Dökkálfar

Dökkálfar is a term found in Norse mythology and Icelandic folklore used to refer to a group of elves associated with darkness or underground realms. The name combines dökk, dark, with álfr, elf, and it appears in later traditions as part of a broader elf taxonomy. The concept is closely linked to the broader medieval Scandinavian elf lore, though the exact definition varies by source.

In the primary Norse sources, notably Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda, the civilized elves are divided into two clearly named groups: ljóssálfar (light elves) and svartálfar (black or dark elves). The word dökkálfr itself is not a stable category in the Eddaic corpus, and some scholars treat dökkálfar as a later or regional name for the same beings as svartálfar. Others use dökkálfr to describe a third, subterranean elf population that is associated with the underworld or with underground crafts, distinct from the sunlit homeland of the light elves.

Folklore and later mythography often describe dökkálfar as dwelling in rocks, caverns, or Svartalfheim-like realms, sometimes with secrets of craftsmanship or magical knowledge. They are commonly portrayed as reclusive, powerful, and sometimes dangerous to humans, though depictions vary from benevolent to hostile. The relationship between dökkálfar and dwarves (dvergar) is a point of scholarly debate; in some traditions they are synonymous or closely linked, while in others they remain a separate race.

In modern fantasy, dökkálfar (dark elves) are a widespread archetype distinct from ljóssálfar (light elves), typically depicted as underground dwellers with dark or pallid appearances and specialized magical or metalworking abilities. The concept continues to influence contemporary works, often intersecting with dwarf lore. See also ljóssálfar, svartálfar, and dvergar.