When it comes to Norse Mythology, dwarves are actually considered as trolls. Other terms for them are kobolds, brownies, goblins, pucks and huldra folks. In the Scandinavian Folktale, these creatures are different from one another but they can be considered as distant relatives.
Norse Mythology describes troll dwarves as small creatures with dark skin, green eyes, short-legs, large heads and with a feet that looks-like a crow's feet. However, the gods had commanded them not to show themselves during daytime or they will suffer a burning painful death if they expose themselves under sunlight. Apart from being burnt, their corpse will turn into stone just like the trolls.
Troll dwarves doesn't posses any incredible mystical power of some sort. They can be compared to a normal human being who simply walks on the surface of the Earth and have their own daily life style. But, what makes them separate among mankind are their extensive knowledge and intelligence beyond humans and even the gods. For this reason, both gods and men are always anxious enough to question them.
These little beings do also possess magical artifacts such as the 'tiny red cap'. This item allows them to become invisible wherein they can easily travel from one place to another without being noticed by humans. This cap is more commonly known as 'Tarnkappe' and its what makes a dwarf safe from the peril of being petrified as they travel on the surface of the Earth after sunrise.
Norse dwarves are also good smiths. They were the once who crafted the mythical sword 'Tyfing' which has the capability to cut through iron and stone with ease. This sword was given to Angantyr and he was too proud to own it that he even took the blade with him on his burial ground. Yet, the sword has been recovered by Angantyr's daughter Hervor where she visited her father's tomb during the middle of the night and recited some magical spells. This forced the dead corpse to rise from the grave giving the precious blade to Hervor. The blade somehow ends up into the hands of another Norse hero.
Another famous swords that has been crafted by the dwarves was the Angurvadel owned by Frithiof which he had acquired as a part of his inheritance from his father. There's more story about this sword but its no longer related to the dwarves.
In Scandinavian folktales, troll dwarves are a lot more evil in terms of their deeds. Norse Myth is actually the opposite. The troll dwarves are generally kind and helpful to humans that they can even do most of the household task such as cooking, harvesting to taking care of the livestock. If they are ill-treated from staying on a certain house, they can forsake the house and swear never to return again.
One event on the Norse Mythology on how these little creatures had proven to be quite rewarding was when the old gods in the Northlands ceased to be worshiped. This had caused all the dwarfs to move out of the country wherein they need to cross a certain river. Somehow, a mysterious person hired a ferryman to drive his boat back and forth across the river for no reason at all. The ferryman thought that it was not a big deal since he will get paid anyway. But as he does what he was told, he noticed that his vessel was so heavily filled with invisible passengers. Actually, the boat even nearly sank.
Finally, the whole night of transportation has been done and the ferryman was greatly rewarded for his effort. He was also informed by his employer that he had just transported passengers of dwarves across the river.
If the short story above are good enough to say that the dwarves are good and friendly to humans then you are wrong. At some point, dwarfs envy the humans in terms of their size wherein they actually want to be taller. Thus, they end up trying to win over humans as wives but the worst part is that they steal unbaptized children or swap their own babies for the human mother to nurse. The swapping of babies is known as 'Changelings' which can be prevented by brewing beer into an egg-shell. When a swap has been made, the common method was to grease the soles of the child's feet then hold them near the flames. This will attract the dwarf's parents with the offspring's distressed cries wherein they will immediately return the stolen baby of the human mother.
Norse Mythology do have a lot more interesting information about dwarves. Although, it'll take a very long post to discuss them all. Anyway, the information contained on this post is already good enough as a form of introduction in letting you know about the dwarves of the Norse Mythology.
Norse Mythology describes troll dwarves as small creatures with dark skin, green eyes, short-legs, large heads and with a feet that looks-like a crow's feet. However, the gods had commanded them not to show themselves during daytime or they will suffer a burning painful death if they expose themselves under sunlight. Apart from being burnt, their corpse will turn into stone just like the trolls.
Troll dwarves doesn't posses any incredible mystical power of some sort. They can be compared to a normal human being who simply walks on the surface of the Earth and have their own daily life style. But, what makes them separate among mankind are their extensive knowledge and intelligence beyond humans and even the gods. For this reason, both gods and men are always anxious enough to question them.
These little beings do also possess magical artifacts such as the 'tiny red cap'. This item allows them to become invisible wherein they can easily travel from one place to another without being noticed by humans. This cap is more commonly known as 'Tarnkappe' and its what makes a dwarf safe from the peril of being petrified as they travel on the surface of the Earth after sunrise.
Norse dwarves are also good smiths. They were the once who crafted the mythical sword 'Tyfing' which has the capability to cut through iron and stone with ease. This sword was given to Angantyr and he was too proud to own it that he even took the blade with him on his burial ground. Yet, the sword has been recovered by Angantyr's daughter Hervor where she visited her father's tomb during the middle of the night and recited some magical spells. This forced the dead corpse to rise from the grave giving the precious blade to Hervor. The blade somehow ends up into the hands of another Norse hero.
Another famous swords that has been crafted by the dwarves was the Angurvadel owned by Frithiof which he had acquired as a part of his inheritance from his father. There's more story about this sword but its no longer related to the dwarves.
In Scandinavian folktales, troll dwarves are a lot more evil in terms of their deeds. Norse Myth is actually the opposite. The troll dwarves are generally kind and helpful to humans that they can even do most of the household task such as cooking, harvesting to taking care of the livestock. If they are ill-treated from staying on a certain house, they can forsake the house and swear never to return again.
One event on the Norse Mythology on how these little creatures had proven to be quite rewarding was when the old gods in the Northlands ceased to be worshiped. This had caused all the dwarfs to move out of the country wherein they need to cross a certain river. Somehow, a mysterious person hired a ferryman to drive his boat back and forth across the river for no reason at all. The ferryman thought that it was not a big deal since he will get paid anyway. But as he does what he was told, he noticed that his vessel was so heavily filled with invisible passengers. Actually, the boat even nearly sank.
Finally, the whole night of transportation has been done and the ferryman was greatly rewarded for his effort. He was also informed by his employer that he had just transported passengers of dwarves across the river.
If the short story above are good enough to say that the dwarves are good and friendly to humans then you are wrong. At some point, dwarfs envy the humans in terms of their size wherein they actually want to be taller. Thus, they end up trying to win over humans as wives but the worst part is that they steal unbaptized children or swap their own babies for the human mother to nurse. The swapping of babies is known as 'Changelings' which can be prevented by brewing beer into an egg-shell. When a swap has been made, the common method was to grease the soles of the child's feet then hold them near the flames. This will attract the dwarf's parents with the offspring's distressed cries wherein they will immediately return the stolen baby of the human mother.
Norse Mythology do have a lot more interesting information about dwarves. Although, it'll take a very long post to discuss them all. Anyway, the information contained on this post is already good enough as a form of introduction in letting you know about the dwarves of the Norse Mythology.
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