What are dwarves?
Dwarves are a short people of Norse myth and Germanic folklore. Called dvergar in Old Norse, they were said to live underground and inside rocks and to have superb skills in smithing and fine craftwork. In modern fantasy, they are typically depicted as stubborn, proud craftsmen and warriors with magnificent beards and axes in hand.
Master smiths who made the gods’ treasures
Norse mythology tells of dwarves making many treasures for the gods. The thunder god Thor’s hammer Mjolnir, the chief god Odin’s spear Gungnir, and Gleipnir, the magic fetter that bound the giant wolf Fenrir, are all works of the dwarves. There is also a tradition that dwarves turn to stone in sunlight, and a story survives of a knowledgeable dwarf who was kept talking until dawn and turned to stone.
Dwarves in fairy tales and fantasy
The seven dwarfs of the Grimms’ fairy tale “Snow White” are called Zwerge in German, the same word as dwarves. The image of little people working in mines also overlaps with German mining folklore. Tolkien’s portrayal of dwarves in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings laid the foundation for the image seen in games today. Dwarves are often paired with elves.
