Icelandic Elves in Norse mythology

Icelandic Elves

Elves in Norse mythology

The earliest preserved description of elves comes from Norse mythology.
In Old Norse they are called álfar (singular, nominative case: álfr), and although no older or contemporary descriptions exist, the appearance of beings etymologically related to álfar in various later folklore strongly suggests that the belief in elves were common among all the Germanic tribes, and not limited solely to the ancient Scandinavians.

Elves make various appearances in Norse mythology.

Although the concept itself is never clearly defined in our sources, elves appear to have been understood as powerful and beautiful human-sized beings.

They are commonly referred to collectively as semi-divine beings associated with fertility as well as the cult of the ancestors.

As such, elves appear similar to the animistic belief in spirits of nature and of the deceased, common to nearly all human religions; something that, on a side note, is true also for the Old Norse belief in fylgjur and vörðar ("follower" and "warden" spirits, respectively). Arguably, elves are the Germanic equivalent to the nymphs of Greek and Roman mythology, as well as the vili and rusalki of Slavic mythology.

Characteristics of traditional elves

1. Icelandic Elves in Norse mythology

2. The first elves in Icelandic history, by Snorri Sturluson

3. Scandinavian elves in Iceland

4. German elves in Iceland
5. English elves in Iceland

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