Elfshot
In English folklore, elf-arrows, elf-bolts and pixie arrows[3] were names given to discovered arrowheads of flint, used in hunting and war by the Pre-Indo-Europeans of the British Isles and of Europe generally.[citation needed] The name derives from the folklore belief that the arrows fell from the sky, and were used by the elves to kill cattle and inflict elf-shot on human beings.[4]
Elfshot or elf-shot is a medical condition described in Anglo-Saxon medical texts (notably Wið færstice) believed to be caused by elves shooting invisible elf-arrows at a person or animal (most often cattle), causing sudden shooting pains localized to a particular area of the body.[5] Modern diagnoses might include rheumatism, arthritis, muscle stitches or cramps. The Old English spell Gif hors ofscoten sie, "if a horse is elf-shot," meaning some kind of internal injury, may be an allusion to the magical elf-shot. However, the term aelfsogoða, which describes the internal pain from jaundice or a disorder of bile, is perhaps a more suitable fit. The notion of an elf causing the pain by shooting an arrow is not supported in the sources, although there is evidence of belief that a pain could be caused by an elf, with a possibility of a charm being used for exorcism.[6] It was associated both with Neolithic flint arrowheads and the temptations of the Devil.[2] Possible prevention or curing of elf-shot included visiting Church on the first Sunday of the season,[7] or using a charm made of feverfew, red nettles, and waybread. All have vaguely spear-shaped leaves, which, by the Law of Similarity, may have suggested their use as a remedy for pains attributed to elf-arrows.[8] When dealing with cattle, a sewing-needle folded into a page torn from a psalm-book, and placed into the beast's hair, was an option as well.[9]
Along with elves, there also exist historical claims of witches firing them. Per the testimony of Scottish accused witch Isobel Gowdie, these elf-arrows were given to witches by the Devil, who asked them to be fired (by flicking with the thumb, rather than shot with a bow) in his name.[9]
Belief in, or mentions of, elf-shot persisted into the 20th century in Scotland,[8] though more modern elves seem to have concentrated their attentions on animals.[10]
Elf-arrows were sometimes worn as amulets, occasionally set in silver, as a charm against witchcraft.[9]
See also
- Arrowhead
- Fairy riding – paralysis in livestock, attributed to fairies
- Projectile point – component of any projectile weapon, including arrows and spears
- Thunderstone (folklore) – flint arrowheads once thought to have fallen from the sky
Further reading
Davidson, Thomas ‘Elf-Shot Cattle’, Antiquity 30 (1956), 149-155
Davidson, Thomas ‘The Cure of Elf-Disease in Animals’, Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences 15 (1960), 282-291
Dowd, Marion ‘Bewitched by an Elf Dart: Fairy Archaeology, Folk Magic and Traditional Medicine in Ireland’, Cambridge Archaeological Journal 28 (2018), 451-473
Goodrum, Matthew R. ‘Questioning Thunderstones and Arrowheads: The Problem of Recognizing and Interpreting Stone Artifacts in the Seventeenth Century’, Early Science and Medicine 13 (2008), 482-508
Hall, Alaric ‘Calling the shots: The Old English Remedy ‘gif hors ofscoten sie’ and Anglo-Saxon ‘Elf-Shot’’, Neuphilologische Mitteilungen 106 (2005a), 195-209
Hall, Alaric ‘Getting Shot of Elves: Healing, Witchcraft and Fairies in the Scottish Witchcraft Trials’, Folklore 116 (2005b), 19-36
McGowan, Joseph ‘Elves, Elf-shot, and Epilepsy: OE ælfādl, ælfsiden, ælfsogeþa, bræccoþu, and bræcsēoc’, Studia Neophilologica 81 (2009), 116-120
Piper, Stephanie ‘A Little Mystery, Mythology, and Romance: How the “Pigmy Flint” Got Its Name’, Open Archaeology 8 (2022), 145-158
References
- ^ "Elf-arrows". Electric Scotland. Scottish charms and amulets.
- ^ a b Shippey, Tom (2005) [1982]. The Road to Middle-Earth (Third ed.). HarperCollins. pp. 66–74. ISBN 978-0261102750.
- ^ A History of England. CUP Archive.
- ^ "Definition of ELF ARROW". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- ^ Jolly, Karen Louise (1998). "Elves in the Psalms?". The Devil, Heresy, and Witchcraft in the Middle Ages: Essays in honour of Jefferey B. Russell. Brill. p. 19. ISBN 9004106103.
- ^ Hall, Alaric (2005). "Calling the shots: the Old English remedy gif hors ofscoten sie and Anglo-Saxon 'elf-shot'". Neuphilologische Mitteilungen: Bulletin of the Modern Language Society. 106 (2): 195–209. JSTOR 43344130.
- ^ KIRK, ROBERT (2021). SECRET COMMONWEALTH OF ELVES, FAUNS AND FAIRIES. REBEL SATORI PRESS. ISBN 978-1-60864-171-0. OCLC 1255462500.
- ^ a b "Charm against a sudden 'stitch'". Heorot. Denmark. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
- ^ a b c "Elf-Arrows". www.electricscotland.com. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- ^ "The fairy folk attack!". Orkneyjar.
