álfar
nature_spirit earth Iceland single tradition · 2
Álfar are beings that, in early 12th century Iceland, were conceived of as distinct from landvættir. According to one proposition, landvættir lived in fells and hills, and elves were more similar to gods. The folklorish representation of elves would be a result of a later conflation with landvættir.
↻ synthesized from 2 sources
When
- First attested
- 800 CE
- Attested period
- 800 – 1200
- Historical notes
- Mentioned in early 12th century Iceland.
Relationships
- co occurs with
- Landvættir, landdísir, spámaðr, Freyr
Mentioned by
Sources
wikipedia (2)
Source passages
“It has been argued that in early 12th century Iceland, álfar and landvættir were conceived of as distinct beings, with landvættir living in fells and hills, and elves being more similar to gods. The account of a blót being made to elves living in a hill in Kormaks saga, according to this proposition, would be an early stage in the merging of the two beings”
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