gnome
The gnome (plural: gnomes or gnomes) is a small, human-like mythical creature , which, according to Paracelsus, is regarded as an elemental being and, as a mountain spirit , is assigned to the area of the earth. Later the term gnome became almost synonymous with dwarf or goblin , who can not only live underground, but also in forests, mountains and bodies of water. In modern fantasy , the gnome (especially through the influence of English literature) also approached the goblin .
General
The word gnome seems to have Greek roots, but its meaning is not clear. It is possible that gnomus is an arbitrary new creation by Paracelsus, but perhaps also a (incorrect) derivation of gēnomos ("earth dweller "), or from gnome ("understanding"). In any case, Paracelsus used gnomi as a synonym for pygmaei . Its description to they are two margins (about 40 cm) in size, very shy and capable, due to their fine-material, fire-like substance, such as a ghost to go through solid rock, or as a wisp to appear. Like the elven beings of popular belief, they sometimes fall in love with people. Paracelsus explains this with the fact that the gnomes, like all elementals, have no soul and try to gain a share in the relationship between man and God by dealing with people. They are among the earth spirits who guard the elements of the earth.
Like dwarves and other mountain spirits, gnomes are also considered treasure keepers in popular belief , who can also change their shape if necessary . While male gnomes are often portrayed as particularly ugly, female “gnomids” appear particularly beautiful.
The first movement in Modest Mussorgski's piano cycle Pictures at an Exhibition (1874) is called Gnomus (German: “The Gnome”). The constantly changing movements (sometimes fast, sometimes slow) are reproduced in an onomatopoeic way.
The theosophist Franz Hartmann satirized the materialism of his time in his allegorical story Unter den Gnomen im Untersberg in 1895 . Here, too, the gnomes hoard gold treasures under the mountains.
Fantasy
In early editions of his works called JRR Tolkien the same -Volk the Noldor as gnomes . Here he leaned on the derivation of the word from the Greek gnome , because for Tolkien the knowledge of this people was in the foreground (Sindarin: those who have knowledge ); However, later he avoided this name because of the confusion with dwarfs (in English is called garden gnome garden gnome ).
In Terry Pratchett's Discworld , gnomes are about 8 inches tall, but still have enormous physical strength. The "nouns" similar to gnomes play the main role in his trilogy of the same name.
In Dungeons & Dragons , gnomes are small human-like beings with a smaller and more delicate physique than the stoutly built dwarves. Engineers and talented illusion magicians can be found in their ranks . This description has also been adopted from other fantasy role-playing games, e.g. B. World of Warcraft , EverQuest and Istaria: Chronicles of the Gifted .
In the book The Return of the Orcs of Michael Peinkofer gnomes are probably 95 to 100 cm tall, green-skinned creatures who water their weapons with preference in poison. They are subordinate to the magician Rurak.
In the novels about Artemis Fowl , gnomes belong to the 5th family of the underground; they are particularly characterized by their very wide buttocks.
In JK Rowling's Harry Potter , a gnome is a garden dweller of low intelligence who can devastate the garden. He is about 30 cm tall, has brown, leathery skin, a disproportionately bald head and a potato-like bulbous nose.
In Kawahara Reki's Sword art Online (Japanese: ソ ー ド ア ー ト ・ オ ン ラ イ ン) which was and is also implemented as an anime , gnomes (in the original ノ ー ム written) are one of the nine playable races of the VRMMORPG Alfheim Online (ALO). Well-known representatives of this breed are Agil and Tecchi.
See also
swell
- ↑ Paracelsus : Liber de nymphis, sylphis, pygmaeis et salamandris et de caeteris spiritibus. Nissae Silesiorum, 1566.
- ↑ Leander Petzoldt : Small lexicon of demons and elementals. Third edition. CH Beck, Munich 2003, ISBN 3-406-49451-X .
