Sturluson’s Dwarves

Snorri Sturluson wrote The Prose Edda, a telling of Norse mythology. He lived from 1179 – 1241. Here is an excerpt about dwarves.

Next after this, the gods enthroned themselves in their seats and held judgment, and called to mind whence the dwarves had quickened in the mould and underneath in the earth, even as do maggots in flesh. The dwarves had first received shape and life in the flesh of Ymir, and were then maggots; but by decree of the gods had become conscious with the intelligence of men, and had human shape. And nevertheless they dwell in the earth and in stones. Modsognir was the first, and Durinn the second; so it says in Voluspa.

1916 Brodeur translation, 2006 Dover edition, pages 25 and 26.

9 thoughts on “Sturluson’s Dwarves

  1. ClawCarver

    Abso-bloomin’-lutely! Much as I admire Tolkien, his take on dwarves has prevailed in fantasy circles for too long now. My own dwarves are inspired by Snorri and the sagas on the one hand, and by Ukko from 2000AD’s “Slaine” on the other.

    One particularly intriguing thing about Old Norse dwarves: I think I’m right in saying that nowhere in the Edda does Snorri actually state that dwarves are smaller than humans.

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    1. ClawCarver

      The word is “dvergr” (from which Gary Gygax derived “duergar”). The etymology is somewhat obscure but almost certainly has nothing to do with size. We use “dwarf” to mean small because dwarves have become small in folk tradition, but they were not necessarily always thought of as little people.

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    2. Brendan

      I think Mr. Carver’s point was that it is valuable to return to the source, not that the Prose Edda did not influence Tolkien (though he can correct me if I am incorrect).

      Reply
    3. ClawCarver

      Of course he was! Tolkien probably knew and understood that material better than anyone else in his lifetime. He chose to present the myths in a particular way, based on that knowledge but not shackled by it. For example, in some of the Eddic material, dwarves are turned to stone by sunlight. Tolkien used that for trolls but ignored it for dwarves. He also left out their maggoty genesis as quoted by Brendan.

      My point was that his work is now more famous than the original myths, and therefore nowadays when people think “dwarf” they think of the good Professor’s version. But other options are available.

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  2. Brendan

    And these, says the Sibyl, are their names:

    Nyi and Nidi, Nordri and Sudri,
    Austri, Vestri, Althjofr, Dvalinn;
    Nar, Nainn, Nipingr, Dainn,
    Bifurr, Bafurr, Bomburr, Nori,
    Ori, Onarr, Oinn, Mjodvitnir,
    Viggr and Gandalfr, Vindalfr, Thorinn,
    Fili, Kili, Fundinn, Vali;
    Thror, Throinn, Thekkr, Litr and Vitr,
    Nyr, Nyradr, Rekkr Radsvidr.

    Most of the dwarves from The Hobbit and Gandalf are there!

    Reply
    1. ClawCarver

      And “Althjofr” means “All-thief”. I don’t know why they didn’t think of taking him along as number 14 instead of Bilbo. Maybe just as well though, as it turned out.

      Reply

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