Derivation/History of the Drow?

[The_Gneech]

Can anyone here tell me if there is a mythic/folklore precedent for the drow? I know of sidhe, seelie, and unseelie fae folk; I have also encountered the term "drugh," but I don't know what it refers to.

So were there drow before the days of AD&D, does anyone know?

-The Gneech

 

[Bob Aberton]

Dochselfar?

Scandinavian Evil Elves who live deep underground in Svartalfheim.

(Svartalf = Swart Elf = Swarthy Elf = Dark(skinned) Elf?)

Just random ramblings. Never heard the word "drugh," but, come to think of it, that may indeed be the origin of "drow."

 

[Wormwood]

Trow?

 

[The_Gneech]

Trow?

That's a good possibility! Thanks! *steals link*

-The Gneech

 

[Khorod]

I believe the most recent Dragon magazine on Dwarves or Elves traced some of this, but...

In Norse lore, the Dwarves evolved into good dwarves and evil dwarves, and that broke off and turned into Dwarves, Good Elves, and Evil Elves. Etc, etc.

Also, any sort of good spirit/goblin // evil spirit/goblin the world over seems to trace out to that Elven dynamic. But in general, Scandinavian and Gaelic is probably the best place to trace it.

 

[hong]

AFAIK, the D&D drow are a wholly modern invention. There have been various dockalfar/trow/drow/"dark elves" in various folktales, myths and other works, but the whole spider-worshipping, black-skinned/white-haired, sadistic, treacherous, uber-villainous schtick is completely original.

 

[Eternalknight]

I'm pretty sure Gary Gygax invented the D&D Drow.

 

[Welverin]

I'm pretty sure Gary Gygax invented the D&D Drow.

We could also ask him in this thread.

 

[Khorod]

The whole formula of Drow is certainly D&D-new.
But Dark Elves, SPider Elves, Underground Elves- taken individually they are older.

 

[The Traveler]

Dochselfar?

Scandinavian Evil Elves who live deep underground in Svartalfheim.

(Svartalf = Swart Elf = Swarthy Elf = Dark(skinned) Elf?)

Just random ramblings. Never heard the word "drugh," but, come to think of it, that may indeed be the origin of "drow."

Er, Svartalfar is just another word for Dvergar, or dwarves. "Dark Elves" in Norse myths were just the dwarves.

"Dvergar", by the way, is the root of the Duergar in D&D.