Dark Elf - Revision history

BDAdmin at 01:20, 15 July 2014

2014-07-15T01:20:13Z

BDAdmin at 01:16, 15 July 2014

2014-07-15T01:16:38Z

BDAdmin: /* Norse/Germanic mythology */

2014-07-14T22:11:05Z

‎Norse/Germanic mythology

BDAdmin: /* Norse/Germanic mythology */

2014-07-14T22:10:44Z

‎Norse/Germanic mythology

Admin at 18:07, 14 July 2014

2014-07-14T18:07:00Z

Mongrel at 16:55, 20 April 2006

2006-04-20T16:55:55Z

Mongrel at 16:33, 20 April 2006

2006-04-20T16:33:36Z

New page

'''Dark elves''' are the (mostly) evil counterparts of the [[Light Elf|Light Elves]] (or High Elves) in many mythologies and fantasy settings. They are often at war with other [[elf|elves]].

==Dark elves in mythology and folklore==
===Norse/Germanic mythology===
{{main|Svartálfar}}
In Norse mythology, ''[Svartálfar''' ("Swartelves" or "black elves"), sometimes considered synonymous with ''[[dwarf|duergar]]'' ("[[dwarf|dwarves]]"), are subterranean creatures who dwell in the world of [[Svartálfheim]]. They may be either benevolent or malevolent. The original Svartalfar worked the forges on the lowest level of the world tree. These beings were not considered evil to begin with, and the Black or Dark skin was a result of working at the forge.

The '''Dökkálfar''' ("Darkelves") are male ancestral spirits who may protect the people, although some can be menacing, especially when one is rude to them. They are generally light-avoiding, though not necessarily subterranean.

===Celtic mythology===
In the Celtic language, the ''Daoi-Sith'' are "dark elves", while the ''Du-Sith'' are "black elves". Both terms are obscure, and the latter seems to have been used as a proper name. Apart from an ambiguous folktale of uncertain origin involving one Sir Lachlan Mor M'Clean [http://www.acadine.org/w/Du-Sith], there are no known surviving myths or stories associated with these creatures in Celtic mythology, so it is impossible to tell whether they were thought to be elf-like, troll-like, or something completely different, or if they were even similar to each other, if they were good, evil, or either, etc.

While the terms exist and were apparently used for ''something'', it is currently impossible to tell exactly what. However, it seems possible that they are related to the [[Drow]] of Scottish folklore, if not direct precursors.

===British Isles folklore===
In the Orkney Islands, the ''[[drow|Trow]]'' or the '''black elves''' are similar to the ''Svartalfar'' or to Scandinavian [[troll|trolls]] or [[dwarf|dwarves]], and inhabit mines and caves. They may be either good or evil, but the evil variety are more common.

The ''[[Drow]]'' or the '''dark elves''' are the Shetland Isle equivalent of the Trow, but unlike the trow, they are thought of as exclusively evil. They are tiny elves known for their mining and metal-working, not unlike dwarves. A useful way to envision them may be as evil, subterranean counterparts to tiny shoemaker elves.

In Irish mythology, a '''drow''' is a stone monster of the Fomori, similar to the Scandinavian [[troll]].

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Creatures & Monsters]]
[[Category:Races]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Dark elves''' are the (mostly) evil counterparts of the [[Light Elf|Light Elves]] (or High Elves) in many mythologies and fantasy settings. They are often at war with other [[elf|elves]].
+'''Dark elves''' are the (mostly) evil counterparts of the Light Elves (or High Elves) in many mythologies and fantasy settings. They are often at war with other elves.
 ==Dark elves in mythology and folklore==
 ===Norse/Germanic mythology===
-In Norse mythology, ''Svartálfar'' ("Swartelves" or "black elves"), sometimes considered synonymous with ''[[dwarf|duergar]]'' ("[[dwarf|dwarves]]"), are subterranean creatures who dwell in the world of Svartálfheim.  They may be either benevolent or malevolent. The original Svartalfar worked the forges on the lowest level of the world tree. These beings were not considered evil to begin with, and the Black or Dark skin was a result of working at the forge.
+In Norse mythology, ''Svartálfar'' ("Swartelves" or "black elves"), sometimes considered synonymous with ''duergar'' ("dwarves"), are subterranean creatures who dwell in the world of Svartálfheim.  They may be either benevolent or malevolent. The original Svartalfar worked the forges on the lowest level of the world tree. These beings were not considered evil to begin with, and the Black or Dark skin was a result of working at the forge.
 The '''Dökkálfar''' ("Darkelves") are male ancestral spirits who may protect the people, although some can be menacing, especially when one is rude to them. They are generally light-avoiding, though not necessarily subterranean.
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 ===British Isles folklore===
-In the Orkney Islands, the ''[[drow|Trow]]'' or the '''black elves''' are similar to the ''Svartalfar'' or to Scandinavian [[troll|trolls]] or [[dwarf|dwarves]], and inhabit mines and caves. They may be either good or evil, but the evil variety are more common.
+In the Orkney Islands, the ''[[drow|Trow]]'' or the '''black elves''' are similar to the ''Svartalfar'' or to Scandinavian trolls or dwarves, and inhabit mines and caves. They may be either good or evil, but the evil variety are more common.
 The ''[[Drow]]'' or the '''dark elves''' are the Shetland Isle equivalent of the Trow, but unlike the trow, they are thought of as exclusively evil.  They are tiny elves known for their mining and metal-working, not unlike dwarves.  A useful way to envision them may be as evil, subterranean counterparts to tiny shoemaker elves.

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 The ''[[Drow]]'' or the '''dark elves''' are the Shetland Isle equivalent of the Trow, but unlike the trow, they are thought of as exclusively evil.  They are tiny elves known for their mining and metal-working, not unlike dwarves.  A useful way to envision them may be as evil, subterranean counterparts to tiny shoemaker elves.
-In Irish mythology, a '''drow''' is a stone monster of the Fomori, similar to the Scandinavian [[troll]].
+In Irish mythology, a '''drow''' is a stone monster of the Fomori, similar to the Scandinavian troll.
 [[Category:Characters]]
 [[Category:Creatures & Monsters]]

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 ===Norse/Germanic mythology===
 {{main|Svartálfar}}
-In Norse mythology, ''[Svartálfar''' ("Swartelves" or "black elves"), sometimes considered synonymous with ''[[dwarf|duergar]]'' ("[[dwarf|dwarves]]"), are subterranean creatures who dwell in the world of [[Svartálfheim]].  They may be either benevolent or malevolent. The original Svartalfar worked the forges on the lowest level of the world tree. These beings were not considered evil to begin with, and the Black or Dark skin was a result of working at the forge.
+In Norse mythology, ''[Svartálfar''' ("Swartelves" or "black elves"), sometimes considered synonymous with ''[[dwarf|duergar]]'' ("[[dwarf|dwarves]]"), are subterranean creatures who dwell in the world of Svartálfheim.  They may be either benevolent or malevolent. The original Svartalfar worked the forges on the lowest level of the world tree. These beings were not considered evil to begin with, and the Black or Dark skin was a result of working at the forge.
 The '''Dökkálfar''' ("Darkelves") are male ancestral spirits who may protect the people, although some can be menacing, especially when one is rude to them. They are generally light-avoiding, though not necessarily subterranean.