These include growing from the maggots of Ymir's flesh, turning to stone when exposed to daylight, and being human-like, but ugly and misshapen. Besides their underground lives, svartálfar had many of the same traits attributed to them as the dwarves. The term black/dark elf might rather be suggestive of their place of residence than of their presumed nature, although they are described as greedy and troublesome for humans, in comparison to the angelic (light) elves.
Snorri Sturluson, author of among other things the Prose Edda, at times refer to these elves as ljósálfar ("light elves"). Svartálfar have acquired their name because they were seen as the light-avoiding counterparts to the common elf, living in Álfheim. 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 Hel.Īccording to Kevin Crossley-Holland: "No valid distinction though can be drawn between the dwarfs and the dark elves they appear to have been interchangeable." Confusion between unrelated, mythologic entities does arise over time, for example in the stories of the trolls (ogre-like beings that are also confused with dwarves). 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. Related subjects: Ancient History, Classical History and Mythology
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