[16] Opinions on the degree of continuity in beliefs on dwarfs before and after Christianisation differ greatly. Nkken/Nyk/Nykkjen is a mysterious water creature residing in freshwater, lakes, and deep ponds. Fullangr, for example, means Tall Enough, while Har translates as High.. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Edda, a textbook about Norse mythology written in the 13th century by the Icelander Snorri Sturluson, claims that the valkyries served drinks to fallen warriors in Valhalla. Yet another water creature, this one is something you really wouldnt want to meet when youre out in your boat. These include; Brokk; this an Old Norse name meaning breeches. The dwarves lived in their own part of Midgard, a place no human could find. Stories of dwarves may have a historical background: During the Bronze Age, tin miners from southern and south-eastern Europe slowly migrated northwest, since the relatively rare tin, which is needed to make bronze, was more common in the north. He is a shapeshifter and can change into a white horse, letting young children ride on his back and then jumping with them back into his pond. It usually has magical talents, often involving metallurgy. Another origin might go back to hunter-gatherer times, when perhaps only those with physical defects would be available to do anything other than hunting and gathering. Mare is a female Vette who gives people bad dreams at night by sitting on them in their sleep. Larrington, Carolyne (transl. They spontaneously generated, as maggots were thought to, in the dead flesh (earth or stone). And in Old Frisian it appears as dwirg. Tolkein's Dwarves were created by Aul, one of the Valar, when he grew impatient waiting for the coming of Children of Ilvatar. Upon the arrival of Christianity around the 1300s, the stories changed. A dwarf, in the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fantasy roleplaying game, is a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for player characters.The idea for the D&D dwarf comes from the dwarves of European mythologies and J. R. R. Tolkien's novel The Lord of the Rings (1954-1955), and has been used in D&D and its predecessor Chainmail since the early 1970s. A point of interest comes from the allusion of Tolkien to female dwarves having beards, which was borrowed by other writers. Sometimes, dwarves take on surprising roles. Let's hear it for the female dwarves um. [28], Based on the etymology of dwarf, it has been proposed that the oldest conception of a dwarf was as exclusively a formless spirit, potentially as in the case of disease-causing dwarfs, however, this view is not seen in the oldest manuscript accounts. Required fields are marked *. Maybe the very male-centric nature of dwarves is what's holding them back? A terracotta stand depicting a Gorgon, one of three female monsters capable of turning people to stone, created circa 570 B.C. 1964. Fafnir and Regin killed their father for the cursed ring Andvarinaut. Among the many irreplaceable treasures created by them are: Mjollnir, the hammer of Thor; Gleipnir, the chain that bound the wolf Fenrir when all other fetters failed; Skidbladnir, a ship which belongs to Freyr and always has a favorable wind; Gungnir, the spear of Odin; Draupnir, a ring owned by Odin; the Brisingamen, a magnificent necklace owned by Freya; and the long, golden hair of Sif, Thors wife. From Who Were the Valkyries in Norse Mythology. Theyre also extremely knowledgeable, wise, and magically powerful. If the dwarves were, in fact, virtually indistinguishable from elves, how did they come to be seen as such opposites in later works? However, most dwarf names are unisex and therefore make your work easier. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. In Neil Gaimans American Gods, for example, the dwarf Alviss appears as a character who surprises the main character by being taller than the average man. The banshees are female spirits in Celtic mythology, that possess a powerful and chilling shriek and a ghastly appearance. It has been proposed this may be because narratives typically centre on the gods rather than dwarfs and that female dwarfs were not conceived of as of great relevance to the gods, given their primary interest in obtaining goods from dwarfs, which does not depend on their gender. While some, such as Surt and Thiazi, are villainous characters, however, others are friends of the gods. The Dragon Age: Origins intro story for dwarfs did a good job covering their culture and gender relations in that setting. (Oxford Press, 1971. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Lesser-known dwarves in Norse mythology. (For the physiology of dwarf human beings, see dwarfism. Many names listed for the dwarves also give credence to the idea that they were closely related to the elves. Ilvatar (who represents God) gave them life after speaking to Aul about what he had done and seeing that he was both humble and repentant. The dwarf is an example of creatures who have some mystery attached to them, some ability or nature that transcends the known world, suggesting the existence of creatures and a world beyond this physical realm. According to ancient Nordic myths and legends, at the beginning of existence, the heavens, the earth, and all the 9 realms of the Norse universe were created by the corpse of a frost giant named Ymir.. Odin, the "all father" in Norse mythology . The jotnar are also often depicted as ugly, monstrous, or deformed. Dwarfs are common in modern fantasy sub-culture and fairy tales. . [5] Ivaldi is often glossed as being a dwarf. Eitri is a dwarf who helped create three of the precious objects of the Gods. We all know dwarves as short, bearded characters who love ale, fighting, and gold. In a competition, the trickster Loki bet the dwarf Brokkr and Eitri, that they could not make anything as fine as the gifts, as another group of dwarfs had already made for the Gods, a golden headpiece, a ship, and a spear. Dellinger meaning "the gleaming one like Clarus". Living below ground, particularly with the hot forges associated with metalsmithing, they were seen as demonic in comparison to the near-godly elves. Following the murder of Ymir - the first jtunn and the progenitor of all giants - Odin and his brothers Ve and Vili fashioned the sky out of the giant's head. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Angular Norse-inspired designs and Germanic-sounding names are still common. Often times they were depicted as mischievous, elusive creatures, akin to faeries. In Old Norse, they were called the dvergr. The poem, Dwarfs in Norse mythology were sometimes associated with the death and the underworld. Dark elves may not have been a separate race in the Norse view. This would explain why stories of dwarves are especially common in Northern Europe, and also why dwarves are portrayed as workers, while few other mythological creatures seem to be associated with any kind of organized industry. J.R.R. He is, in Norwegian tradition, described as a dark monster with his eyes just above the surface, watching as people walk by. Lynheid is the daughter of Hreidmar, she has a sister named Lofnheid and three brothers, Fafnir, Reid, and Otr. [4] Turville-Petre, E.O.G. I added something to my knowledge , Your email address will not be published. Dwarfs originate . [21], The Codex Regius version of Vlusp records that dwarfs were produced out of the earth, while in the Prose Edda they form like maggots in the flesh of Ymir, which became the earth. Those with dwarfism might become permanent craftsmen, and an association between crafting and dwarfism might have developed. Beyond Svama, the named dyrgja in jalar-Jns saga, the only other explicitly named dwarf woman in saga literature is the daughter of Sindri in orsteins saga Vkingssonar, Herrr. While the stories are inconsistent in regards to the role of the dwarves, they are equally as contradictory about their origins. Cosette (French origin) meaning "tiny or little". The dwarfs Eggerich and Baldung play a role in aiding Dietrich in the poem Sigenot: Baldung gives Dietrich a magical gem that prevents him from being bitten when thrown into a snake pit, whereas Eggerich helps Dietrich and Hildebrand escape. Gnomes are small, ugly, humanoid creatures from the Renaissance period. They are often depicted as having a low affinity for most magical abilities and/or a resistance to magic. Hreidmar demanded to get enough gold to cover the dead otters pelt and fill its insides. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [5] In a way, this depiction of dwarves led into their usage in fairy tales, the two most famous being, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Rumpelstiltskin. See also Pygmy.) Kvasir, for example, was murdered by two dwarves who brewed his blood into the Mead of Poetry after he was invited to their home as a guest. Nor are dwarves necessarily short in Norse mythology. Instead, it is with our own notion of what a dwarf was. Alfrigg, Berling, Dvalin, and Grerr are the four dwarves, who made the Brisingamen for the Goddess Freya. Oxford English Dictionary. In early literary sources, only males are explicitly referred to as dwarfs, although they are described as having sisters and daughters, while both male and female dwarfs feature in later saga literature and folklore. Although these might be humans afflicted with dwarfism who were often kept as curiosities by courts and nobles of the era, the ladies were often of uncertain origin themselves. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); World History Edu 2023. [citation needed], Dwarfs feature in the modern folklore of Germanic-speaking regions of Europe such as the Simonside Dwarfs in Northumberland, who are sometimes believed to use lights to lure people off paths, akin to a will-o'-the-wisp. Frigg was the Queen of the Viking pantheon, the wife of Odin, and the mother of the beloved god, Baldr. Sources have gradually given Dwarves more comical and superstitious roles [1]. Dwarves have made appearances in European stories and folklore for centuries. In the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini the dwarves are made out to be a proud and powerful race, with a complex government, religion, and culture. [46], The inscription on the 8th century Ribe skull fragment has been interpreted by some scholars as explicitly referring to a dvergynju ('female-dwarf') that may have been believed to have been causing harm to the user of the fragment. The dwarves are occasionally called black elves (Old Norse svartlfar),[6] and in some instances theyre described as being dead or resembling human corpses.[7]. Elves were often seen as physically lesser, as well. The contemporary English spelling comes from the Old English dweorg or dweorh.[1]. She lives in the underworld with her counterpart, who is . In Slavic mythology, the Kikimora is a legendary monster creature that is represented as a female house spirit. Otr is the son of Hreidmar, Otr has two brothers Regin and Fafnir. She is killed by the hero Perseus, who cuts off her head.To the Greeks, Medusa is the leader of an ancient, older matriarchal religion that had to be obliterated; in modern culture, she represents vital sensuality and a power that is threatening to males. Afra is an Arabic female dwarf name that means "the color shade of the earth". [43], Diversity in appearance is not only seen between dwarfs throughout time and region but also with individual dwarfs, who can be capable of changing their shape and size, such as in Reginsml, in which the dwarf Andvari lived as a pike in the water due to curse from a Norn, however, could also take on a human-like shape. 6 . In appearance they were sometimes beautiful, but more usually they resembled grave old men with long beards and, in some cases, humped backs. Though slow runners and poor riders, dwarves are said to be excellent warriors and defenders of their strongholds. There is no Santa in the shape of a fat, bearded guy who lives at the North Pole in the Scandinavian Christmas tradition. [38] Some names suggest a small size such as Nori and Nabbi, which have been translated as "tiny" and "little nub" respectively, however it has been argued that this was not necessarily the general rule. Accounts of dwarfs vary significantly throughout history; however, they are commonly, but not exclusively, presented as living in mountains or stones and being skilled craftsmen. The jotnar, for example, are usually thought of as the enemies of the gods. Omissions? In Gods and Creatures by SkjaldenJune 1, 2011. Ymir in Norse Mythology: Meaning, Family Tree, Symbols, & Death, The Boston Massacre: The American Revolution, Fenrir in Norse Mythology Origins, Family, Meaning, & Power, Thors identity across different mythologies, Ragnark in Norse Mythology: Meaning, Summary, & Cause, Although the male dwarfs are the ones usually mentioned in Norse mythology, there existed female dwarfs as well. The plural form, dwarfs, has been traced to the seventeenth century. The Norse myths never mention the dwarves as being short or universally ugly. [4] They turn to stone if exposed to the rays of the sun.[5]. These dwarves fill an archetypal role often taken by giants or gods in other cultures. In old times, the Kraken was said to be in the shape of a huge crab, the size of an island, and many sailors and fishermen found themselves stranded on an island that had not been there minutes before. (For the physiology of dwarf human beings, see dwarfism. Dhara (Indian origin) meaning "the earth". The gender of a dwarf is usually derived from the name itself. ). [55] They further created the Mead of Poetry from the blood of Kvasir, which grants skill in poetry to those who drink from it. [73][74] The item's function has been compared to the Sigtuna amulet I and Canterbury charm that seek to drive away a "lord of ursar" that is causing an infection, the latter explicitly with the help of Thor. and ed.) Some historians believe that the distinction between light and dark types of elves was not an original feature of Norse mythology. Clues given in Norse texts seem to indicate that the dwarves were thought of as similar to the elves, or even as a subgroup of that race. A long-standing enmity between Dwarves and Elves is also a staple of the racial conception. Modern scholars believe that the Norse may have thought of the dwarves much differently than we do today. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. [72], The 8th century Ribe skull fragment, found in Jutland, bears an inscription that calls for help from three beings, including Odin, against either one or two harmful dwarfs. American showman P.T. [51], It has been noted that it may not be that female dwarfs did not exist in the folklore of this period, only that no explicit references to them survive in preserved narratives. When Loki needed to acquire golden hair for Sif, for example, he visited two groups of characters who are most often interpreted as dwarves. In The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien gives many of the dwarves names taken directly from the Norse Eddas. This has been suggested to be a key differentiator between dwarfs and elves in pre-Christian Germanic religion, who maintain reciprocal and positive relationships with gods and humans; Kormaks saga describes how food was to be shared with elves to heal sickness and Austrfararvsur records an lfablt being held around the early 11th century in Sweden. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Du sk, k flyt! was a riddle for protection, meaning: Nyk! In the 18th and 19th centuries, the tsars and noblemen of Russia kept innumerable dwarfs. In these cases, female dwarfs are only mentioned alongside males and are not independently important to the plot. He is a beautiful young man in Swedish tradition, tricking women into jumping into the water and then drowning them. In Teutonic and especially Scandinavian mythology and folklore, the term dwarf (Old Norse: dvergr) denoted a species of fairy inhabiting the interiors of mountains and the lower levels of mines. In order to prevent the sky from falling down to the Earth, the dwarfs Norri, Suri, Austri, and Vestri were sent to the four corners (Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western respectively . The dwarves were demonized by these writers while the elves were seen as characters of goodness. The Old Norse Language and How to Learn It, The Swastika Its Ancient Origins and Modern (Mis)use. Otherwise, however, their attributes are rarely agreed upon. The dwarves were short, burly people who forged metals in their underground homes. Medieval myths depicted gnomes as creatures resembling little old men, often with hunched over backs. dwarf, an individual who is much below the ordinary stature or size for his ethnic group or species. For example, one group of dwarves mentioned in the same story are the sons of Ivaldi, who is elsewhere called the father of Idunn. The character of Alviss seems to have more in common with the usual depiction of a troll than of a dwarf. [6] Svartlfaheimr ("world of black-elves") appears in the Prose Edda twice, [3] [7] in each . 5 . He is a dwarf that suddenly appeared at Balders funeral, and got in the way of the God Thor. [2], For forms earlier than the Proto-Germanic reconstruction, the etymology of the word dwarf is highly contested. [2] Snorri Sturluson. After reading some examples of dwarf names, also check female dwarf names and dwarf last names. Draugen is the ghost of a man who died at sea. [40] In some German stories, the dwarf takes on the attributes of a knight but is most clearly separated from normal humans by his small size, in some cases only reaching up to the knees. fairy, also spelled faerie or faery, a mythical being of folklore and romance usually having magic powers and dwelling on earth in close relationship with humans. More ambiguous are the dwarfs found in attendance on ladies in romances. They are short, stocky, bearded metal-workers, generally seen wearing chain mail and brandishing axes. Some are even given the cosmological function of holding the dome of the sky aloft, certainly not a job for a three-foot-tall creature. Many dwarves in Norse legends were known for their inventiveness and skill in metalworking and other crafts. Your email address will not be published. Alfrigg, Berling, Dvalin and Grerr: Alfrigg, Berling, Dvalin, and Grerr are the four dwarves, who made the Brisingamen for the Goddess Freya. 2003. Their knowledge of metallurgy might have seemed magical to the northerners, whose lifestyle was still neolithic; the southerners' superior weapons and armor might well have been perceived as enchanted. So, Cheery Littlebottom from Discworld is the only one I can name. The mountain dwarfs were organized in kingdoms or tribes, with their own kings, chieftains, and armies. p. 235. The significance of a name cannot be disapproved, especially for fictional characters. Gylfaginning 17 & 34. I see a lot of people complaining about the female dwarf not having a bigger beard, but if people really want to stick to Tolkien's words, then female and male dwarves will have to look, sound, and dress so similarly that non-dwarves can't tell them apart. In Virginal, Dietrich rescues the dwarf queen Virginal from a force of invading heathens. [3], Norri, Suri, Austri and Vestri are four dwarfs, potentially depicted as four anthropomorphic figures on the hogback stone in Heysham in Lancashire, that according to the Prose Edda each hold up a corner of the sky, that was fashioned from the skull of Ymir. Some scholars have proposed that female dwarfs were not believed to exist, however they are likely attested in charms dating to the early medieval period and are explicitly described in later saga material. In the Heldenbuch-Prosa, a dwarf takes Dietrich out of this world after the death of all the other heroes, a role given to Laurin in some different versions of Dietrich's end. Bane, Theresa: Encyclopedia of Giants and Humanoids in Myth, Legend and Folklore; McFarland, 2016 (p. 60). [22], The dwarf Alberich plays a vital role in the Nibelungenlied, where he guards the Nibelung's treasure and has the strength of twelve men. Scandinavian Folklore consists of many creatures, good or evil, which have frightened people for centuries. Sometimes they wear white, and other times they are adorned in grey or black. A prime example of this is the tale of how Thor got his hammer in the Skldskaparml of the Poetic Edda. It nonetheless appears to have been recognised as a dwarf, however that may have been due to its behaviour as opposed to its physical appearance. These names are not explained by stories but it has been theorised that they refer to the fires in the forges the dwarfs work, or to haugaeldarcode: isl promoted to code: is ('grave mound fires') that are found in later Icelandic folklore. Other times they were viewed as working for humans as craftsmen and engineers. [68][69], It has been proposed by Lotte Motz that the inhabitation of mountains, stones and mounds by dwarfs may be derived from their earlier association with the dead who were frequently buried in mounds and around megaliths. [3], Modern English has two plurals for the word dwarf: dwarfs and dwarves. (1987). Of course your favorite cartoon dwarfs are included, but this list doesn't only feature animated characters that can talk. [note 1][50] As Norns are also female, this could mean that dwarfs were conceived of by the author of the poem as able to be female, it is not clear whether either their mother (or mothers) are dwarfs, or if they themselves are considered dwarfs just because they are descended from dwarfs. The god keeps him engaged in conversation until the sun rises, at which point Alviss is turned to stone. It has its roots in Appendix A of J.R.R. You are sinking; I float!. Although she was an earth goddess, the goddess Sif in Norse mythology is most known for her golden hair. [56][57] John Lindow noted that stanza 10 of the Poetic Edda poem Vlusp can be read as describing the creation of human forms from the earth and follows a catalogue of dwarf names; he suggests that the poem may present Ask and Embla as having been created by dwarfs, with the three gods then giving them life. Alkonost, who gets her name from the Greek demigod Alyclone, is a creature with the body of a bird and the head of a woman. According to ancient Irish myth, Enbarr was a mythological horse who could take to both land and water. These dwarves burrow deep inside mountains, being very skilled miners, and create entire civilizations underground. The modern English noun dwarf descends from Old English: dweorg. The dwarves were short, burly people who forged metals in their underground homes. The modern view of dwarves is largely influenced by both folklore and modern fantasy fiction. Receiving help from a dwarf, however, such as being healed or given a treasure, was not seen as problematic; it has been proposed that the worldview of the saga writers was that a hero is not defined by achieving deeds alone, but by being able to both give and accept help. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. Maybe female protagonists that are short, heavily built and have beards are not appealing? Many of the female jotnar, however, are described as exceptionally beautiful and become the wives and mothers of Aesir and Vanir gods. When people think of the dwarves, a common image springs to mind. Humanoid in form, but short and stocky, they are connected with the Earth and are often said to be miners, engineers, and craftsmen. Dwarf (folklore) Two dwarfs as depicted in a 19th-century edition of the Poetic Edda poem Vlusp (1895) by Lorenz Frlich. Its been used in several movies, like Pirates of the Caribbean and Clash of the Titans, but originally, the Kraken belongs in the cold Norwegian Sea, where it was first said to be seen in the early 1700s. [51], Female dwarfs feature in the late Gibbons saga, Bsa saga and jalar-Jns saga, where they are referred to by the term "dyrgja". New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article While modern readers have preconceived notions of what the dwarves were, Norse sources are in less agreement. [1] Orel, Vladimir. Experts working in the later part of the 20th century agree that earlier scholars had mistakenly applied the name Sindri to the brother of Brokkr. Come on you know damn well that middle earth takes heavy inspiration from . From memory: A dwarven child belongs to the social caste of the parent of the same gender, and this can effectively raise the social class of a female dwarf if they have a male child with a noble; your sister is pregnant . Later descriptions tell of a monster in the shape of an enormous octopus, which dragged ships down to the bottom of the sea. The first detailed description was made by the Danish writer and biologist Erik Pontoppidan in 1752. The dwarves of the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer act as a sort of earthworm, tunneling through soil and loose rocks and getting nutrition thereby, excreting the earth as fast as they eat it. In Norse mythology, dwarves are highly significant entities associated with stones, the underground, and forging. In Vlsunga saga which details the events that unfold after Loki extorts treasure out of the dwarf Andvari, to pay the wergild for his killing of tr, a being whose brother Regin is also described in some sources as either resembling or being a dwarf. Ynglingasaga also describes this dwarf as being afraid of the sun (Old Norse: dagskjarr), akin to in Alvssml, where the poem's eponymous dwarf is turned to stone sunlight. "[6] In later writings, Tolkien directly states that his female dwarves have beards "from the beginning of their lives", as do the males.[7]. He is defeated by Siegfried and afterwards serves the hero. This interpretation is paralleled in Wi Dweorh XCIIIb (Against a Dwarf XCIIIb) in which a harmful dwarf's sister is called to prevent him from causing an afflicted person's illness. 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. It was employed by Tolkien for some time before 1917. The Prose and Poetic Eddas, which form the foundation of what we know today concerning Norse mythology, contain many names of dwarfs.While many of them are featured in extant myths of their own, many others have come down to us today only as names in various lists provided for the benefit of skalds or poets of the medieval period and are included here for the purpose of completeness. Nabbi is a dwarf, but not much is known about him. In Vlusp they are referred to as 'masters of the rocks' (Old Norse: veggbergs vsir) and skaldic kennings for 'stone' include 'dvergrann' ('house of the dwarf') and 'Durnis nija salr' ('the hall of Durnir's kinsman'). p. 234. 5. [29] Dwarf names in Eddic sources include Fullangr ('tall enough') and Hr ('high'), however, the terms are ambiguous and do not necessarily mean the dwarfs were conceived of as tall relative to a human. They are antisocial, and their powers are associated with the earth. The image of dwarves living below ground remains popular, but in Norse mythology this seems to be one of the major differences between them and the elves. Archived post. Cookie Notice I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. However, it was later popularized by the fiction of philologist and legendarium author J. R. R. 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