Elf-shot, associated with "elf arrows", Neolithic flint arrowheads sometimes used as amulets,[1] was one of the hints Tolkien used to create his elves.[2]

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. 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]

When not fired by elves, there exist historical claims of witches firing them as well; these elf-arrows were allegedly given to witches by the Devil, who asked them to fire them - with their thumb, as opposed to a bow - in his name.[9] This was the case with the Scottish 'witch' Isobel Gowdie.

Belief in, or mentions of, elf-shot persisted into the 20th century,[8] in Scotland, 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

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

  1. ↑ "Elf-arrows". Electric Scotland. Scottish charms and amulets.
  2. 1 2 Shippey, Tom (2005) [1982]. The Road to Middle-Earth (Third ed.). HarperCollins. pp. 66–74. ISBN 978-0261102750.
  3. ↑ A History of England. CUP Archive.
  4. ↑ "Definition of ELF ARROW". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ KIRK, ROBERT (2021). SECRET COMMONWEALTH OF ELVES, FAUNS AND FAIRIES. REBEL SATORI PRESS. ISBN 978-1-60864-171-0. OCLC 1255462500.
  8. 1 2 "Charm against a sudden 'stitch'". Heorot. Denmark. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 "Elf-Arrows". www.electricscotland.com. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  10. ↑ "The fairy folk attack!". Orkneyjar.
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