The Dwarfs
The Dwarfs and the Dark-Elves, between whom a sharp distinction
was not always drawn, lived far beneath the surface of the earth
or else
made their habitat within great rocks or mounds. They were small
of stature
and ill-favored; the Dark-Elves were commonly reputed to be
blacker than
pitch. A large number of Dwarfs are mentioned by name in ancient
literature; an interpolated passage in the Voluspá lists a long
array of them,
among others their chief Modsognir (or Motsognir?), and next in
order after
him, Durin. Other Dwarfs were Brokk, Dvalin, and the four whom
Odin
appointed to hold up the vault of the heavens, namely North, East,
South,
and West. The chief occupation of the Dwarfs was that of smith, in
which
they had no rivals. All the most notable weapons and all the
precious gems
mentioned in the oldest myths were the work of cunning Dwarfs. The
Dwarfs hated both gods and men and were unwilling to do them
service; if
nevertheless they were compelled to do so, they strove to give
their
handiwork some magic quality of evil omen so that it brought
little joy to any
one who came into possession of it.
Sources:
Peter
Andreas Munch: Norse Mythology: Legends of Gods
and Heroes. The American-Scandinavian Foundation, New
York. 1926, pp. 41.
Rasmus B. Anderson (Ed.): The Elder Eddas of Saemund
Sigfusson and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson.
Norræna Society, London-New York. 1906.
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