Svartálfar
Encyclopedia
In Norse mythology
, svartálfar (Old Norse
"swart elves
" or "black elves", singular svartálfr) are beings who dwell in Svartálfaheimr (Old Norse
"world of the swart elves" or "world of the black elves"). Both the svartálfar and Svartálfaheimr are solely attested in the Prose Edda
, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson
. Scholars have noted that the svartálfar appear to be synonymous with dwarfs
and potentially also the dökkálfar
(Old Norse "dark elves").
The Svartálfar and Svartálfaheimr are solely attested in the Prose Edda, in which they are mentioned in two books; Gylfaginning
(Svartálfaheimr) and Skáldskaparmál
(svartálfar). In chapter 33 of Gylfaginning, the enthroned figure of High
tells of the binding of the wolf Fenrir. High relates that when Fenrir had grown so large that the gods began to grow concerned, the god Odin
sent the god Freyr
's messenger Skírnir
down to Svartálfaheimr to "some dwarfs
" who made the silky yet immensely strong fetter Gleipnir
from six fantastical ingredients. Whereas the other fetters failed, Gleipnir succeeds in binding the wolf.
In chapter 35 of Skáldskaparmál, it is detailed that the half-god Loki
once cut the lustrous golden hair of the goddess Sif
, wife of the god Thor
. Upon hearing of the shearing of his wife's locks, Thor, taking hold of Loki, intends to break every bone in Loki's body until Loki swears to get svartálfar to make "a head of hair out of gold that would grow like any other hair". Loki then goes to a group of dwarfs, the Sons of Ivaldi
, who not only smith Sif's hair but also various other important objects owned by the gods, and the tale continues.
Scholars have commented that, as both attestations mentioning the beings and location appear to refer to dwarfs, svartálfr and dwarf may simply be synonyms for the same concept. Scholar John Lindow
comments that whether the dökkálfar
and the svartálfr were considered the same at the time of the writing of the Prose Edda is also unclear.
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
, svartálfar (Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
"swart elves
Elf
An elf is a being of Germanic mythology. The elves were originally thought of as a race of divine beings endowed with magical powers, which they use both for the benefit and the injury of mankind...
" or "black elves", singular svartálfr) are beings who dwell in Svartálfaheimr (Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
"world of the swart elves" or "world of the black elves"). Both the svartálfar and Svartálfaheimr are solely attested in the Prose Edda
Prose Edda
The Prose Edda, also known as the Younger Edda, Snorri's Edda or simply Edda, is an Icelandic collection of four sections interspersed with excerpts from earlier skaldic and Eddic poetry containing tales from Nordic mythology...
, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...
. Scholars have noted that the svartálfar appear to be synonymous with dwarfs
Dwarf (Germanic mythology)
In Germanic mythology, a dwarf is a being that dwells in mountains and in the earth, and is associated with wisdom, smithing, mining, and crafting...
and potentially also the dökkálfar
Dökkálfar and Ljósálfar
In Norse mythology, Dökkálfar and Ljósálfar are two contrasting types of elves; the prior dwell within the earth and are most swarthy, while the latter live in Álfheimr, located in heaven, and are "fairer than the sun to look at"...
(Old Norse "dark elves").
The Svartálfar and Svartálfaheimr are solely attested in the Prose Edda, in which they are mentioned in two books; Gylfaginning
Gylfaginning
Gylfaginning, or the Tricking of Gylfi , is the first part of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda after Prologue. The Gylfaginning deals with the creation and destruction of the world of the Norse gods, and many other aspects of Norse mythology...
(Svartálfaheimr) and Skáldskaparmál
Skáldskaparmál
The second part of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda the Skáldskaparmál or "language of poetry" is effectively a dialogue between the Norse god of the sea, Ægir and Bragi, the god of poetry, in which both Norse mythology and discourse on the nature of poetry are intertwined...
(svartálfar). In chapter 33 of Gylfaginning, the enthroned figure of High
High, Just-As-High, and Third
High, Just-As-High, and Third are three men that respond to questions posed by Gangleri in the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning...
tells of the binding of the wolf Fenrir. High relates that when Fenrir had grown so large that the gods began to grow concerned, the god Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
sent the god Freyr
Freyr
Freyr is one of the most important gods of Norse paganism. Freyr was highly associated with farming, weather and, as a phallic fertility god, Freyr "bestows peace and pleasure on mortals"...
's messenger Skírnir
Skirnir
In Norse mythology, Skírnir is the god Freyr's messenger and vassal. In the Poetic Edda poem Skírnismál, Skírnir is sent as a messenger to Jötunheimr to conduct Freyr's wooing of the fair Gerðr on condition of being given Freyr's sword as a reward. Skírnir also threatens Gerðr with his gambantein,...
down to Svartálfaheimr to "some dwarfs
Dwarf (Germanic mythology)
In Germanic mythology, a dwarf is a being that dwells in mountains and in the earth, and is associated with wisdom, smithing, mining, and crafting...
" who made the silky yet immensely strong fetter Gleipnir
Gleipnir
In Norse mythology, Gleipnir is the binding that holds the mighty wolf Fenrisulfr . The Gods had attempted to bind Fenrir twice before with huge chains of metal, but Fenrir was able to break free both times. Therefore, they commissioned the dwarves to forge a chain that was impossible to break...
from six fantastical ingredients. Whereas the other fetters failed, Gleipnir succeeds in binding the wolf.
In chapter 35 of Skáldskaparmál, it is detailed that the half-god Loki
Loki
In Norse mythology, Loki or Loke is a god or jötunn . Loki is the son of Fárbauti and Laufey, and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. By the jötunn Angrboða, Loki is the father of Hel, the wolf Fenrir, and the world serpent Jörmungandr. By his wife Sigyn, Loki is the father of Nari or Narfi...
once cut the lustrous golden hair of the goddess Sif
Sif
In Norse mythology, Sif is a goddess associated with earth. Sif is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, and in the poetry of skalds...
, wife of the god Thor
Thor
In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
. Upon hearing of the shearing of his wife's locks, Thor, taking hold of Loki, intends to break every bone in Loki's body until Loki swears to get svartálfar to make "a head of hair out of gold that would grow like any other hair". Loki then goes to a group of dwarfs, the Sons of Ivaldi
Sons of Ivaldi
In Norse mythology, the Sons of Ivaldi are a group of dwarfs who fashion Skidbladnir, the ship of Freyr, and the Gungnir, the spear of Odin, as well as golden hair for Sif to replace what Loki had cut off....
, who not only smith Sif's hair but also various other important objects owned by the gods, and the tale continues.
Scholars have commented that, as both attestations mentioning the beings and location appear to refer to dwarfs, svartálfr and dwarf may simply be synonyms for the same concept. Scholar John Lindow
John Lindow
John Lindow is a professor specializing in Scandinavian medieval studies and folklore at the University of California, Berkeley and author. Lindow's works include Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Rituals, and Beliefs, a handbook for Norse mythology...
comments that whether the dökkálfar
Dökkálfar and Ljósálfar
In Norse mythology, Dökkálfar and Ljósálfar are two contrasting types of elves; the prior dwell within the earth and are most swarthy, while the latter live in Álfheimr, located in heaven, and are "fairer than the sun to look at"...
and the svartálfr were considered the same at the time of the writing of the Prose Edda is also unclear.