Norsery Rhymes from A to Z Elves - Aelfsciene, Bright Elf Well here we are on another ThorsDay with another 20 min sketch of a Norse (and Germanic, sometimes Celtic) mythological characters. This week it’s an example of an Elf / Aelf, specifically a Aelfsciene / Aelf-Sciene / Ielfsciene / Ielf-Sciene / ElfSciene / Elf-Scien from the Eddas and Old English and Scandinavian traditions.
Aelfsciene essentially means ‘bright elves’ or ‘beautiful elves’. From Old English, Aelf / Ielf meaning “elf” and sċīene meaning “bright” or “beautiful”. To call someone this was a compliment. To be as beautiful as an Elf.
There is debate around whether this name could be less of a classification of Elf, and more of a title, or way to describe all of them. But for the purposes of my drawing challenge, and that I’ve tried to be as exhaustive as possible for the variations of characters being drawn, I’ve chosen to add a separate entry today and note this here you to decide.
Elves in general are described as human looking but with uncommon great beauty, or as sprits of an ethereal, or nature elemental variety.
For the Elf ear purists out there I’ve included a second version without the more modern-ish pointed ears.
Like Jotun / Giants, and a lot of the more primal spirits they could be beneficial and benevolent, or trickster cruel to humans. Going from giving them good luck and gifts, to cursing them.
I’ll work my way through the rest of the Aelf types in the next month. Maybe I’ll do some groupings to show some different variations all together.
