- Alberich
otheruses|Alberich (disambiguation)
Alberich was a legendary sorcerer who originated in the mythology or epic sagas of the Frankish
Merovingian Dynasty of the 5th to 8th century AD, and whose name means "king of the elves" (elbe "elves" reix, rex "king"). He was also known as king of the dwarves. [ Guerber 1895:218 and 295.]In the "
Nibelungenlied ", an epic poem in Middle High German, he is adwarf , who guards the treasure of theNibelungen , but is overcome by Siegfried.In Wagner's opera cycle "
Der Ring des Nibelungen ", Alberich is a dwarf and chief of theNibelungen , and guardian of the "Rhinegold treasure". [Bulfinch 1843:903.] Wagner's Alberich is a composite character, mostly based on Alberich from the "Nibelungenlied", but also onAndvari fromNorse mythology .Derivative characters
Some scholars propose the following characters evolved in later centuries from the concept of Alberich as king of the elves and dwarves:
* Oberon - is the French translation of Alberich (used for the name of the "King of Fairies" in French and English texts).
* Elegast/Elbegast/Alegast - elf guest, elf spirit (Dutch, German, and Scandinavian texts, respectively)References
*Bulfinch, Thomas. 1834. "Bulfinch's Mythology." Reprinted by New York: Harper & Row, 1970, p. 354-356, 903. ISBN 0-690-57260-3.
*Guerber, Helene A.. 1895. "Myths of Northern Lands - Index." [http://www.vaidilute.com/books/guerber/guerber-24.html p. 218] , [http://www.vaidilute.com/books/guerber/guerber-index.html p. 295 index] . File retrieved 7/15/2007.
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