heimsálfarnar
Heimsálfarnar is a term used in Icelandic folklore to describe elf‑like beings tied to the earthly world or natural places rather than to households. The name combines heim, meaning home or world, with álfar, the elves, and the plural form refers to multiple such beings. In folkloric contexts, heimsálfar are part of the broader array of nature spirits that inhabit hills, rocks, forests, and landscapes believed to be alive with hidden life.
In traditional belief, heimsálfar are ambivalent guardians of their domains. They may help farmers, protect fields,
Historically, references to elf-like beings appear in Icelandic saga literature and folklore collections, but the specific
See also: huldufólk, landvættir, álfr, elves in Norse mythology.