Alp (folklore)

An ''Alp'' (; plural ''Alpe'' or ''Alpen'') is a supernatural being in German folklore.

Not to be confused with the similarly named Alp-luachra, the ''Alp'' is sometimes likened to a vampire, but its behavior is more akin to that of the incubus. It is distinct from both of these creatures in that it wears a magic hat called a '' Tarnkappe'', from which it draws its powers. The word ''Alp'' is the German form of the word that comes into English as ''elf'', both descended from Common Germanic. It is also known by the following names: ''trud'', ''mar'', ''mart'', ''mahr'', ''schrat'', and ''walrider''. Many variations of the creature exist in surrounding European areas, such as the Drude or, in the British Isles, the Old Hag, related to now commonly recognized sleep paralysis.

In medieval sources

In the period before about 1000, the Old High German word ''alp'' is attested only in a small number of glosses. It is defined by the ''Althochdeutsches Wörterbuch'' as a "nature-god or nature-demon, equated with the Fauns of Classical mythology ... regarded as eerie, ferocious beings ... As the mare he messes around with women". Accordingly, the German word ''Alpdruck'' (literally 'elf-oppression') means 'nightmare'. There is also evidence associating elves with illness, specifically epilepsy.Edwards 1994.

In a similar vein, elves are in Middle High German most often associated with deceiving or bewildering people "in a phrase that occurs so often it would appear to be proverbial: 'die elben/der alp trieget mich' (the elves/elf is/are deceiving me)". The same pattern holds in Early Modern German. This deception sometimes shows the seductive side apparent in English and Scandinavian material: most famously, the early thirteenth-century Heinrich von Morungen's fifth ''Minnesang'' begins "Von den elben virt entsehen vil manic man / Sô bin ich von grôzer lieber entsên" ("full many a man is bewitched by elves / thus I too am bewitched by great love"). ''Elbe'' was also used in this period to translate words for nymphs.

In the later medieval prayers, Elves appear to be threatening, even demonic, force. Evidence includes Latin prayers found inscribed in lead amulets from southern Scandinavia and Schleswig. The most famous is the fourteenth-century ''Münchener Nachtsegen'', a prayer to be said at night, which includes the lines:

Correspondingly, in the early modern period, elves are described in Northern Germany as doing the evil bidding of witches; Martin Luther believed his mother to have been afflicted in this way.

As in Old Norse, however, there are few characters identified as elves. An elf does appear in an account of the parentage of the hero Hagen (ON Högni) which survives only in the Old Norse '' Þiðreks saga'' but which was translated from a German text (now lost). Here, Hagen is the product of his mother Oda being impregnated by an elf (ON ''álfr'') while she lies in bed. Otherwise, it seems likely that in the German-speaking world, elves were to a significant extent conflated with dwarves (). Thus some dwarves that appear in German heroic poetry have been seen as relating to elves, especially when the dwarf's name is ''Alberich'', which etymologically means 'elf-powerful' (thus Jacob Grimm thought that the name echoed the notion of the king of the nation of elves or dwarves).(Stallybrass tr.) The Alberich in the epic '' Ortnit'' is a dwarf of childlike-stature who turns out to be the real father of the titular hero, having raped his mother. The ''Alberich'' who aids Ortnit is paralleled by the French Auberon, who aids Huon de Bordeaux and whose name derives from ''Alberich''. Auberon entered English literature through Lord Berner's translation of the ''chanson de geste'' around 1540, then as ''Oberon'', the king of elves and fairies in Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' (see below).

As the apparent convergence with dwarves suggests, the word ''alp'' declined in use in German after the medieval period, though it still occurs in some fossilised uses, most prominently the word for "nightmare", ''Alptraum'' ("elf-dream"). Variations of the German elf in later folklore include the moss people and the Weiße Frauen ("White Women"). In Teutonic myth and folklore, ''Alpe'' were considered friendly elf-like beings which lived in the mountains, but eventually turned more negative and malevolent. The characteristic magic that the ''Alpe'' possess also bear the creature much resemblance to the Kobold, particularly Hodekin. As in English, however, twentieth-century fantasy fiction has helped to reinvigorate the term. J. R. R. Tolkien recommended using the older German form ''Elb'' in his " Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings" (1967) and ''Elb, Elben'' was consequently introduced in the 1972 German translation of ''The Lord of the Rings'', having a role in repopularising the form in German.Hall 2014.

Post-medieval folklore

An ''Alp'' is typically male, while the ''mara'' and ''mart'' appear to be more feminine versions of the same creature. Its victims are often females,...Normally tormenting the nights and dreams of women, although men and children are also victims. Bunson, Matthew (1993) ''The Vampire Encyclopedia'' p. 4, 5, Gramercy, Curran, Dr. Bob (2005),''Vampires: A Field Guide to the Creatures that Stalk the Night'' p. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, Career Press, whom it attacks during the night, controlling their dreams and creating horrible nightmares (hence the German word ''Alptraum'' elf-dream" meaning a nightmare). An ''Alp'' attack is called an ''Alpdruck'', or often ''Alpdrücke'', which means "elf-pressure". ''Alpdruck'' is when an ''Alp'' sits astride a sleeper's chest and becomes heavier until the crushing weight awakens the terrified and breathless dreamer. The victim awakes unable to move under the ''Alp'' weight. This may have been an early explanation for sleep apnea and sleep paralysis, as well as night terrors. It may also include lucid dreams.

Sexual attacks by the ''Alp'' are rare. Guiley, Rosemary Ellen (2004) ''The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves, and Other Monsters'' p. 20, Visionary Living, Inc.

The ''Alp'' is often associated with vampires because it will drink blood from the nipples of men and young children, though women are the preferred victim of the invariably male ''Alp'', for it favors the taste of breast milk.

''Alpe'' also exhibit a tendency for mischief similar to elves, like souring milk and re-diapering a baby; a maid must sign a cross on the diaper or the ''Alp'' will put the soiled diaper back on her child. They also enjoy tangling hair into " elfknots" or chewing and twisting horse's tails. They will ride a horse to exhaustion during the night and may sometimes crush smaller farm animals such as geese to death during a pressing attack. ''Alpe'' are also similarly blamed for minor illnesses and milking cows dry, for they enjoy the taste of cow's milk as well.

The ''Alp'', in many cases, is considered a demon, but there have been some instances in which the ''Alp'' is created from the spirits of recently dead relatives, more akin to a spirit or ghost.
Children may become an ''Alp'' if a woman bites a horse collar to ease the pain during an extremely long and tortuous childbirth. Also, a child born with a caul or hair on the palms may become an ''Alp''. If a woman who is pregnant is frightened by an animal, the child may be born an ''Alp''. Stillborn infants are also suspected to return from the grave as ''Alpe'' and torment their family. People who have eyebrows that meet are suspected to be ''Alpe''."Night-mares: Demons that Cause Nightmares"
/ref>
As with the case of werewolves, sometimes a normal human or animal may become an ''Alp'' during the night. They are typically unaware of their nocturnal activities and are invariably in disguise while doing so. Finding an ''Alp'' while it is not active simply requires injuring or otherwise marking it during one of its attacks, and seeking out the being with a similar mark during the day. The person can then be cured if it is found out who sent them the curse, or how they became cursed to begin with. Witchcraft is often the prime suspect in this case.

Sometimes an ''Alp'' is a spirit summoned by a witch or an evil person wishing harm on another, and sent to torment them. Tricking an ''Alp'' may lead a person to its master.

Characteristics

The ''Alp'' is best known for its shapeshifting abilities, similar to the creatures from werewolf lore. It may change into a cat, pig, dog, snake or a small white butterfly.Mayberry, Jonathan ''Vampire Universe'' p. 14, 15, Citadel Press Books It has also been said that it can fly like a bird and ride a horse. The ''Alp'' always wears a hat, giving it an almost comical appearance. The hat is known as a ''Tarnkappe'' (the literal translation being "camouflage cap" or "cap of concealment") which is simply a hat (or less commonly a veil) that gives the ''Alp'' magic powers and the ability to turn invisible while worn (see also cloak of invisibility). The hat is visible no matter what shape the ''Alp'' takes. An ''Alp'' who has lost this hat will offer a great reward for its safe return. The ''Alp'' also possesses an "evil eye" whose gaze will inflict illness and misfortune. Removing or damaging this eye also removes the ''Alp'' malicious intentions.

Protections against an ''Alp'' include laying a broomstick under a pillow, iron horseshoes hung from the bedpost, placing shoes against the bed with the toes pointing toward the door, or placing a mirror on the chest. Steel and crosses are also used. If awoken by the ''Alp'' and finding him still there, one can address him by asking him to return in the morning to borrow something or have coffee. The ''Alp'' will dash away at once, arriving in the morning either in his "true" form, or else in the form of a human with eyebrows that meet to receive his gifts. The creature can be convinced to leave the victim alone at this time, but the ''Alp'' will beg pitifully and at length not to be turned away.
Plugging up any holes, specifically keyholes, before a visitation will keep the ''Alp'' out. Plugging them during a visitation will invariably seal it inside the room, as they can leave only through their original entrance. A light kept constantly on during the night will also effectively ward off an ''Alp''. A sentry may also be employed to wait and watch for the ''Alp'' to attack the helpless sleeper, the ''Alp'' may be driven away if caught by someone not under the ''Alp'' influence. Similar to the German Neuntoter, ''Alpe'' are weakened or immobilized by shoving a lemon in its mouth should it be caught resting during the day. The ''Alp'' appears all but impossible to kill, and sometimes even after being turned away it may reappear years later in a worse mood.

See also

* Elf
* Mare (folklore)
* Drude
* Dwarf
* Schrat
* Trauco
* Nightmare
* Incubus
* " Alp", a poem by Johann August Apel in ' volume 2 (1811)
* "Breakfast in Bed", an episode of the TV series ''Grimm''

References

Sources

*
*

Bibliography

* Edwards, Cyril, 'Heinrich von Morungen and the Fairy-Mistress Theme', in ''Celtic and Germanic Themes in European Literature'', ed. by Neil Thomas (Lewiston, N. Y.: Mellen, 1994), pp. 13–30
*
* Hall, Alaric, 'Elves', in ''The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters'', ed. by Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock (Farnham: Ashgate, 2014), https://web.archive.org/web/20161212211103/http://www.alarichall.org.uk/ashgate_encyclopedia_elves.pdf.
* Motz, Lotte, ''The Wise One of the Mountain: Form, Function and Significance of the Subterranean Smith. A Study in Folklore'', Göppinger Arbeiten zur Germanistik, 379 (Göppingen: Kümmerle, 1983).

{{Fairies

European folklore
German legendary creatures
Mythological hematophages
Sleep in mythology and folklore
Cat folklore
Incubi
Elves