What is a spriggan?
The spriggan is a fairy of the Cornwall region of southwestern England. Spriggans are said to live in ancient ruins, stone circles, barrows and hilltops, serving as guardians of the fairy treasure buried there.
Folklore and features
Spriggans normally look like small, ugly old men, but when a human tries to steal the treasure, they swell to the size of giants and attack, it is said. There is also a tradition that they are the ghosts of ancient giants in changed form. They are also told of as wicked fairies who call up storms that ruin crops, sneak into houses to steal, and swap human babies for fairy children (“changelings”).
The fairies of Cornwall
Cornwall is rich in fairy folklore, and besides the spriggan there are stories of the pixies, who lead travelers astray. Today the name is also used for warriors who guard ruins and in the titles of manga and games.
