Dark Elves

Dark elves are the (mostly) evil counterparts of the Light Elves (or High Elves) in many mythologies and fantasy settings. They are often at war with other elves. more...

Dark elves in mythology and folklore

Norse/Germanic mythology

In Norse mythology, Svartálfar ("Swartelves" or "black elves"), sometimes considered synonymous with duergar ("dwarves"), are subterranean creatures who dwell in the world of Svartálfheim. They may be either benevolent or malevolent. The original Svartalfar worked the forges on the lowest level of the world tree. These beings were not considered evil to begin with, and the Black or Dark skin was a result of working at the forge.

The Dökkálfar ("Darkelves") are male ancestral spirits who may protect the people, although some can be menacing, especially when one is rude to them. They are generally light-avoiding, though not necessarily subterranean.

Snorri Sturluson, author of among other things the Younger Edda, distinguishes them from the ljósálfar ("Lightelves") of Álfheim, in most sources simply known as elves.

Celtic mythology

In the Celtic language, the Daoi-Sith are "dark elves", while the Du-Sith are "black elves". Both terms are obscure, and the latter seems to have been used as a proper name. Apart from an ambiguous folktale of uncertain origin involving one Sir Lachlan Mor M'Clean , there are no known surviving myths or stories associated with these creatures in Celtic mythology, so it is impossible to tell whether they were thought to be elf-like, troll-like, or something completely different, or if they were even similar to each other, if they were good, evil, or either, etc.

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