Sinister Mythical Dark Elves And Light Elves And Their Magical Ship ‘Skidbladnir’

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Elves can be traced back to Norse, Celtic, and Germanic mythology, but they are also frequently mentioned in folklore and literary writing. According to popular belief, they have an extraordinary magical power, which is very strong.

In the distant past, people believed witches gained power from the fairy people.

Elves can change shape. They may appear in the form of animals or beautiful little girls or little boys. They can also become invisible or fly through the air.

The Old Norse work of literature, 'Prose Edda,' also known as the Younger Edda or simply Snorri's Edda, describes 'light elves' as beautiful, luminous, and noble minor gods of nature and fertility. They are dressed in delicate, transparent garments, love the light, and bring inspiration to the spheres of art and music.

Their habitat is Alfheimr, located between Earth and the Heavens and ruled by the god Freyr, the horned god of sun, rain, harvests, prosperity, fertility, and the protector of ships. Freyr is also the twin brother to Freya, the primary goddess of the Vanir, a tribe of earth-based deities described in Norse mythology.

Using their skills, sorcery, and ingenuity, the Light Elves built a magical ship, 'Skidbladnir, ' possessing several unique attributes.

The ship could sail on the sea, travel across the land, fly in the air, and always quickly reach its destination. It was also huge enough to accommodate all the Æsir gods, with their weapons and war stores, and it never became lost at sea.

According to mythological stories, 'Skidbladnir' was skillfully made of many pieces. When the magical ship was not wanted for a voyage, Freyr could fold her together like a piece of cloth and put ….in his pocket.

Skilled in music and art, the Light Elves had an unusual relationship with humans.

It was important not to offend the Elves because these powerful creatures could easily cause human illnesses or heal people if necessary. By interbreeding with humans, the Elves can produce half-human, half-elfin children that look like humans but possess magical powers.

The Dark Elves are different kinds of supernatural beings described in the 'Prose Edda.' They may be either malevolent or benevolent, and their underground world is known as Svartalfheim (in Old Norse 'Svartálfr').

These ugly beings were enemies of the sun's light beams that instantly turned them to stone. Therefore, they thrived in the gloomy underground, surrounded by darkness, and appeared only at night.

In ancient beliefs of our forefathers, the dark elves - described as being darker than the starless night - were nothing but trouble. They threatened people by giving them disturbing nightmares and annoyed animals, particularly horses.

Despite their bad reputation for being evil creatures, the Dark Elves were known as highly skilled smiths, creating magical weapons and armor.

Written by – A. Sutherland AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

Updated on January 6, 2024

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