Elf-arrow

Elf-arrows or, in English folklore, pixie arrows,[1] were arrowheads of flint used in hunting and war by the Pre-Indo-Europeans of the British Isles and of Europe generally, as they still are among native people elsewhere. Elf-arrows derived their name from the folklore belief that the arrows fell from the sky, and were used by the elves to kill cattle and inflict elfshot on human beings.[2]

"Elf arrows" set in silver

Elf-arrows were sometimes worn as amulets, occasionally set in silver, as a charm against witchcraft.[3]

See also

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Wood, James, ed. (1907). "Elf-arrows" . The Nuttall Encyclopædia. London and New York: Frederick Warne.

  1. Carrington, C. E. & Jackson, J. Hampden. "A History of England" CUP Archive, 1919. p. 3
  2. Merriam -Webster Dictionary: Elf Arrow
  3. Electric Scotland. "Scottish Charms and Amulets" Elf-Arrows
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.