What is the origin of the elves?

Elves are humanoid beings which originate from Germanic mythology and English folklore. These are the kind usually found in Celtic mythology. A different race of humanoids who are human-sized and occasionally interact with humans. These are the kind usually found in Germanic mythology.

Where did the idea of Dark Elves come from?

The Dark Elves come from the world of Svartalfheim, one of the Nine Worlds of Norse Mythology. They are ruled over by Malekith the Accursed, and the most powerful amongst their ranks was Algrim the Strong. However, Algrim was betrayed by Malekith in a bid to kill Thor.

Where did fantasy elves come from?

The first appearance of modern fantasy elves occurred in The King of Elfland’s Daughter, a 1924 novel by Lord Dunsany. The next modern work featuring elves was The Hobbit, a 1937 novel by J. R. R. Tolkien. Elves played a major role in many of Tolkien’s later works, notably The Lord of the Rings.

What is the difference between light and Dark Elves?

In Norse mythology, Dökkálfar (“Dark Elves”) and Ljósálfar (“Light Elves”) 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”.

Do you hate the Dark Elves?

“Do you hate the dark elves? Are you here to bully us and tell us to leave?” If you tell her that you do hate the Dunmer, the conversation ends. Yes, I do hate the dark elves.

Whats the difference between an Elf and a dark elf?

The Dark Elves found in the Age of Wonders series are a species of Elf, but qualify as their own race because they are evil aligned. In the game it states that all Dark Elves were once regular elves, but since elves are immortal they suffer not death of life, but death of spirit.

Did the Norse believe in elves?

An elf (Old Norse álfr, Old English ælf, Old High German alb, Proto-Germanic *albaz) is a certain kind of demigod-like being in the pre-Christian mythology and religion of the Norse and other Germanic peoples.

Is malekith in Norse mythology?

The Dark Elves from Svartálfaheimr will appear in the Marvel film Thor: The Dark World under command of Malekith the Accursed, who is not in Norse Mythology.

Who were the Dark Elves?

The Light Elves are brighter than the sun in appearance, but the Dark Elves are blacker than pitch.” So who were these dark elves? While positively malevolent, they were not inherently evil, sometimes siding with the light elves for the greater good of all beings. They have recently worked their way into pop culture.

When did Elves become a part of folklore?

A History of Elves. By the 1500s, people began incorporating elf folklore into stories and legends about fairies, and by 1800, fairies and elves were widely considered to be simply different names for the same magical creatures.

Who are the Light Elves in Norse mythology?

The Light Elves are often mentioned in old Norse poetry in an alliterating phrase alongside the Aesir gods – Aesir ok Alfar – suggesting that they two were connected in some way and that the elves were considered demigods or angels. That they possessed some kind of magical art is not questioned.

What is an elf called?

In Old Norse, elves are known as álfar, although this term can be broken up into subcategories. It’s long been considered that elves are creatures of light and goodness, but that is a misinterpretation of earlier texts.