Tradition: Swiss Mythology
Alternative Names: Goblins of the Santenberg
Category: Goblin
The Myth
The Goblins of Santenberg are mischievous supernatural beings said to inhabit the forests of Santenberg, a hill near Wauwil in the Swiss canton of Lucerne. They served the wild huntsman Türst, who is identified in the legend with the pagan god Wodan. When hunters came to the mountain in pursuit of a legendary unicorn, Türst ordered the goblins to protect it and prevent the hunters from reaching their quarry.
The goblins used a variety of tricks to obstruct the hunters. They threw clubs between their legs to make them stumble and jabbed their calves with sharp sticks. If a hunter managed to get past these obstacles, Türst himself would invisibly position himself before the unicorn, allowing the animal to escape. The goblins also helped Türst protect the finest stags and eagles from hunters, preserving the forest’s strongest breeding animals.
However, the goblins were ultimately excluded from Türst’s supernatural retinue. After a nobleman’s cruel actions led to the death of Türst’s beloved, the wild huntsman gathered his ancient allies and destroyed the knight’s fortress in revenge. Türst and his companions subsequently became associated with the Wild Hunt, which swept across the region during the violent storms of winter. The goblins of Santenberg, however, were not permitted to join this fearsome company.
According to the legend, the rejected goblins eventually transformed into poisonous ticks. These creatures attacked passersby and carried terrible, sometimes deadly diseases. Their transformation serves as the final fate of the goblins who once defended the forests and their wildlife under Türst’s command.
Sources
“Die Rache des Türst.” SAGEN.at – Schweizer Sagen. Reproduced by SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/schweiz/luzern/rache_tuerst.html