A coblyn (plural coblynau) is a mythical
gnome
A gnome () is a mythological creature and diminutive spirit in Renaissance magic and alchemy, introduced by Paracelsus in the 16th century and widely adopted by authors, including those of modern fantasy literature. They are typically depict ...
-like creature that is said to haunt the mines and quarries of
Wales
Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
and areas of
Welsh settlements in America.
Description
Like the
Knockers of
Cornish folklore
Cornish mythology is the folk tradition and mythology of the Cornish people. It consists partly of folk traditions developed in Cornwall and partly of traditions developed by Britons elsewhere before the end of the first millennium, often ...
, they often help miners to the richest veins of ore or other treasures by their peculiar knocking sound. They appear dressed in miniature mining outfits, work constantly but never finish their task. They are said to be half a yard (1.5 ft) tall, very ugly, but often friendly and helpful.
Word origin
The word ''Coblynau'' is related to the
English word ''
Goblin
A goblin is a small, grotesque, monster, monstrous humanoid creature that appears in the folklore of multiple European cultures. First attested in stories from the Middle Ages, they are ascribed conflicting abilities, temperaments, and appearan ...
,'' and may derive from a
Germanic source akin to the German ''
Kobold
A kobold (; ''kobolt'', ''kobolde'', cobold) is a general or generic name for the household spirit (''hausgeist'') in German folklore.
It may invisibly make noises (i.e., be a poltergeist), or helpfully perform kitchen chores or stable work. ...
'', via the
French ''Gobelin''.
[The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English]
Appearances in media
Coblynau are mentioned in the ''
Constantine'' episode "The Darkness Beneath", but the description of the creatures given is closer to knockers.
See also
*
Bluecap
*
Gnome
A gnome () is a mythological creature and diminutive spirit in Renaissance magic and alchemy, introduced by Paracelsus in the 16th century and widely adopted by authors, including those of modern fantasy literature. They are typically depict ...
*
Knocker (folklore)
The Knocker, Knacker, or Tommyknocker (US) is a mythical, subterranean, gnome-like creature in Cornish and Devon folklore. The Welsh counterpart is the coblyn. It is closely related to the Irish leprechaun, Kentish kloker and the English a ...
References
Welsh legendary creatures
Welsh folklore
Mining in Wales
Legendary gnomes
Mining spirits
Earth spirits
{{Europe-myth-stub
Gnomes