| In Norse mythology, an elf is a divine creature, | | | | In Germanic mythology, elves are miniature |
| endowed with magical powers, which they use for | | | | creatures who can bring disease to people and to |
| the benefit or destruction of humanity. Known for | | | | cattle or can cause nightmares by sitting on a |
| their mischievous pranks, elves are smaller in | | | | sleeping person's chest. |
| stature than dwarfs and associated with similar | | | | The 19th century Romanticism in British folklore, |
| creatures like fairies, gnomes, pixies and | | | | attempted to restore their diminutive stature to |
| leprechauns mentioned in the mythology of other | | | | generous stature, depicting them as youthful men |
| cultures. | | | | and women of immense beauty. The phrase "elfin |
| Elves depicted in the folklores as diminutive | | | | beauty" originates from here. They were believed |
| creatures are assumed to live underground in hills | | | | to reside in a mystical realm, sometimes an eerie |
| or rocks, or in wells and springs. Different cultures | | | | and unpleasant place. |
| have identified elves as dream creatures, minor | | | | Danish elves are referred to as Elle Folk. The male |
| gods, imaginary beings, nature spirits and souls of | | | | is petite and old, while the female is young, trivial |
| the dead. Like humans, elves carry both positive | | | | and beautiful. They are believed to be residing in |
| and negative traits in their absolute personality. | | | | the Elenmounds. |
| They can be Santa helpers in Santa's toyshop or | | | | In the 13th century, people prayed to elves for |
| mischievous beings playing pranks on Noddy in toy | | | | healing, as they were considered lesser gods and |
| land. | | | | sacrifices were made to please them. |
| The earliest preserved description on elves come | | | | Natives of Iceland firmly believe in elves and |
| from Old Norse (Scandinavian) mythology. It was | | | | acknowledge their existence. Recently, a Science |
| believed that elves were men who lived in forests | | | | fiction channel took its crew to investigate the |
| and in mountains, and human souls could be | | | | myth. They found that several of their electronic |
| elevated to the rank of elves after death. Elves | | | | devices had malfunctioned. Strange noises were |
| were segregated as dark elves (Dökkalfar) | | | | heard on a parabolic mic and EVP recorded. |
| who dwell in the woods and caves, and light elves | | | | However, no images of the elves were seen or |
| (Ljosalfar) who live in illuminated places or the sky. | | | | recorded. |
| They are skilled metalworkers and artisans | | | | The fantasy genre in the 20th century grows out |
| possessing supernatural powers and manufacture | | | | of 19th century Romanticism and gave us famous |
| special gifts for the gods. While, elves of the | | | | masterpieces like The Lord of the Rings, by J. J. |
| mines guard the underground stores of gold and | | | | R. Tolkien. |
| precious gems, are unpredictable and spiteful. | | | | |