Kobold

Kobold is a term for house and nature spirits.

Mythological

In the Middle High German kobolt or kobolt it is probably a darkened composition, the first part etymologically from kobe ​​( = hut, shed, shed ) is derived, while the second part superior to hold ( = good, as in " fiend " or " Frau Holle " ) or to rule ( = reign possess ) can belong. In the latter case, the name actually means "House Walter, House Sitting ".

The leprechaun is a spirit house to protect the house, but its residents like to tease, but without causing any damage. It may appear, for example in the form of a spring which in sleep falls on one 's nose, thus causing a sneeze. In the Erzgebirge, he appears during the day as reclusive in the house black cat as he drives at night as a dragon-like beings from the chimney to zuzutragen its owner money. Owner of goblins are therefore often wealthy, but can not die before they have submitted the puck to another person.

Mythological include goblins to "lower mythology " and therefore one of the albums (including elves, fairies or elves ) as philological categorization as opposed to " higher mythology " of the gods. The albums also the hobgoblin counts as the " goblin of the ship". In the classification of mythological creatures and mermaids, dwarfs, elves, male or forest land gravity are ( Old Norse: landvaettir ) similar to the goblins elven spirits of nature. We asked them to popular belief, according to overnight a bowl of milk or other food ready, which was a sacrifice to the spirit house.

Sometimes also occur mythical merger between the house spirit and the spirit of the builder of the court in the ethnographic sources. The term leprechaun therefore often separates not just between nature spirits and ancestral spirit.

The Named related " nightmare " and the derived " nightmares " are the expression of other elven spirits, negative imaginary nightmares, Dark or Black albums ( cf. Engl nightmare. ) ( Old Norse: Svartalf ) representing the disease demons.

Closely related to the mythological idea of Kobolds are the Irish Leprechauns.

Strong similarities exist with the house spirit Cofgod (plural: Cofgodas; engl cove gods. ) From the Anglo-Saxon religion.

Literary Figure

The descriptions and ideas of goblins ranging from good and industrious, little green men to evil - always silent about their projects - sly, pointed-eared villains.

Often one can distinguish the goblins of the goblin, because goblins are tuned towards humans are not always willingly and helpful. Also in the literature annoyed goblins people and destroy his work. Some goblins, such as Pumuckl by Ellis Kaut, consider it as a serious insult if you call them brownies. In Karl -Heinz Witzkos The goblins goblins are associated with changelings.

In almost every fantasy universe goblins occur in one way or another, usually they are sneaky little jester. In the Harry Potter novels Leprechauns are small intelligent magical creatures. They have been operational in the Gringotts Bank in Diagon Alley in London. The residents of the Hogwarts boarding house elves correspond much more to the definition real goblins, but are not associated with goblins in the true sense in conjunction.

In the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett goblins are used in engineering equipment, such as in " Disorganizer " by Commander Vimes or in cameras, where they quickly paint the images that they see through the lens onto screens (eg in the fifth Elephant in the traffic monitoring )

In today's fantasy goblins are also " Lutin " called (le lutin = French for Kobold ). There are versions in which the Lutin are shown as small shapeshifter with animal ingredients ( heads, tails ), for example by foxes.

Conceptual derivations

The names of the chemical elements cobalt and nickel ( " Nigl " ) are derived from leprechauns because leprechauns in earlier idea allegedly ores with this (then) unbearbeitbaren mineral contaminated or they were eating and excreting silver in his place silver ores. See also etymological list of chemical elements.