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Älvalek (Elfplay or Dancing Fairies) (1866) by August Malmström. In Norse mythology, Dökkálfar ("Dark Elves") [a] and Ljósálfar ("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 Álfheimr, and are "fairer than the sun to look at".
Svartálfaheimr ("world of black-elves") appears in the Prose Edda twice, [3] [7] in each case as the place where certain dwarfs can be found to be living: [8] In Gylfaginning 33, the "world of black-elves" is where the dwarfs are sought by the gods to craft the fetter Gleipnir to bind the wolf Fenrir. [9]
Dancing Elves, by August Malmström, 1866 In Norse cosmology , Álfheimr ( Old Norse : [ˈɑːlvˌhɛimz̠] , "Land of the Elves " or "Elfland"; anglicized as Alfheim ), also called "Ljósálfheimr" ( Ljósálf[a]heimr [ˈljoːsˌɑːlv(ɑ)ˌhɛimz̠] , "home of the Light Elves "), is home of the Light Elves.
Norse, Nordic, or Scandinavian mythology, is the body of myths belonging to the North Germanic peoples, stemming from Old Norse religion and continuing after the Christianization of Scandinavia as the Nordic folklore of the modern period.
It seems originally to have meant 'white being'. However, reconstructing the early concept depends largely on texts written by Christians, in Old and Middle English, medieval German, and Old Norse. These associate elves variously with the gods of Norse mythology, with causing illness, with magic, and with beauty and seduction.
The Norse settlers had the álfar, the Irish slaves had the hill fairies or the Good People. Over time, they became two different beings, but really they are two different sets of folklore that mean the same thing." [12] Precursors to elves/hidden people can be found in the writings of Snorri Sturluson [13] and in skaldic verse. [14]
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.
Related: 105 Creative Elf Names and Their Meanings. ... Odin of course is the chief god in Norse mythology, and Thor’s father. 83. Olaf — "Ancestor’s legacy.” ...