Dwarf

Elf of Sterpenich

by

Tradition: Luxembourgish Mythology
Alternative Names: Wichtelchen of Sterpenich, Elf of Sterpenich
Category: Elf, Dwarf

The Myth

The Elf of Sterpenich was a small supernatural being who appeared to a poor serf near the castle of Sterpenich. In ancient times, the village did not yet exist and only a castle stood there, inhabited by a cruel nobleman who spent his days thinking of ways to torment his impoverished subjects. One day, the nobleman ordered one of his serfs to carry a letter to Metz and return with the answer within thirteen hours, before sunset. The task seemed completely impossible, but terrified of immediate punishment, the poor man set out at once. Beyond the first hill, however, he encountered an elf waiting with a small carriage and a team of horses.

The elf took the serf into his carriage and drove him to Metz and back with incredible speed, allowing him to complete the impossible journey. When they reached the castle again, the elf gave the serf a final message for his cruel master: he was to deliver the requested answer, but also tell the nobleman that the elf himself would come that very day to collect him and carry him into eternity. The serf repeated the message exactly as instructed. When the lord heard the elf’s warning, he cried out in terror, asking whether he was going to die, and immediately collapsed and died.

Afterward, the name Sterpenich remained attached to the castle and later to the village that grew around it. The little elf therefore became part of the legend explaining the place’s name, appearing as a mysterious supernatural messenger who punishes the cruel lord while rescuing the helpless servant from an impossible task.

Sources

“Das Wichtlein von Sterpenich.” SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen aus Luxemburg. Reproduced by SAGEN.at.
https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Wichtlein_Sterpenich.html

Marushinho

by

Tradition: Portuguese Mythology
Alternative Names: Maruxinho
Category: Dwarf, Fairy

The Myth

The Marushinhos are small, frail magical creatures said to live among the ruins of old castles and in underground tunnels beneath Northern Portugal, particularly around the municipality of Chaves in the district of Vila Real. They are short in stature, thin and delicate in build, with dark faces and large eyes. Their underground homes are hidden among ruined structures and within networks of tunnels, some of which are believed to extend beneath towns and cities.

Despite their fragile appearance, the Marushinhos are exceptionally cunning and elusive. They are able to conceal themselves in even the smallest spaces and can squeeze through practically any crack or opening. Their ability to disappear into narrow crevices makes them difficult to find and gives them their reputation as creatures of the hidden underground world.

Their remarkable ability to crawl through impossibly small spaces became part of everyday Portuguese expression. Someone who is extremely thin and capable of squeezing through almost anything may be compared to a Marushinho. In this way, the little underground beings became not only creatures of folklore but also a metaphor for someone exceptionally thin, agile, and capable of getting through narrow places.

Sources

“Marushinyu.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed October 4, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/marushinyu

Dwarf of Sterpenich

by

Tradition: Luxembourgish Mythology
Alternative Names: Das Wichtlein zu Sterpenich
Category: Dwarf

The Myth

The dwarf of Sterpenich was a mysterious little being who appeared before a cruel knight who lived at Sterpenich many centuries ago. The knight was feared throughout the surrounding country for his cruelty. One day, he ordered one of his serfs to travel to Metz, twelve hours away, and return with an answer before the end of the day. He threatened the man with severe punishment if he failed. The poor peasant immediately set off at full speed, desperately trying to cover the enormous distance within the time allowed.

Before he reached the village, however, a dwarf appeared to him beside the road. The little being was sitting in a carriage drawn by three white horses and offered to take the peasant to Metz and back. The man gladly accepted, and the strange carriage carried him over the great distance so quickly that he was able to return and deliver the required answer to his master before sunset. The knight was astonished and demanded to know how his servant had managed to travel so far in such a short time. The peasant honestly told him about the dwarf and his miraculous carriage, then added that the dwarf had said he would soon return with another carriage to take the knight to his final dwelling.

The knight was struck with terror at these words. He cried out, “Die – me?” and immediately collapsed. That evening, a hearse drawn by four black horses was seen leaving through the castle gate. The driver was the same mysterious dwarf, who had returned as promised—this time to carry away the dead knight of Sterpenich.

Sources

“Das Wichtlein von Sterpenich.” SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen aus Luxemburg. Reproduced by SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Wichtlein_Sterpenich.html

Obrigwabibikwa

by

Tradition: Congo Mythology
Alternative Names: –
Category: Dwarf

The Myth

Obrigwabibikwa is a dwarf-like being of Mbuti mythology who possesses the supernatural ability to transform himself into a gigantic reptile. His small humanoid form contrasts sharply with the enormous reptilian shape he can assume.

The surviving description gives little further detail about his appearance, behavior, or the circumstances in which he transforms. His defining characteristic is therefore his ability to cross the boundary between a dwarf-like humanoid and a giant reptilian creature.

Sources

“Mbuti mythology.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 4, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbuti_mythology

Scarbo

by

Tradition: French Mythology
Alternative Names: –
Category: Dwarf, Vampire,

The Myth

Scarbo is a vampiric dwarf who haunts the rooms of poets, artists, and writers during the night. He enters their chambers to torment them, creeping through the darkness with razor-sharp fangs. He bites his victim’s neck and then cauterizes the wound with one of his metal fingers, heated until it glows red. Throughout the night he clambers around the room, scratching at bedposts and rafters while whispering threats directly into his victim’s ears.

Scarbo delights in describing the fate he has prepared for those he torments. He speaks in detail of their burial shroud, the funeral he will arrange, and the grieving children who will weep after their death. As the moon rises, the dwarf becomes increasingly enormous, filling the room with his growing presence. He remains there throughout the night, terrorizing his victim until dawn approaches.

When morning nears, Scarbo begins to fade. His monstrous form flickers, turns blue and translucent, and finally disappears like a candle that has been snuffed out. His strange nocturnal presence became immortalized through the Gothic prose poem Gaspard de la Nuit and, later, Maurice Ravel’s famous piano composition of the same name, whose extraordinary difficulty mirrors the fiendish nature of the creature.

Sources

“Scarbo.” A Book of Creatures. March 25, 2015. https://abookofcreatures.com/2015/03/25/scarbo/

Bes

by

Tradition: Egyptian mythology
Alternative Names: Bisu, Bes, Beset (feminine counterpart)
Category: Dwarf, Deity

The Myth

Bes was a dwarf-like protective deity associated with the household, especially with mothers, children, and childbirth. Unlike most Egyptian gods, who were normally portrayed in profile, Bes was characteristically shown facing directly forward. He had a distinctive dwarf-like body and could appear with feline features, an ostrich-feathered crown, or wearing a soldier’s tunic, giving him the appearance of a fierce little guardian ready to attack anything that threatened the household. His frightening appearance was itself part of his power, allowing him to scare away demons and other harmful spirits.

Bes watched over the home and protected people from supernatural dangers. He was particularly associated with childbirth, where he fought away evil spirits threatening mothers and infants and was present alongside Taweret. He could also kill snakes and guard children. Because he drove away everything harmful, Bes gradually became associated not only with protection but with the pleasant and joyful aspects of life, including music, dancing, and sexual pleasure. His image was therefore kept inside ordinary homes rather than being restricted to temples, appearing on amulets, masks, infant feeding bottles, magical knives, and other objects. People also wore images of Bes as tattoos, particularly dancers, musicians, and servant girls.

Bes and his feminine counterpart Beset were worshipped across a wide area beyond Egypt. Their images eventually spread into Nubia, the eastern Mediterranean, the Aegean world, Phoenician and Cypriot lands, and the Achaemenid Empire, where Bes continued to appear as a protective figure while sometimes being represented in foreign clothing and headdresses. During the Ptolemaic period, chambers at Saqqara were decorated with images of Bes and Beset and were associated with fertility and healing rituals. His protective role remained remarkably persistent, with Bes continuing to appear in Egyptian religious imagery into the Christian period.

Sources

“Bes.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 4, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bes

Cabeiri

by

Tradition: Greek mythology
Alternative Names: Kabeiroi, Kabeiri, Kabiri
Category: Dwarf, Deity

The Myth

The Cabeiri were a mysterious group of chthonic beings associated with metalworking and the sacred fires of the earth. At Thebes they were depicted on pottery as fat, primitive-looking dwarfs, with prominent features and sometimes exaggerated bodies. They were closely associated with Hephaestus, the divine smith, and were regarded in Greek tradition as his sons or grandsons. Their number and appearance varied greatly: they could be represented as an old man and his son, as pairs of male and female figures, as twin youths, or even as an entire race of supernatural beings.

The Cabeiri were especially revered on Lemnos and Samothrace, where they were connected with secret mysteries. On Lemnos, their sanctuary was a place of initiation, although the rites were kept so secret that almost nothing survives about what actually happened within them. They were also associated with sailors, who could call upon the mysterious “great gods” for protection when facing danger at sea. On Samothrace, the gods of the mysteries were likewise kept secret, but ancient traditions named figures such as Axieros, Axiokersa, Axiokersos and their young servant Cadmilos. Their mysteries were believed to offer safety and prosperity to those who underwent initiation.

At Thebes, the Cabeiri were linked with Demeter Kabeiriia and with Prometheus and his son Aitnaios, reinforcing their connection with fire and the craft of the smith. Their worship involved drinking wine, ritual ceremonies and offerings, while small bronze bulls and other objects were dedicated to them. Ancient traditions also connected them with other strange races of supernatural craftsmen, including the Cyclopes, Telchines, Dactyls, Korybantes and Kuretes. One tradition even described the Cabeiri as the Idaian Dactyls, while another called them Karkinoi, beings with crab-like pincers instead of hands that could be used like the tongs of a metalworker. Through these traditions, the Cabeiri emerged as mysterious dwarf-like spirits of the forge, earth and sacred fire, whose hidden rites were guarded by their worshippers.

Sources

“Cabeiri.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 4, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabeiri

Dwarf of Reckingen

by

Tradition: Luxembourgish Mythology
Alternative Names: The Little Gnome of Reckingen
Category: Dwarf

The Myth

The little elf of Reckingen was a small gnome who appeared to Peter, the son of a poor widow living near Mersch. The family had lost its farm horse and could no longer afford to replace it, leaving them unable to work their fields. Peter went to his uncle in Rollingen and asked to borrow his horse, hoping to save his family’s harvest, but his hard-hearted uncle refused. On his journey home to Reckingen, Peter walked sadly along the road until a little gnome approached him and asked why he was so unhappy.

When Peter explained that his family could no longer cultivate their fields, the little gnome offered to help. He instructed Peter to have his neighbors bring the necessary farming tools and seeds to whichever field he wished to sow first that evening. Peter followed his instructions and returned home. The following morning, he discovered that the field had already been completely plowed, sown, and harrowed.

The mysterious help continued day after day. Each evening Peter prepared another field with the tools and seeds as the gnome had instructed, and each morning he found the work finished. In this way, the little elf quietly cultivated every field belonging to the poor family, allowing the widow and her son to continue farming despite having no horse and no means to replace it.

Sources

“Das Wichtlein von Reckingen.” SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen aus Luxemburg. Reproduced by SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Wichtlein_Reckingen.html

Nuberu

by

Tradition: Spanish Mythology
Alternative Names: Ñuberu, Reñubeiru, Xuan Cabritu, Nubeiru, Nubero
Category: Dwarf

The Myth

The Nuberu is a supernatural being of the clouds and storms, whose appearance changes across northern Spain. In Asturias he may appear as an elderly, dark and terribly ugly man, sometimes winged, with a thick beard, dark pelts and leather clothing, a large hat, and a patch covering one damaged or missing eye. He is sometimes imagined travelling through the sky in a chariot pulled by wolves. Elsewhere he appears as a whole race of small, dwarf-like creatures. Cantabrian Nuberus are little, chubby beings with black wings and mischievous, demonic faces, while southern Galician Nubeiros are small hairy men with long, twisted tails who fly upon grey clouds. Another Galician form is a huge man wrapped in wolf or goat skins, carrying himself as a storm-maker who forges lightning in an iron workshop high in the mountains.

The Nuberu has complete command over the weather and can bring rain, hail, lightning, fog, gales and destructive storms. He may water fields and bring excellent harvests, but he can just as easily destroy crops with hail, strike animals with lightning, smash roofs, or send violent winds across the sea. Fishermen particularly fear him, blaming him for the sudden and dangerous storms of the Cantabrian Sea. His temper can be dangerous, and he will even turn lightning against anyone who attacks or disturbs him. Yet he is capable of gratitude toward those who treat him kindly. Long ago, the Nuberu came to Asturias riding upon a cloud but fell to the ground. He wandered through the countryside seeking shelter, until a peasant finally took pity on him and gave him a place to stay. In return, the Nuberu watered the man’s fields and gave him abundant harvests, continuing to provide rain for the people of the region.

Years later, the same peasant travelled to Egypt on a long journey. While there, he learned that his wife, believing him dead after his many years of absence, was preparing to marry another man. Desperate to return home in time, he called upon the Nuberu for help. The storm spirit came to his aid, and the two travelled back to Asturias upon the clouds, arriving just in time to prevent the wedding. The Nuberu could also descend to earth in other forms, sometimes appearing as a traveller while observing the damage caused by his storms or searching for a cloud he had accidentally lost. In Galicia he is said to forge his own lightning before riding through the sky and hurling it down upon the world, although his missing eye makes his aim unreliable.

People developed various ways of defending themselves against the storm spirits. In Asturias, Cantabria and Galicia, bells were rung loudly during storms to drive the Nuberu away, while candles were lit during dark and threatening nights. Priests could also repel certain Galician Nubeiros through religious counter-enchantments. In Leonese tradition the Nuberu is viewed somewhat more kindly because the rain he brings can be valuable, particularly in autumn, though his lightning and summer storms remain feared. There, people traditionally burned dry grass at the appropriate seasons so that the little storm creatures would have no suitable target to strike. Thus the Nuberu could be both benefactor and destroyer: the bringer of life-giving rain, but also the dark power behind hail, lightning, floods, violent winds and ruined harvests.

Sources

“Nuberu.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 4, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuberu

Sheka

by

Tradition: Russian Mythology, Turkish Mythology
Alternative Names: Шекә
Category: Dwarf

The Myth

Sheka is a dwarf-like being associated with forests, abandoned houses, and fields. In Turkic tradition, Sheka is said to live among forests or in derelict houses and often appears in strange or comical situations. In Slavic pagan tradition, however, Sheka takes on a much darker form as a field spirit. It appears as a deformed dwarf with differently colored eyes and grass growing in place of hair. It may be dressed entirely in black or entirely in white and is most often encountered around noon or at sunset.

The field Sheka is a dangerous spirit for anyone wandering or working in the countryside. It can deliberately lead travelers astray among the fields, cause illness, and even ride over sleeping people with horses. Peasants working beneath the midday sun must beware of it, for Sheka enjoys sneaking up on them and pulling their hair. Children are especially vulnerable, as the spirit is said to make them lose their way among the tall cornfields.

When Sheka catches a person, it can force its victim to sing for hours without allowing them to stop. Its strange behavior makes it both a frightening and mischievous presence of the fields, turning ordinary places of work and travel into places where a small, deformed spirit might suddenly appear, confuse travelers, torment peasants, or carry away unsuspecting children.

Sources

“Sheka (mythology).” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 4, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheka_(mythology)