Korrigan

The Korriganen are fairies or dwarf-like phantoms from Celtic mythology in Brittany.

Mythology

Korriganen be described as very beautiful and with wonderful hair, only at night, however, are so beautiful and lose their magic during the day. It is said they were mighty princesses or Druid priestesses, the Christianization of Brittany had resisted and had withdrawn to special places in nature. Here they prefer mossy sources.

Much like sirens combing her hair and bewitch careless men by their singing. They steal children and replace them with changelings.

Furthermore, they are said to have magical abilities: So they should be able to look to the future, cure incurable diseases appear any time at any place, and even take on any shape.

They are rarely seen, usually only at night, where they pretend careless hikers mirages. They transform simple things such as rocks or trees in castles or else. As soon dawns the day again, the illusions vanish again immediately. Like the Mirage also the beauty of the Korrigan disappears and leaves an unsightly, old creature with red eyes.

Origins

In Breton corr means " dwarfs ", ig is a diminutive ( pet form ) and the suffix indicates a diminutive. The fact that malicious Spukwesen designated by a pet name, is a contradiction, which occurs more frequently in mythology. Think of the Eumenides, the vengeance goddesses of Greek mythology, whose name literally means " well-meaning " means.

The description of the korrigans resembles the Banshees, the Banshee is in contrast to the Korrigan understood as a guardian spirit. More creatures from the Celtic world have distinct similarities, such as the Tylwyth Teg, Cailleach, Gwrach or Black Annis. This allows to draw conclusions on common roots of these beings. Thus it is assumed that Ceridwen, a Celtic goddess was dysphemiert. As a queen she would have always been surrounded with nine maids. Therefore, the number of korrigans is often estimated at nine.