Her connections with Ymir and Buri place her at the beginning of creation, helping to bring into being the first creatures of Norse mythology. Norse elves were considered supernatural, magical creatures, responsible for playing a role in the past, present, and future of the world. Their name comes from two Old Norse words, valr referring to those who died in battle and kjosa meaning "to choose.". Loki was confident that he had both appeased Thor and earned great gifts for the gods at no cost to himself. The sons of Ivaldi - the most skilled craftsmen There were four sons of Ivaldi, whose names meant bowman. Not only do we pay for our servers, but also for related services such as our content delivery network, Google Workspace, email, and much more. The medieval Icelandic author Snorri Sturluson, who wroteThe Prose Edda,states that they came out of the primordial giant Ymirs flesh like maggots, and then the gods endowed them with reason. Two wicked dwarves named Fjalar and Galar come up in the story of the mead of poetry. Born in Trondheim and currently living in Oslo, Erik knows the ins and outs of Norwegian History, society, and culture. They are the ones who kill Kvasir, the extraordinary knowledgeable creature born out of the mixed spit of the two families of gods, the sir and the Vanir, when they end theirwarat the beginning of the world. Old English names in elf - include the cognate of Alboin lfwine (literally "elf-friend", m.), lfric ("elf-powerful", m.), lfweard ("elf-guardian", m.), and lfwaru ("elf-care", f.). They are said to dwell in Svartalfheim, one of the nine realms of Norse legend. It is the Old Norse cognate of Hilda. Similar to the ravens Hugin and Munin, theyre parts of Odin, forming part of him even as they remain distinct. As remarked by Turville-Petre. Elf mythology also depicts these creatures as having strong connections with the Gods. Also, it is said that If a dwarf stays above ground after daybreak, they turn to stone. Ylfagescot (elf-shot) is applied to certain diseases of men and beasts. Remember, Norse mythology is about mythical creatures, including Kraken, Norns, elves, dwarves, and giants. Elves in Norse mythology are split into two different types: The Dkklfar ("Dark Elves") and the Ljslfar ("Light Elves"). While elves were associated with all gods, and the Vanir, they are particularly connected with Freyr, the god who rules over the realm of the elves. Well start with the general races of creatures and beings before moving on to the specific legendary creatures of Norse mythology. (1801-1872), better known as Myllarguten, was a famous fiddle player from Telemark, Norway, who was so good it was rumored he had sold his soul in exchange for Fossegrimmen . Elves and dwarves represent minor divine figures in Norse mythology. Does Norway use the Euro? These messages go between Verflnir, the eagle who lives in the high branches on top, and Nidhggr, who gnaws on the roots below. While there are various descriptions of elves dotted throughout books like the Poetic Edda, our understanding of how Vikings and other Norse people actually viewed elves is somewhat limited. The All-Father Odin resided in great Asgard and ruled over all of the nine realms in the Norse mythology cosmos. Infuriated, Thor forces Loki to look up the black-elves/dwarves to make her hair of gold. The Norse Gods. Submitted by Irina-Maria Manea, published on 08 March 2021. 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). However, for pagan Northmen, the lines drawn between these creatures must have been much blurrier than it is for us. Snorri Sturluson, the writer and Icelandic historian responsible for much of what we know about Nordic lore, divided elves into two segments. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. Norse mythology saw elves as large and human-sized. A Hamingja is a kind of female guardian spirit with a similar connection to a person as their fylgja. The dwarves forge the strongest chain ever made, Gleipnir, to bind him. Although translated as giants, they are not necessarily larger than humans or gods.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'planetnorway_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_5',162,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-planetnorway_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Trolls are considered a subset of the jtunn, and many other creatures are born from jtunns, such as the world serpent and Fenrir. DunkerTroll depicted in a folktale from Fosen. For example, a group of dwarfs known as the Sons of Ivaldi famously crafted Odin's spear Gungnir, the god Freyr's ship Skidbaldnir, and Sif's golden hair. Jotunheim - Realm of the Frost Giants Ljsalfar, light elves & Dkkalfar, dark elves. 6. The Sons of Ivaldi Forging Thor's HammerElmer Boyd Smith (Public Domain). They would guard their graves and treasure, sometimes a royal palace or burial mound. According to Norse mythology, dwarves are master blacksmiths who live in underground cities. Another noteworthy dwarven character is Alviss, literally "all-knowing", found in the poem Alvssml of the Poetic Edda. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close. Trolls . However, there are some historians who have spoken of Vanir and elves as being two distinctive categories of beings. The home of the Nordic elf in Norse lore was dependent on whether the elf was categorized in the light or dark landscape. In this way, he has a daily meal available through his goats. Light elves lived above ground in lfheimr, one of the nine worlds depicted in Norse mythology, and created specifically for the elven race. 3. Odin, Thor, and Freyr were among the most revered of all the gods; thus, they could be considered the three main deities. Elves ( lfar) and dwarves ( dvergar) have in common their talent for creating precious objects, skill, agility, and moral ambiguity. by William Reid. Vlund is a complex character, reuniting aspects of the light and dark elves mentioned by Snorri: at first peaceful and melancholic, then after his imprisonment aggressive and merciless. Elves and dwarves represent minor divine figures in Norse mythology. Scandinavian folklore told of beautiful elven women who had a youthful appearance but would be hollow when seen from the back. There seems to be a bit of interchangeability between dark elves, dwarves, and human corpses in the ancient works, making the lines between the three quite blurry. Aside from being associated with health and life, elves are also connected heavily to the dead in many sagas. It is also worth bearing in mind that they might have had different ideas about these beings than the images presented in folk tales now. They designed three gifts for Aesir, the gods of the principal pantheon in the Norse religion. After falling asleep, he is captured by Nithuth and charged with having stolen his treasure, but the elf says the gold was not in the hills of the Rhine. The dark elves, otherwise known as svartalfar, were less beautiful than their counterparts, and potentially more connected to evil and misdeeds. Technically, although the word Aesir refers only to multiple male gods, we use it today to refer to the entire pantheon of . (28). 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). Perhaps the god Freyr, connected to prosperity and good harvest, had something in common with them, as the poem Grmnisml suggests that the realm of the light-elves, Alfheim, has been given to him. Codex Regius of the Poetic EddaUnknown (Public Domain). She was the Goddess of love. Dwarves and elves are some of the better-known Scandinavian mythological creatures, thanks in part to the growing popularity of books like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Elivagar and gjol flow out into the abyss 2. Elves and dwarves were probably seen as interchangeable, belonging to the large family of spirits populating a world seen as much richer than what the naked eye could grasp, as Northmen did not share our passion for clear categories. Much as Nithuth wishes to have his revenge, he cannot reach the elf: no man is so tall as to take you from your horse, no archer so good to shoot you down there where you wander among the clouds (Hildebrand, 369). (2021, March 08). The Ljosalfar, on the other hand, were radiantly beautiful and were considered the same as the gods. Given their ability to produce exquisite objects and their knowledgeable, somewhat enchanted nature, we could suppose elves and dwarves occupied an intermediary place between gods and men. [1] Orel, Vladimir. [5] Still, other sources do speak of the elves and the Vanir as being distinct categories of beings, such that a simple identification of the two would be misguided. Role: Principal clan of Norse gods. However, the Norse people viewed elves as creatures with strong connections to the Gods, the evolution of humanity, and the cycle of life and death. Elves are humanoid beings which originate from Germanic mythology and English folklore. Before the adventures of Sigurd, the saga deals with the power struggles of Sigurd's ancestors. Light elves are tall, slender beings who are said to be fairer than the sun. This piece of information indicated that the Norse story had a southern inspiration. However, for pagan Northmen, the lines drawn between these creatures must have been much blurrier than it is for us. World History Encyclopedia. Table of Contents 1. Odin took the spear and Draupnir, while Freyr got the magical ship and the great boar.. Once in the Poetic Edda, the term Heidrun is used as an insult to Freyja. Ylfagescot(elf-shot) is applied to certain diseases of men and beasts. 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. The Creation of the First Humans - The gods find two pieces of driftwood on the shore in the newly-created world, and bring them to life as the . "Elves & Dwarves in Norse Mythology." However, the somewhat confusing nature of historic Nordic mythological text has led to a lot of overlap between dark elves and dwarves, with many experts believing the two were one and the same. Instead, the Vanir were linked to the earthly plane and were gods of harvest . 2. Scandinavian watches: What are the best Scandinavian watch brands? Norse mythology is the body of mythology of the North Germanic people stemming from Norse paganism and . Elves (lfar) in Norse Mythology Written by Adam in Creatures Last Updated December 28, 2022 Elves inhabit two possible realms in Norse myth: Alfheim (or lfheimr) and Svartalfheim. The jtunn, also called giants or frost giants, is a kind of rival to the gods similar to the titans in Greek mythology. While his brothers go searching for them, Vlund stays home and forges rings with gems, waiting for his wife. The dwarves are skilled craftsmen, and they have crafted some of the best objects in the world. All Rights Reserved. Among the many names, we also find Norri, Suri, Austri, and Vestri north, south, east, and west, the ones holding the sky up. Thirdly, we have those characters from the story of Sigurd. Included among the Jtunn are Hel, leader of the Underworld, and Ymir, the ambiguously gendered first being of all creation in Norse mythology. According to the Eddic poem Lokasenna, elves regularly joined the gods in council and war, and even accompanied gods as drinking companions and lovers. The Dokkalfar elves lived under the earth and were said to be similar to dwarves but were completely black in color. Regin, son of Hreidmar, acts as his foster father yet entices him to go on a quest that would trigger his impending doom. This is the clan to which great gods such as Odin and Thor belong. Not much is known about them, but they have some form of connection to the Aesir and the Vanir. Due to Huginn and Munnin, Odin is often associated with ravens. There is little in Norse sources on other physical traits; their forging talents do seem to put them in the limelight. They had the power to spread disease, and cure illness, depending on the situation. The tale of the making of Mjlnir, Thors hammer, and of other essential items has only been transmitted by SnorrisEdda, the secondary source, but because they are sometimes used in metaphors in poetry, they probably come from older sources. As one day they go out at sea, the boat capsizes and Gilling drowns. Because Odin oversees Valhalla, the land of those who died in battle, this connection makes sense. In some tales such as rlfr bgiftr (Thorolf Twist-Foot), the draugr possess a kind of transmission of their undead qualities, turning others they attack into draugr. He, therefore, decides to kill his foster-father, eat some of the heart, and take much of the treasure. Not much else is known about their behaviors and world. Today, when most people think of Elves, they think of Lord of the Rings, or Santas helpers. Torgier is still the most famous fiddle player to this day. The second time they visit Vlund kills them and hides their bodies under his bellows. In one story, Thor fishes for the great sea serpent in the deep part of the ocean with a great oxs head. Tales of their magical powers are also numerous, with some draugr shapeshifting, entering into dreams, and creating darkness in their surroundings. In theSkldskaparml(Language of poetry), Snorri tells us this tale as an answer to the question of why Sifs hair is calledgold. [4] The Poetic Edda. 04 Mar 2023. There is little in Norse sources on other physical traits; their forging talents do seem to put them in the limelight. Tired of his wifes weeping, they drop a millstone on her head. Thus Sigurd, after avenging his father first, accepts the challenge and stabs Fafnir in the heart while laying in a ditch he digs underneath, following Odins advice. Many specialists believe the Nordic people themselves probably didnt make a lot of specific distinctions between these groups. A curious and open mind, fascinated by the past. Pronunciation: aye-sear. Alternatively, the dark elves apparently lived like dwarves, within the ground. Asgard can be broken into "the fortress of the As," the shortened word for the Aesir, the name of the gods. Please support World History Encyclopedia. The world of fantasy is packed full of amazing mythical creatures such as Elves, Dwarfs and Giants. The Anglo-Saxon poemAgainst a Dwarfis a charm supposed to cure an illness of some kind of trouble sleeping, a nightmare, elf-dream (Alptraumin German). Signy: Signy was the twin sister of Sigmund and the wife of Siggeir in the Norse mythology. They can live in soil or in rocks. Medical texts, possibly under Christian influence, see them rather negatively, as demons. Grmnisml, stanza 5. This is why poetry is sometimes called the dwarves drink. Dwarves and elves. Then the dwarves invite a giant named Gilling and his wife. Medical texts, possibly under Christian influence, see them rather negatively, as demons. Running a website with millions of readers every month is expensive. Snorri even describes a second realm for the dark elves called Svartlfaheimr. In Norse mythology, Alfhild was a woman guarded by a snake and a lizard that destroyed unworthy men. In stanza 9, the gods gather and decide who should lead the dwarves "out of Brimirs blood and the legs of Blain" (Hildebrand, 16), two names possibly synonymous with Ymir or his flesh. Snorri even describes a second realm for the dark elves called Svartlfaheimr. [8][9] Humans can apparently become elves after death, and there was considerable overlap between the worship of human ancestors and the worship of the elves.[10][11]. Interestingly, the elves appear in eleven answers about naming these elements, as the poem seems to draw a line between these races. He is also thought to play a significant role in Ragnarok, where he will fly to help the Jtunn. Creation Of The Cosmos. Coming from Norse mythology originally, the troll is apparently inspired . Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. This hurts the tree deeply, threatening its ability to hold up the nine worlds of the cosmos. Loki wagers his head with another dwarf called Brokk that he and his brother Eitri would not be able to make three objects as precious as these. 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 talented skald. p. 232. As one day they go out at sea, the boat capsizes and Gilling drowns. (232). Cite This Work Enraged by these mischievous acts, Suttung, the couples son seizes Fjalar and Galar but receives as compensation the magic mead. Ultimately, then, their veneration lasted longer than even that of the gods. These 10 most famous of the Norse legends evoke images of mighty battles, forces of nature and wicked beings. Elves commonly cause human illnesses,[6] but they also have the power to heal them, and seem especially willing to do so if sacrifices are offered to them. They were the "choosers of the slain.". There are two different types of elves in Norse mythology, the Dokkalfar, or dark elves creature, and the Ljosalfar, light elves creatures. Many experts refer to the realm of dwarves as Svartalfheim, or Svartlfaheimr, the same realm given to the dark elves. They are described at times as astoundingly beautiful and at other times as grotesque. She was the twin sister to Freyr and the daughter to Njord. [6] Turville-Petre, E.O.G. Fenrir was suspicious of being bound by it for a game the gods thought up to trick him but allowed it if one of the gods would put their hand in his mouth as they tied him. This spirit motivates all of our publications, as we expand our catalogue to include Viking archaeology and history, as well as Scandinavian historical fiction and our Saga Series. The dwarves might have shapeshifting abilities, several of them have been mentioned to shapeshift into an animal. Initially, Freya was a member of the Vanir gods. 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". Another name in the list, Dvalin, is credited in another poem of thePoetic Edda, theHvaml, with having given some magicrunesto his kin, which perhaps explains their skills (stanza 144). Born of Loki and the Jtunn Angrboa, he is the brother of the great serpent, Jrmungandr, and queen of the underworld, Hel. In one story, the dwarf Andvari is described as being from Svartlfar, a realm for the elves. The most famous name of this kind is Alboin. In the Poetic Edda, Thor is seen finding the goats with splendid horns and taking them for himself. 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. To complicate things even more, Snorri makes a difference between light-elves who live in a splendid place called Alfheim and dark-elves (svartlfar) from the ground, who might be the same as or related to dwarves. HrungnirThe stongest giant in Norse mythology. Scholars believe his being a squirrel has little significance or is perhaps an insult to those who would spread rumors and gossip. Bergelmir: Only giant to escape the flood caused by dead Ymir's blood. Currency in Norway: What currency is used in Norway? The dark elves are thought to be the same as dwarves and dwell under the earth and be almost black to look at. Vlund promises to fix it, and then they drink together and she falls asleep in his chair. At some point, he stops to sweep the fly away as it has been nibbling his eyelid, which is why the hammer they make for Thor comes with a defect, that it is rather short. Depicted as the mother of all wolves. World History Encyclopedia. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. Elves and dwarves represent minor divine figures in Norse mythology. Unfortunately, this isnt entirely accurate to their ancient depiction, whose more sinister side shows them to be cunning practitioners of magic.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'planetnorway_com-leader-4','ezslot_11',164,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-planetnorway_com-leader-4-0'); Sleipnir is Odins grey, eight-legged horse. Interestingly, the elves appear in eleven answers about naming these elements, as the poem seems to draw a line between these races. This could mean elves were just another kind of dwarf, or vice versa. Regarding the differences between all these supernatural creatures, scholar rmann Jakobsson adds: Notions of a continuity of Northern folk traditions [] are revived in every generation, with subtle changes, without having ever really gone out of fashion. 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. They can live in soil or in rocks. In the British Isles, flint implements called elf-bolts, elf-arrows, or elf-shot (which are now known to be prehistoric tools used by the aboriginal Irish and the early Scots) were believed to be the weapons with which elves injured cattle. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. TheReginsmlonly mentions his shortness but goes on to say that was fierce, skilled in magic, and wise, so this identification might work. In Norse mythology, dwarfs were primarily responsible for crafting exquisite weapons, jewelry and furniture for the Aesir gods. For this reason, some think it is better to think of them as another race of people among the gods rather than a kind of creature. In Olafs Saga Helga, the character Olaf refers to his ancestor as an elf. Men could be elevated to the rank of elves after death, such as king Olaf Geirstad-Elf. The figure is present in Old English as early as the 8th century CE, probably spreading in Scandinavia a century later. View more posts, You can now buy the audio pronunciation albums for Viking Language 1 in our store! For a long time, views about elves in Old Norse mythology were defined by Snorri Sturluson's . The art of prophecy was a divine gift that the Norse goddess Freya taught Odin and the Aesir, Norse gods associated with war, magic, and the sky. Everything you need to know about travelling in Scandinavia. Fylgja can also refer to shapeshifting between animals, as many mythological beings in Norse legends can do. Naturally, the king demanded compensation, which was given in the form of the gold taken from the dwarf Andvari, who cursed one item, the ring Andvararnaut. Swedish girl names: Your list of top Swedish female names, Swedish boy names: Popular Swedish male names, Viking video games: Video games with Viking and Norse mythology, The Best Bike Tours in Copenhagen, Denmark. Sif, Thors wife, has her hair cut off by Loki as a prank. Naturally, the king demanded compensation, which was given in the form of the gold taken from the dwarf Andvari, who cursed one item, the ring Andvararnaut. Unlike various other creatures taken from the Nordic landscape, Elves in Norse mythology are still relatively mysterious and confusing. The appearance of ravens after giving an offering to Odin was taken to mean he accepted it. Gaiman fashions these primeval . In many tales, they can only be killed by the destruction of the putrid body. In Norse Mythology, Gaiman stays true to the myths in envisioning the major Norse pantheon: Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin's son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Lokison of a giantblood brother to Odin and a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator. The dwarves lived in their own part of Midgard, a place no human could find. Interestingly, Elves in Norse mythology are often differentiated into various groups. The most common theory is that he spreads gossip, and slander, and attempts to get the two to start fighting, which in turn is meant to continue the cycle of decay and rebirth of the tree. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. She belongs to a group of Gods and Goddesses known as the Vanir, associated with nature, wild . He is then later called lord of goats.. https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Creatures_in_Norse_mythology. In stanza 10, we have the names of two apparently powerful dwarves, Motsognir and Durin, but little is known of them, as with the other dwarves listed in the following catalogue up to stanza 16, the Dvergatal in Old Norse. Thor compels him to answer his questions to prove his skill after the dwarf states that he was promised his daughter Throdr, and irritates him by calling him a vagrant due to his lack of refinement. About the hammer Mjlnir, they say it would not fail in any strike. It is thought to depict inn, rr and Freyr. [3] The lines between elves and other spiritual beings such as the gods, giants, dwarves, and land spirits are blurry, and it seems unlikely that the heathen Germanic peoples themselves made any cold, systematic distinctions between these various groupings. Despite this, its impossible to deny that elf mythology from ancient Nordic times has had a phenomenal impact on the way we view these magical creatures today. Vlund is a complex character, reuniting aspects of the light and dark elves mentioned by Snorri: at first peaceful and melancholic, then after his imprisonment aggressive and merciless. 25 Feb/23. The story concludes with Bothvild confirming Vlunds sayings and the flight of the elf. In Norse mythology why do the light elves and dark elves hate each other? They also can bring disease and bad luck. Dwarves appear in several important stories, such as the one about the forging of Thor's hammer, or dragon Fafnir's treasure. This has led to some confusion about whether the term elf was simply another term for Vanir, which is the name for the gods in Nordic lore. Odin's famous hall of Valhalla, where his throne may have been located, is in Asgard. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'planetnorway_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_19',165,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-planetnorway_com-narrow-sky-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'planetnorway_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_20',165,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-planetnorway_com-narrow-sky-2-0_1');.narrow-sky-2-multi-165{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 story concludes with Bothvild confirming Vlunds sayings and the flight of the elf. The boy is taken on as one of Thors servants. One visitor, King Alf, slayed the creatures and attempted to marry Alfhild. Brands from Sweden: What are the most famous Swedish brands? The Eagle is associated with the Birch Tree and its rune is Beith. 1964. The elves in Norse mythology were called the lfar and were believed to cause illness, have strong magic, and be very beautiful. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,100],'planetnorway_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_0',147,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-planetnorway_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Elves in Norse mythology are split into two different types: The Dkklfar (Dark Elves) and the Ljslfar (Light Elves). In Thidrekssaga, a piece of medieval literature based on legends about Theoderic the Great, we find out that Egil, Vlunds brother, is the one who helps him shoot birds and make a feather costume. TheLay of Vlunddoes not explain how he manages to fly away, but we can draw on another source to infer that. His appearance in flight with the corpses of men is meant to herald the beginning of Ragnarok. The stories that make up what is known today as Norse mythology Old Norse-Icelandic Literature: A Short Introduction, Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. In legendarysagas, kings of elven blood seem to be of higher importance. Fated to be the most ferocious of all beings, the gods decide he must be bound. p. 13. The Valkyries on the Battlefield. Clovis is famous for being the first Germanic king to convert to Christianity. Giants Angrboda (Distress-bringer) Giantess who was the mistress of Loki and mother of Fenrir, Jormungand, and Hel. 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. Historian with a keen interest in Norse myth and the Viking Age, as well as history teacher and language instructor. Niflheim - Realm of Frost, Ice, Snow, and Mist. In Old Norse they are called lfar. From the serpent circling this world to the powerful horse of Odin, the list of Norse mythology creatures looks really interesting. They were said to reflect the character of the person being born. The elves (Old Norse: lfar, singular, lfr) are divine beings in Norse mythology. The Anglo-Saxon poem Against a Dwarf is a charm supposed to cure an illness of some kind of trouble sleeping, a nightmare, "elf-dream" (Alptraum in German). In the legends, Norse dwarves are most famous for being highly skilled artisans and smiths.