Shaped from the earth (or Ymir's flesh, depending on source). Smiths and craftsmen: they forge Mjöllnir, Gungnir, Skíðblaðnir, Brísingamen, Gleipnir.
The dvergar, dwarves, appear in the Eddic texts as master craftsmen of supernatural skill. According to Snorri's Gylfaginning, they were formed from Ymir's flesh and bones, like maggots in a corpse, and were then given understanding and human form by the gods. The dvergatal in Völuspá 9-16 lists a large number of dwarf names, showing they were early understood to form a full people with distinct identities.
Among the works created by dwarves are Mjölnir, Thor's hammer, forged by the brothers Sindri and Brokkr. Similarly, Gungnir, Odin's spear, and Skidbladnir, the magical ship that always had favorable winds, originate from dwarf-smithing. Brisingamen, Freyja's necklace, and Gleipnir, the fetter that held Fenrir bound, are further evidence of their unique mastery of materials. Draupnir, the ring that every ninth night dripped eight new rings of equal weight, shows that their craft also carried magical properties.
Alvíssmál is the clearest example of a dwarf entering into direct dialogue with the gods. Alvíss, who wishes to win Thor's daughter, is challenged to a naming contest about how various things are called by gods, humans, jotnar, dwarves, elves, and Vanir. The poem is a lexical treasure but ends with Alvíss being turned to stone by the light of dawn, a motif that establishes the dwarves' vulnerability to sunlight.
Dwarves inhabit dark mountain caverns and subterranean halls. In cosmology they are placed in Svartalfaheimr, sometimes conflated with Alfheimr, pointing to a somewhat fluid boundary between these categories in the source material. They are rarely overtly malicious but always act from self-interest and set conditions for their services.
Sources in the Eddas
- Völuspá 9-16
- The dvergatal, the Eddic enumeration of the dwarves' names and origin.
- Alvíssmál
- The entire poem revolves around the dwarf Alvíss and his knowledge contest with Thor.
- Skáldskaparmál 35-43
- Snorri's detailed account of the dwarf-smithing: Mjölnir, Gungnir, Skidbladnir, Draupnir, and Gleipnir.
- Gylfaginning 14
- Recounts the dwarves' creation from Ymir's flesh and their home in Svartalfaheimr.
- Lokasenna 41-43
- Loki acknowledges that the dwarves forged Brisingamen for Freyja.
Interpretive traditions
A What we know
Dwarves were created from Ymir's body and then given the divine gift of understanding, according to the Prose Edda tradition.
They are responsible for the most important divine objects: Mjölnir, Gungnir, Gleipnir, Draupnir, and Brisingamen.
They are turned to stone in sunlight, a consistent feature across the sources.
B What we think we know
It is debated whether dwarves were originally dead ancestors or earth-spirits, rather than a distinct people.
The boundary between dvergar and svartalfar (dark elves) is unclear and may have varied regionally.
C What we do not know
The possible role of dwarf cult in pre-Christian Nordic religion is virtually unknown.
How the dwarf names in the dvergatal relate to actual cultic practice or narrative tradition is unclear.