Skip to content

Unexplainable.net

Watching The World Change

  • Batavia Conference: Thermal Imaging & Scary Game Exploration Ghost And Demons
  • The Lance of Longinis Religion Articles
  • Judas Maccabeus , One of the “Nine Worthies” Ancient Civilizations
  • Minoan Culture and Civilization- Tin, Copper, Bronze Ancient Civilizations
  • 5 Easy Ways to Become a Creative Thinker Self Improvement
  • Husband of Isis: Who is Osiris? Ancient Civilizations
  • Cassini Gets Pictures Of Saturns Moon Phoebe Space and Astrology
  • Highlights of Ancient Egypt: New Kingdom Ancient Civilizations

European Mythical Creatures: Dwarf and Gnome

Posted on October 1, 2011 By jim No Comments on European Mythical Creatures: Dwarf and Gnome
Mooker

Where would Snow White be without her seven dwarfs? Tracing back the origin of the dwarf, you will see a connection to Germanic mythology. In this article, you will learn more about the culture of dwarfs and gnomes and how they figure into popular culture today.
 
What is a Dwarf?

According to Germanic mythology, a dwarf was a being that lived in the mountains and in the earth. The creatures were supposed to be full of wisdom and have a knack for mining, blacksmithing, and crafting. Some descriptions call the dwarfs ugly and short. In later depictions, the creatures took on more of a comical appearance. Researchers have traced back the origin of the word ‘dwarf’ and have come up with an array of interesting theories. Some believe that the beings were first seen as nature spirits, while others saw them as being related to death.

Norse mythology describes dwarfs in different ways. In the Poetic Edda (compiled during the 13th century from earlier traditional sources), the creature is described as being the product of the “primordial blood of the being Brimir and the bones of Blainn. In the Prose Edda (written in the 13th century), the dwarfs were compared to maggots that lived in the flesh of the primal being Ymir before they were given the gift of reason by the gods. The two publications offer names to more than 100 dwarfs, including Austri , one of the dwarfs given the responsibility to hold up the sky.

After the Germanic peoples were introduced to Christianity, the tales centered on dwarf stories were told in as folklore in European regions where Germanic languages were still spoken. Today, dwarfs are found in popular stories, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. They also play a role in popular video games, such a World of Warcraft, and Dungeons and Dragons.

What is a Gnome?

The small creature of folktales and legends is linked in different cultures to magic and alchemy , thought to be first introduced by Paracelsus, who lived during the 16th century. Described as a small creature with human features, the gnome is believed to live under the ground. Paracelsus first wrote about the gnome (a word derived from the Renaissance Latin term “gnomus”). In his description, the gnome is “two spans high” with the ability to move underground just as easily as humans move through the air. It is in their nature not to make contact with humans.

Many ancient and medieval mythologies make mention of similar beings , often described as guarding mines or keeping an eye on underground treasures Today, gnomes have found a place throughout the pages of modern fantasy literature. Modern fairy tales usually pit the gnomes against other small creatures of folklore. For example, 19th century fiction makes comparisons to the airy characteristics of fairies.  

In popular culture, you will find the gnome used in promotion for Travelocity, who uses the ‘traveling gnome’ in many of their advertisements. Gnomes also make popular garden and yard decorations, which look quite similar to the depictions seen in early illustrations of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Information and Theories

Post navigation

Previous Post: Mythical Creatures: Centaurs and Trolls
Next Post: European Mythical Creatures: Pixies and Sprites

Related Posts

  • Animals Can Sense Worldly Problems and Dangers Information and Theories
  • The Tracking and Monitoring of Criminals from Space Today, What Next Tomorrow? Information and Theories
  • Interesting Facts about Royals V Information and Theories
  • The Truth – Part 2 – The Quantum Dance and Physics of Creation Information and Theories
  • Horror Movie Facts and Trivia: “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974) II Information and Theories
  • Shape Shifters Part 1 Information and Theories

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Mahavatar Babaji: The Yogi alive for 2000 years
  • Spirituality and science conflict
  • Conspiracies and myths about spirituality
  • Know your Ki: Reiki
  • 10 amazing plants to promote spirituality and positivity

Recent Comments

No comments to show.

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • May 2020
  • June 2018
  • February 2018
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • February 2016
  • September 2015
  • July 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • July 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • July 2006
  • June 2006
  • May 2006
  • April 2006
  • March 2006
  • February 2006
  • January 2006
  • December 2005
  • November 2005
  • October 2005
  • September 2005
  • August 2005
  • July 2005
  • June 2005
  • May 2005
  • April 2005
  • March 2005
  • February 2005
  • January 2005
  • December 2004
  • November 2004
  • October 2004
  • September 2004
  • August 2004
  • July 2004
  • June 2004
  • May 2004
  • April 2004
  • March 2004
  • February 2004
  • January 2004
  • December 2003
  • November 2003
  • October 2003

Categories

  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Benjamin Fulford Story
  • Cryptology and Monsters
  • Eating Healthy
  • Ghost And Demons
  • Information and Theories
  • Mars Coverage
  • Meditation And Spirituality
  • Mysteries
  • NASA Articles
  • Other Exciting News
  • Personal Accounts
  • Pictures And Multimedia
  • Political Conspiracies
  • Recent Submissions
  • Religion Articles
  • Self Improvement
  • Simply Unexplainable
  • Space and Astrology
  • Technology Articles
  • True Stories
  • UFOs and Aliens
  • Unexplainable Video Library
  • Unexplainable Weather
  • Trivia and Facts About Vampire Movies: Twilight (2008) Part 2 Information and Theories
  • The Ins and Outs of Palm Reading Meditation And Spirituality
  • In the News: Guardian Angels & Trivia Religion Articles
  • Dolphins to be Classified as Humanoid? Information and Theories
  • Constellation Family Groups: Orion Space and Astrology
  • Take Control of Your Life Self Improvement
  • Dragon Symbolism in Japan Information and Theories
  • What’s All This Stuff About the Bermuda Triangle? Simply Unexplainable

Copyright © 2025 Unexplainable.net.

Powered by PressBook News Dark theme