Ugly Trolls – Fascinating Mythical Creatures Of Scandinavia

A. Sutherland – MessageToEagle.com – Theodor Severin Kittelsen (1857-1914), a great Norwegian artist, is known as the “father” of all trolls. His inspiration came from folktales about wild and stupid trolls, but trolls were not ugly or stupid, on the contrary, they were cunning and witchcraft knowledgeable. Kittelsen’s imagination gave the trolls their peculiar appearance.

According to an ancient belief, a troll was reputed to be anti-Christian, since this religion became a stronghold in Sweden in the 1300s. To this present day, the smell of Christians and the sound of church bells greatly disgust trolls.

The troll is a fascinating mythological creature, well-known not only in Sweden but also in all surrounding Scandinavian countries.

These curious beings – usually hairy, huge and ugly in appearance – may come in varying shapes and sizes, some may even have 9 heads.

The trolls could be invisible or behave in the shape of different animals or objects, but usually they looked like ordinary people with beautiful clothes. They lived in larger or smaller families, had own cattle and could have their residence underground, in forests, in a castle, under bridges, in lakes, sea shore.

The king of all trolls is rumored to live on a mountain and is considered a wealthy troll, with piles of stored silver and gold. The trolls that live alone and isolated in huts within a forest, are deemed to be the most dangerous.

According to common belief, the trolls are very old and may appear as humans. They could either be described as good neighbors doing small favors to each other, or dangerous creatures with a voracious appetite for thieving and causing nothing but trouble.

Usually they stole food and drink, but it also happened that they stole children and swapped them for their own. These changelings were recognized in various ways; usually they were unable to grow up and learn to speak.

See also: 

Fin Folk – Mythical Amphibious Sea People On Orkney And Shetland

Heimdallr: Norse God Who ‘Illuminates The World’ And Guards The Rainbow Bridge Bifröst In Asgard

The Norns – Shapers Of Destiny Who Recorded Days In Person’s Life In Norse Mythology

The trolls could over a longer or shorter time to attract people into their world, into the mountains or down into the underworld and people who disappeared for a while, could return with memory loss and confusion still present after returning home.

But there is a way to get rid of a troll and sunlight is the main weapon against it. When a troll is exposed to sunlight that it turns to stone and in this form it is harmless.

There are many legends and myths about strange large stones, which are believed to have once been trolls. Due to sun exposure, these trolls became stone pieces, forever, except for one troll – Olog- Hai, who is sun resistant.

Written by A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

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