Svartálfar

In Norse mythology, svartálfar (O.N. "black elves", sing. svartálfr), also called myrkálfar ("dusky elves", sing. myrkálfr),^[1][2] are beings who dwell in Svartalfheim (Svartálf[a]heimr, "home of black-elves").^[3] Both the svartálfar and Svartálfaheimr are primarily attested in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. Scholars have noted that the svartálfar appear to be synonymous with the dwarfs and potentially also the dökkálfar (Old Norse "dark elves"). As dwarfs, the home of the svartálfar could possibly be another description for Nidavellir (Niðavellir, "dark fields").

Attestations

The svartálfar are almost only attested in the Prose Edda (the word does appear in Ektors saga ok kappa hans, but is presumably borrowed from the Prose Edda).^[4] The svartálfar mentioned in Skáldskaparmál 35 are the Sons of Ivaldi, whom Loki engages to craft replacement hair for Sif, wife of the god Thor, after Loki mischievously sheared off her golden tresses.^[5] Ivaldi is often glossed as being a dwarf.^[6]

Svartálfaheimr ("world of black-elves") appears in the Prose Edda twice,^[3][7] in each case as the place where certain dwarfs can be found to be living:^[8] In Gylfaginning 33, the "world of black-elves" is where the dwarfs are sought by the gods to craft the fetter Gleipnir to bind the wolf Fenrir.^[9] And in Skáldskaparmál, 39, the "world of black-elves" is where Loki encounters the dwarf Andvari.^[10]

Theories and interpretations

Scholars have commented that, as both attestations mentioning the beings and location appear to refer to dwarves, svartálfr and dwarf may simply be synonyms for the same concept.^[11] Scholar John Lindow comments that whether the dökkálfar and the svartálfar were considered the same at the time of the writing of the Prose Edda is also unclear.^[12]

In popular culture

The Dark Elves appear in Marvel's Thor comics, and are the villains in the 2013 film Thor: The Dark World. Additionally, Svartálfaheimr is depicted in the film.

The Svartalves appear in The Dresden Files Book #14: Cold Days as the operators and protectors of Molly's apartment complex. The incident supporting this status is explained in the story Bombshells by Jim Butcher, which appeared in the Dangerous Women anthology.

The Svartálfar appear in The Iron Druid Chronicles series of novels by Kevin Hearne.

They are also the principal servants of the fallen Valkyrie, Kendra, in The Nine Worlds series of novels by Richard J. Denning.

Several Svartalfar and their culture are described in the books "A Companion to Wolves" and "The Tempering of Men", novels by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear that pull heavily from Norse mythology. In these books, Svartalfar society is presented as being matriarchal in structure and centered around two types of mining - physical and magical. The "elves" are described as hunched and bent, with exceedingly long limbs, and decorate their hair, nails, teeth, and clothing with various gems and precious metals. They are credited with crafting beautiful weapons and are said to have created Freya's necklace (which is not named in the novels).

The Svartálfar appear in Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan.

See also

• Dökkálfar and Ljósálfar

Notes

References

Personifications and cosmology in Norse mythology Astronomical bodies Sun: Sól Árvakr and Alsviðr Moon: Máni Hjúki and Bil Earth: Jörð Fjörgyn and Fjörgynn Aurvandil Time Day: Dagr Skinfaxi Night: Nótt Hrímfaxi Seasons: Sumarr and Vetr Old age: Elli Worlds Nine Worlds: Álfheimr/Ljósálfheimr Asgard Hel Jötunheimr/Útgarðr Midgard Múspellsheimr Niðavellir/Svartálfaheimr Niflheimr Vanaheimr Connected by the tree Yggdrasil Cosmogenesis, cyclic time, and eschatology Ginnungagap Ymir Auðumbla Ragnarök Other Mundilfari Dellingr Hræsvelgr Norðri, Suðri, Austri and Vestri Viðfinnr