Elves

mythology · Norse · folklore · supernatural

Ancient magical beings. Elves come from Germanic and Norse folklore, appearing in some of the oldest stories ever written, like the Icelandic Poetic Edda from over a thousand years ago. They were considered supernatural beings with magical powers.

Written in Eddas. The Poetic Edda and Prose Edda are two ancient texts where elves are actually mentioned. These manuscripts preserve stories that Viking people told long before fantasy movies were invented.

North Germanic roots. Elves show up especially in North Germanic mythology, which means they come from the stories of people in ancient Scandinavia and Iceland. Different cultures had different ideas about what elves looked like and what they could do.

Not always kind. In old stories, elves weren't always friendly helpers like in modern books. They could be tricky, mischievous, or even dangerous depending on how the storyteller imagined them.

Inspired later stories. Modern fantasy elves, like the ones in popular books and games, are based loosely on these ancient mythological creatures, but authors changed them a lot over time.