An elf is a mythical creature of Norse mythology which survived in northern European folklore. Originally a race of minor gods of nature and fertility, elves are often pictured as youthful-seeming men and women of great beauty living in forests and other natural places, underground, or in wells and springs. They have been portrayed to be long-lived or immortal and they have magical powers attributed to them. Following the success of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic The Lord of the Rings—wherein a wise, angelic people named elves play a significant role—they have b ...

Including:

• Elf - Characteristics of traditional elves
• Elf - Elves in Norse mythology
• Elf - Scandinavian elves
• Elf - German elves
• Elf - English elves
• Elf - Modern elves
• Elf - Elves at Christmas
• Elf - Elves in modern fantasy
• Elf - Notes

Read more here: » Elf: Encyclopedia - Elf

See also:

Elf, Elf - Characteristics of traditional elves, Elf - Elves in Norse mythology, Elf - Scandinavian elves, Elf - German elves, Elf - English elves, Elf - Modern elves, Elf - Elves at Christmas, Elf - Elves in modern fantasy, Elf - Notes

Read more here: » Elf: Encyclopedia II - Elf - Characteristics of traditional elves

Elf - Elves at Christmas. In USA, Canada, and the United Kingdom, the modern children's folklore of Santa Claus typically includes diminutive, green-clad elves as Santa's assistants. They wrap Christmas gifts and make toys in a workshop located in the Arctic. In this portrayal, elves slightly resemble nimble and delicate versions of the dwarves of Norse mythology. The vision of the small but crafty Christmas elf has come to influence modern popular conception of elves, and sits side by side with the fantas ...

See also:

Elf, Elf - Characteristics of traditional elves, Elf - Elves in Norse mythology, Elf - Scandinavian elves, Elf - German elves, Elf - English elves, Elf - Modern elves, Elf - Elves at Christmas, Elf - Elves in modern fantasy, Elf - Notes

Read more here: » Elf: Encyclopedia II - Elf - Modern elves

Dark elves are the (mostly) evil counterparts of the Light Elves in many mythologies and fantasy settings. They are often at war with other elves. Dark elf - Dark elves in mythology and folklore. Dark elf - Norse/Germanic mythology. In Norse mythology, Svartálfar ("Swartelves" or "black elves"), sometimes considered synonymous with duergar ("dwarves"), are subterranean creatures who dwell in the world of Svartálfheim. They may be either good or evil. The < ...

Including:

• Dark elf - Dark elves in mythology and folklore
• Dark elf - Norse/Germanic mythology
• Dark elf - Celtic mythology
• Dark elf - British Isles folklore
• Dark elf - Dark elves in fiction
• Dark elf - Middle-earth
• Dark elf - Dungeons & Dragons
• Dark elf - Record of Lodoss War
• Dark elf - Shadowrun
• Dark elf - Warhammer Fantasy
• Dark elf - WarCraft
• Dark elf - The Elder Scrolls
• Dark elf - Final Fantasy IV
• Dark elf - Age of Wonders
• Dark elf - Lineage
• Dark elf - Sacred
• Dark elf - Mega Man Zero
• Dark elf - Arcanum
• Dark elf - Midkemia
• Dark elf - Famous Dark Elves in fiction
• Dark elf - Malus Darkblade
• Dark elf - Drizzt Do'Urden

Read more here: » Dark elf: Encyclopedia - Dark elf

Álfheim (Old Norse Álfheimr 'Elf-home') is the abode of the Álfar 'Elves' in Norse mythology and appears also in northern English ballads under the forms Elfhame and Elphame, sometimes modernized as Elfland or Elfenland. It is also an ancient name for the modern Swedish province of Bohuslän. Álfheim - The Elven abode. Álfheim - In Old Norse texts. Álfheim as an abode of the Elves is mentioned only twice in Old Norse texts.< ...

Including:

• Álfheim - The Elven abode
• Álfheim - In Old Norse texts
• Álfheim - In English text
• Álfheim - Used by J. R. R. Tolkien
• Álfheim - The region in Scandinavia
• Álfheim - About the region and its folk
• Álfheim - Traditions of Álf the Old
• Álfheim - Later kings of Álfheim
• Álfheim - Variant spellings

Read more here: » Álfheim: Encyclopedia - Álfheim

Álfar (singular: álfr) is the Old Norse word for elves. Álfar figure in Norse mythology. Snorri Sturluson in the Younger Edda differentiate between ljósálfar (light-elves) and dökkálfar (dark-elves). The light-elves live in Álfheimr. See elf for a more extensive description. The Eddas tend to use "Álfar" and "Vanir" interchangeably. Norse mythology Categories: Elves | Norse mythology ...

Read more here: » Álfar: Encyclopedia - Álfar

A dwarf (plural dwarfs or, more recently, dwarves --see under Tolkien below) is a short humanoid creature in Norse mythology, fairy tales, fantasy fiction and role-playing games. Dwarves are much like humans, but generally living underground or in mountainous areas. Here they have heaped up countless treasures of gold, silver, and precious stones, and pass their time in fabricating costly armor. They are famed miners and smiths although, like humans, they specialize in any number of trades. Generally shorter than humans, ...

Including:

• Dwarf - Mythology and folklore
• Dwarf - The creation of dwarfs
• Dwarf - Dwarf places
• Dwarf - Fairy tales with dwarfs in them
• Dwarf - Possible origin
• Dwarf - Dwarves in modern fantasy fiction
• Dwarf - Tolkien's dwarves
• Dwarf - Dwarves in Artemis Fowl
• Dwarf - Dwarves in subsequent fantasy fiction
• Dwarf - Female dwarves

Read more here: » Dwarf: Encyclopedia - Dwarf

In Norse mythology, the svartálfar ("black elves") or dökkálfar ("dark elves") are supernatural beings (Old Norse "vættir," wights) that are said to reside in the underground world of Svartálfheim. They, like the trolls, are often corollated with the dvergar ("dwarves") and their home is often considered to be the same as Nidavellir, the underground of Midgard, though not as far down as Helheim. Svartálfar - Dwarves as Black Elves. According to Kevin Crossley-Holland: "No valid distinction thou ...

Including:

• Svartálfar - Dwarves as Black Elves
• Svartálfar - Later Influences
• Svartálfar - The Dualism of Light and Dark

Read more here: » Svartálfar: Encyclopedia - Svartálfar

In Norse mythology, the dísir (sing. dís) are a collective of divine female beings of whom little is known with certainty except that they are mentioned in concurrence with death and demise. Dís is believed to correspond to the idisi mentioned in the Old High German Merseburg Incantations as well as to ides, a poetic Anglo-Saxon synonym for "woman." Possibly, it is also etymologically related to the dhísanas, a group of female deities in the Yajur Veda. Dís could be u ...

Including:

• Dísir - Corpus
• Dísir - Dísir Valkyries and Norns
• Dísir - Dísablót and dísaþing
• Dísir - Notes

Read more here: » Dísir: Encyclopedia - Dísir

Seid (Old Norse: seiðr, sometimes anglicized as "seidhr", "seidh", "seidr", "seithr" or "seith") was a form of shamanism practised by pre-Christian Norse and arguably other Germanic cultures and continued in modern times by people who practice the reconstructionist beliefs of Ásatrú or heathenry. It involved the incantation of spells, which could amongst other things be termed galdrar or galðrar (sing. galdr or galðr, compare Old English: gealdor or galdor). Practitioners of seid w ...

Including:

• Seid - Forms of Seid
• Seid - The Practice of Seid
• Seid - Seid in Mythology
• Seid - Origins
• Seid - Contemporary Reconstruction
• Seid - Sources

Read more here: » Seid: Encyclopedia - Seid

Anglo-Saxon religion is the religious practices and beliefs of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes of pre-Christian England to about the 7th century AD. The Anglo-Saxons had a polytheistic religion which in both the historic and modern revival form is considered a form of the heathen (pagan) religion. Anglo-Saxon religion - Origins and History. The Anglo-Saxons arrived in Britain from southern Scandinavia, the Netherlands and northern Germany. The Anglo-Saxon gods have the same origins as the ...

Including:

• Anglo-Saxon religion - Origins and History
• Anglo-Saxon religion - Transmission and Development
• Anglo-Saxon religion - Sources of present knowledge
• Anglo-Saxon religion - Beliefs
• Anglo-Saxon religion - The Gods
• Anglo-Saxon religion - Holy Symbols
• Anglo-Saxon religion - Practices
• Anglo-Saxon religion - Christian Prohibitions of Magic and Other Practices

Read more here: » Anglo-Saxon religion: Encyclopedia - Anglo-Saxon religion

This is a list of the major and minor Locations ordered by region (after the events of the Third Great War) in the Warcraft universe — a fictional universe in which a series of video games and books are set. The Locations featured here have featured prominently at one time or another in the Warcraft universe. Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Other. Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Kalimdor. Kalimdor is a large landmass in the world of Azeroth, in t ...

Including:

• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Other
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Kalimdor
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Eastern Kingdoms The
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Emerald Dream
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Great Sea The
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Well of Eternity Maelstrom
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Tomb of Sargeras
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Twisting Nether The
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - World of Azeroth The
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - World of Draenor The
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Lordaeron
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Alterac Mountains
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Dalaran
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Arathi Highlands
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Crestfall
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Gilneas
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Hillsbrad Foothills
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Hinterlands
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Kul Tiras
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Plaguelands East
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Plaguelands West
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Quel'Thalas
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Silverpine
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Tirisfal Glades
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Khaz Modan
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Badlands The
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Dun Morogh
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Loch Modan
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Searing Gorge
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Wetlands The
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Azeroth
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Blasted Lands
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Burning Steppes
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Elwynn Forest
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Deadwind Pass
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Duskwood
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Stranglethorn Vale
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Swamp of Sorrows
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - The Sunken Temple
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Westfall
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Northern Kalimdor
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Ashenvale
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Azshara
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Barrens The
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Darkshore
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Desolace
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Durotar
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Felwood
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Moonglade
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Mount Hyjal
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Mulgore
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Teldrassil
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Winterspring
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Southern Kalimdor
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Dustwallow Marsh
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Feralas
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Silithus
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Tanaris
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Thousand Needles
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Un'goro Crater
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Northrend
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Drak'Tharon Keep
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Icecrown Glacier
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Azjol-Nerub
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Great Dragonblight The
• Locations in the Warcraft Universe - Gun'Drak

Read more here: » Locations in the Warcraft Universe: Encyclopedia - Locations in the Warcraft Universe

Therianthropy is a generic term for any transformation of a human into another animal form, or for a being which displays both human and animal characteristics, either as a part of mythology or as a spiritual concept. The word is derived from Greek therion, meaning "wild animal", and anthrōpos, meaning "man". Therianthropy - Scholarly use of the term. In folklore, mythology and anthropology, therianthropy can be used to describe a character that shares some traits of humans and some of non-hu ...

Including:

• Therianthropy - Scholarly use of the term
• Therianthropy - Modern subcultural use of the term
• Therianthropy - Description and origins
• Therianthropy - Grouping therians
• Therianthropy - Subculture social structure
• Therianthropy - Comparisons

Read more here: » Therianthropy: Encyclopedia - Therianthropy

Dark elf - Norse/Germanic mythology. In Norse mythology, Svartálfar ("Swartelves" or "black elves"), sometimes considered synonymous with duergar ("dwarves"), are subterranean creatures who dwell in the world of Svartálfheim. They may be either good or evil. The Dökkálfar ("Darkelves") are male ancestral spirits who may protect the people, although some can be menacing, especially when one is rude to them. They a ...

See also:

Dark elf, Dark elf - Dark elves in mythology and folklore, Dark elf - Norse/Germanic mythology, Dark elf - Celtic mythology, Dark elf - British Isles folklore, Dark elf - Dark elves in fiction, Dark elf - Middle-earth, Dark elf - Dungeons & Dragons, Dark elf - Record of Lodoss War, Dark elf - Shadowrun, Dark elf - Warhammer Fantasy, Dark elf - WarCraft, Dark elf - The Elder Scrolls, Dark elf - Final Fantasy IV, Dark elf - Age of Wonders, Dark elf - Lineage, Dark elf - Sacred, Dark elf - Mega Man Zero, Dark elf - Arcanum, Dark elf - Midkemia, Dark elf - Famous Dark Elves in fiction, Dark elf - Malus Darkblade, Dark elf - Drizzt Do'Urden

Read more here: » Dark elf: Encyclopedia II - Dark elf - Dark elves in mythology and folklore

Dark elf - Norse/Germanic mythology. Main articles: Svartálfar, and [[]], and [[]], and [[]] ...

See also:

Dark elf, Dark elf - Dark elves in mythology and folklore, Dark elf - Norse/Germanic mythology, Dark elf - Celtic mythology, Dark elf - British Isles folklore, Dark elf - Dark elves in fiction, Dark elf - Middle-earth, Dark elf - Dungeons & Dragons, Dark elf - Record of Lodoss War, Dark elf - Shadowrun, Dark elf - Warhammer Fantasy, Dark elf - WarCraft, Dark elf - The Elder Scrolls, Dark elf - Final Fantasy IV, Dark elf - Age of Wonders, Dark elf - Lineage, Dark elf - Sacred, Dark elf - Mega Man Zero, Dark elf - Arcanum, Dark elf - Midkemia, Dark elf - Disciples 2, Dark elf - Famous Dark Elves in fiction, Dark elf - Malus Darkblade, Dark elf - Drizzt Do'Urden

Read more here: » Dark elf: Encyclopedia II - Dark elf - Dark elves in mythology and folklore

Dark elf - Middle-earth. In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, the Moriquendi—the Elves of Darkness—are, in essence, the Elves that did not join the Great Journey over the sea and behold the light of the Two Trees in Valinor. The term "Dark Elf" in Tolkien's writing seems to hold an additional special meaning, as it is given as a special title of Eöl of Nan Elmoth. Eöl wears dark black armor, carries a dark black sword, is dark hearted (a villain), and spends a lot of time with Dwarves, underground, in the dark. His title is therefore quite fitting. < ...

See also:

Dark elf, Dark elf - Dark elves in mythology and folklore, Dark elf - Norse/Germanic mythology, Dark elf - Celtic mythology, Dark elf - British Isles folklore, Dark elf - Dark elves in fiction, Dark elf - Middle-earth, Dark elf - Dungeons & Dragons, Dark elf - Record of Lodoss War, Dark elf - Shadowrun, Dark elf - Warhammer Fantasy, Dark elf - WarCraft, Dark elf - The Elder Scrolls, Dark elf - Final Fantasy IV, Dark elf - Age of Wonders, Dark elf - Lineage, Dark elf - Sacred, Dark elf - Mega Man Zero, Dark elf - Arcanum, Dark elf - Midkemia, Dark elf - Famous Dark Elves in fiction, Dark elf - Malus Darkblade, Dark elf - Drizzt Do'Urden

Read more here: » Dark elf: Encyclopedia II - Dark elf - Dark elves in fiction

Dark elf - Norse/Germanic mythology. Main article: Svartálfar In Norse mythology, Svartálfar ("Swartelves" or "black elves"), sometimes considered synonymous with duergar ("dwarves"), are subterranean creatures who dwell in the world of Svartálfheim. They may be either benevolent or malevolent. The Dökkálfar ("Darkelves") are male ancestral spirits who may protect the people, although some can be menacing, especially when one is rude to them. They a ...

See also:

Dark elf, Dark elf - Dark elves in mythology and folklore, Dark elf - Norse/Germanic mythology, Dark elf - Celtic mythology, Dark elf - British Isles folklore, Dark elf - Dark elves in fiction, Dark elf - Middle-earth, Dark elf - Dungeons & Dragons, Dark elf - Record of Lodoss War, Dark elf - Shadowrun, Dark elf - Warhammer Fantasy, Dark elf - WarCraft, Dark elf - The Elder Scrolls, Dark elf - Final Fantasy IV, Dark elf - Age of Wonders, Dark elf - Lineage, Dark elf - Sacred, Dark elf - Mega Man Zero, Dark elf - Arcanum, Dark elf - Midkemia, Dark elf - Disciples 2, Dark elf - Famous Dark Elves in fiction, Dark elf - Malus Darkblade, Dark elf - Drizzt Do'Urden

Read more here: » Dark elf: Encyclopedia II - Dark elf - Dark elves in mythology and folklore

Inspired largely by the preceding indigenous European folklore, dark elves are a common element, although usually very highly embellished with outside influences and rarely displaying many elements of the ancient folktales that inspired their inclusion, throughout fantasy fiction of many types. Due at least partly to influence from the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, and perhaps also to the ever-growing tendency toward synthesis of folklores, it is not uncommon for both Trowes and Drowes, along with Black-elves and Dark-elve ...

See also:

Dark elf, Dark elf - Dark elves in mythology and folklore, Dark elf - Norse/Germanic mythology, Dark elf - Celtic mythology, Dark elf - British Isles folklore, Dark elf - Dark elves in fiction, Dark elf - Middle-earth, Dark elf - Dungeons & Dragons, Dark elf - Record of Lodoss War, Dark elf - Shadowrun, Dark elf - Warhammer Fantasy, Dark elf - WarCraft, Dark elf - The Elder Scrolls, Dark elf - Final Fantasy IV, Dark elf - Age of Wonders, Dark elf - Lineage, Dark elf - Sacred, Dark elf - Mega Man Zero, Dark elf - Arcanum, Dark elf - Midkemia, Dark elf - Disciples 2, Dark elf - Famous Dark Elves in fiction, Dark elf - Malus Darkblade, Dark elf - Drizzt Do'Urden

Read more here: » Dark elf: Encyclopedia II - Dark elf - Dark elves in fiction

Stories of dwarves may have a historical background: during the Bronze Age, tin miners from southern and southeastern Europe slowly migrated northwest, since the relatively rare tin, which is needed to make bronze, was more common in the north. Being southerners, they generally were of shorter stature than northern Europeans and had darker skin, hair and beards. Their knowledge of metallurgy might have seemed magical to the northerners, whose lifestyle was still neolithic; the southerners' superior weapons and armour might well have been per ...

See also:

Dwarf, Dwarf - Mythology and folklore, Dwarf - The creation of dwarfs, Dwarf - Dwarf places, Dwarf - Fairy tales with dwarfs in them, Dwarf - Possible origin, Dwarf - Dwarves in modern fantasy fiction, Dwarf - Tolkien's dwarves, Dwarf - Dwarves in Artemis Fowl, Dwarf - Dwarves in subsequent fantasy fiction, Dwarf - Female dwarves

Read more here: » Dwarf: Encyclopedia II - Dwarf - Possible origin

For Norse dwarves specifically, see that article. Dwarves are also called little Hill-men (Swiss), Earth-men (Härdmandle, pl. Härdmändlene. - Swiss) and Kröpel (German). Dwarves were described as the height of a 3-year old human child (about 3 feet tall), ugly and big-headed. Nidavellir is the land of the dwarves in Norse mythology. Some dwarves of mythology and fairy tales are: Rumpelstiltskin, the dwarves from Snow White, Snorri, Dvalin, Lit, Fjalar and Galar, Alvis, Eitri, Brokk, Hreidmar, Alfrik, Mimir, Berling, Grer, Fafnir, Otr, Regin, and Alberich (or Andvari). ...

See also:

Dwarf, Dwarf - Mythology and folklore, Dwarf - The creation of dwarfs, Dwarf - Dwarf places, Dwarf - Fairy tales with dwarfs in them, Dwarf - Possible origin, Dwarf - Dwarves in modern fantasy fiction, Dwarf - Tolkien's dwarves, Dwarf - Dwarves in Artemis Fowl, Dwarf - Dwarves in subsequent fantasy fiction, Dwarf - Female dwarves

Read more here: » Dwarf: Encyclopedia II - Dwarf - Mythology and folklore