Dokkalfar, the original Dark Elves #AtoZChallenge

E.E. Rawls 11 Comments
myths, legends, creatures, monsters, storytelling, fairy tales, stories, dragons, eagles, China, Japan, America, Europe, Highlands, world myths, world legends, epic fantasy, high fantasy, young adult series, middle grade series,

Part of the A-to-Z blog challenge. My theme is legends and legendary creatures. Every day (except Sundays) this month, a legend beginning with that day’s word will be featured. I hope you enjoy following along!

Dokkalfar

drow, dark elf, Dokkalfar, Forgotten Realms, Dungeons and Dragons, elves, dark, Elder Scrolls,

or the “Dark Elves”

You see them everywhere in video games and fantasy. But where did the first concept of a dark elf come from?

dark elf, dark elves, dark, white, Forgotten Realms, dungeons and dragons, video games, elves in movies, blue, white owl, owl,drow, dark elf, female elf, elves, dark, white hair, armor, forgotten realms, fantasy elves, fantasy, epic, cool, tale, legend, myth, story,drow, dark elf, male elf, dark male, vampire elf, vampire, fantasy characters, elf artwork,

Marvel, dark elves, Thor, Marvel universe, Svartalfar, Asgardians, Infinity Stone, The Dark World,

The concept most likely stems from the North Germanic people and their Old Norse written work: the Prose Edda.

In Norse mythology there are two kinds of elves: light and dark, the Ljosalfar and the Dokkalfar. In Prose Edda, the Ljosalfar are said to be “fairer than the sun to look at” and live in Alfheimr (elf world), while the Dokkalfar are “blacker than pitch” and live underground.

How this concept came to be, and how much the people believed in it, is left unknown, as there are too few sources and texts remaining. But the idea caught on and spread throughout many cultures and took on countless variations. It lives on today through our stories, and I doubt that will change any time soon. 😉 Check out this article by Fantasy Faction for their discussion about elves in mythology: ELVES IN MYTHOLOGY AND FANTASY

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(Information from: Wikipedia. Art credit: Cashile http://cashile.deviantart.com/art/Tranquilien-318169538, and google/wikia no names found. Art belongs to their respective owners, not me.)

11 thoughts on “Dokkalfar, the original Dark Elves #AtoZChallenge”

  2. Cool! I got some inspiration from dark elves for one of my characters. He’s not an elf but he has pitch black skin.

    storitorigrace.blogspot.com

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