Jtunn are Hel, leader of the Underworld, and Ymir, the ambiguously gendered first being of all creation in Norse mythology. The Trustees of the British Museum (CC BY-NC-SA), Snorri makes a difference between light-elves who live in a splendid place called Alfheim & dark-elves (. The huldra or hulder may sound rugged and masculine but they are actually exceptionally fair female mystical beings in Norse mythology. The elves have been described as being more beautiful than the sun. Midgard means "the middle fortress.". The world of fantasy literature is packed with mythical creatures including elves, dwarfs and giants. Last modified March 08, 2021. The race of dwarves, down to a character named Lofar, leaves the mountains for a new home, but this story is unexplained. Codex Regius of the Poetic EddaUnknown (Public Domain). For a long time, views about elves in Old Norse mythology were defined by Snorri Sturluson's . Also, it is said that If a dwarf stays above ground after daybreak, they turn to stone. Even though arguments can be made for such a continuity in certain cases, it may be jeopardous to make general assumptions from only limited or specific instances. She is said to produce the clearest mead and that theres an everlasting amount. 1964. After another gap and unclear lines in the poem, the king summons Vlund, the "crafty elf" to explain to him what happened to his sons (Hildebrand, 367). Elves have been a popular subject in fiction for centuries, ranging from William Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to the classic fantasy novels of J.R.R. When they get to the task in their workshop, Loki in the form of a fly starts troubling Brokk, but he keeps blowing in the forge. Moreover, he too describes the dwarves as Durins folk. In the legends, Norse dwarves are most famous for being highly skilled artisans and smiths. Thor asks what the earth is called, the clouds, the wind, the sea, the fire, and so on. However, he is also called ajotunn,a giant, at some point. 04 Mar 2023. However, there are some historians who have spoken of Vanir and elves as being two distinctive categories of beings. When a person died, it was thought that their hamingja passed down to their most beloved family member, increasing their fortune over time. The fylgja are spirit animals that would show up after the birth of a child, typically animals that would be the ones to eat the afterbirth. Medical texts, possibly under Christian influence, see them rather negatively, as demons. The Old Norse Language and How to Learn It, The Swastika Its Ancient Origins and Modern (Mis)use. After they kill him, they drain his blood, mix it with honey, and thus concoct the mead of poetry, the enchanted liquid that will turn anyone into a talentedskald. There he crafts all kinds of precious objects for the king, never resting. The peasants son eats the marrow of the bone, which affects the resurrection of the goat who then has a slight limp. They were known for causing death and disease. Elves in Norse mythology are split into two different types: The Dkklfar ("Dark Elves") and the Ljslfar ("Light Elves"). The dark elves, otherwise known as svartalfar, were less beautiful than their counterparts, and potentially more connected to evil and misdeeds. The second time they visit Vlund kills them and hides their bodies under his bellows. Some scholars believe the Dkklfar may simply be another name for dwarves. GeirrdA jtunn and father of giantesses Gjalp and Greip. Bergelmir: Only giant to escape the flood caused by dead Ymir's blood. Heidrun is a mythical goat described in both the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda. The Eddic poem Alvssml, connected to Odin and the creation of the world, portrays elves as being closely connected to nature. The story concludes with Bothvild confirming Vlunds sayings and the flight of the elf. Fenrir is also destined to kill Odin, whereas Odins son Varr will then turn around and slay him. The draugr were undead creatures, stronger than humans and possessing the ability to increase their size and to shapeshift. [4] The Poetic Edda. As such, its difficult to fully understand what the Nordic people were referring to when they spoke of elves. Merovech is one of several barbarian kings that joined forces with the Roman general Aetius against the Huns under Attila at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains in Gaul. In legendary sagas, kings of elven blood seem to be of higher importance. The most famous elf was Wayland the Smith (Vlund in Old Norse, Wland in Anglo-Saxon, Wieland in German) whose story must have circulated in various versions across the whole Germanic space. Famous Giantesses in Norse Mythology. Egil is also the one compelled by Nithuth to shoot at Vlund, but not before hiding a bladder filled with blood under his arm so that the king believes his enemy is killed. This could mean elves were just another kind of dwarf, or vice versa. This is why poetry is sometimes called the dwarves drink. Wanting to test it, Sigurd begins to understand the speech of birds who talk about Regins plans to slay Sigurd. She was the Goddess of love. From Odin's mighty horse to a world-circling serpent, Norse Mythology has a cacophony of crazy creatures! Cruelly vengeful, he makes silver cups out of their skulls for the king, gems out of their eyes for their mother, and a brooch out of their teeth for their sister Bothvild. Originally from Bucharest, Romania, now residing in Hesse, Germany. The light elves are said to live in the realm of lfheimr, meaning elf home, under the rule of the god Freyr. Instead, the Vanir were linked to the earthly plane and were gods of harvest . . Aside from being associated with health and life, elves are also connected heavily to the dead in many sagas. Manea, I. Influenced by later folklore and popular culture, we tend to think about elves, dwarves, and many other supernatural beings as having certain characteristics which makes them very easily identifiable. This suggests if the dwarves and dark elves werent the same people, they may have been closely linked, or lived together in the same realm. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'planetnorway_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_12',163,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-planetnorway_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'planetnorway_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_13',163,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-planetnorway_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0_1');.mobile-leaderboard-1-multi-163{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:600px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. The legend of Vlund/Wayland is to be found summarized inDeors Lament, a 10th-century CE Old English poem in the Exeter Book, when the suffering poet lists heroes who have also endured a lot of pain, among whom the elven smith.