Erdgeist is the Spirit of the
Earth whom
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe describes in ''
Faust, Part 1''. 'Du, Geist der Erde, bist mir näher; schon fühl ich meine Kräfte höher,...Goethe depicts Erdgeist as a timeless being who endlessly
weaves at the Time-Loom—both in life and in death. In this conception, Erdgeist is the means by which the immaterial becomes manifest.
In the
German language
German ( ) is a West Germanic languages, West Germanic language mainly spoken in Central Europe. It is the most widely spoken and Official language, official or co-official language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the Ita ...
, ''Erdgeist'' literally means ''Earth spirit''. In the context of
German folklore, ''erdgeist'' specifically refers to a
gnome
A gnome is a mythological creature and diminutive spirit in Renaissance magic and alchemy, first introduced by Paracelsus in the 16th century and later adopted by more recent authors including those of modern fantasy literature. Its characte ...
, the quintessential earth
elemental mentioned by
Paracelsus
Paracelsus (; ; 1493 – 24 September 1541), born Theophrastus von Hohenheim (full name Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim), was a Swiss physician, alchemist, lay theologian, and philosopher of the German Renaissance.
He w ...
.
''
Erdgeist'' is also an 1895 play by
Frank Wedekind, which formed the basis of a 1923
film
A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
directed by
Leopold Jessner
Leopold Jessner (3 March 1878 – 13 December 1945) was a noted producer and director of German Expressionist theater and cinema. His first film, ''Hintertreppe'' (1921), is considered a major turning point which paved the way for the later ...
.
Characters in Goethe's Faust
Fictional gnomes
Earth spirits
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