Study › Runes & Norse › The Landvaettir
The landvaettir, the "land wights", are the spirits who live in the land itself: in rocks, hills and waterfalls. They brought good fortune to those who respected them, and four of them guard Iceland's coat of arms.
What are the landvaettir?
The landvaettir, the 'land wights', are the spirits who dwell in the land itself: in rocks and hills, waterfalls and groves. They could bring good fortune to those who respected them — good harvests, good fishing, good health — and misfortune to those who did not.
The landvaettir in Iceland
The Icelandic settlers were careful not to offend them. Their earliest law, it is said, forbade ships to come toward the island with gaping dragon heads on their prows, so as not to frighten the land spirits away. Offerings of food were left for them on stones believed to be their homes.
Snorri tells how a Danish king once sent a wizard to Iceland in the shape of a whale to spy on it. He found every part of the coast guarded: a dragon in the east, a great bird in the north, a bull in the west, and a giant with an iron staff in the south. These four guardians still stand today on Iceland's coat of arms.
Iceland's hidden folk are the huldufolk.
Questions
What are the four guardians of Iceland?
A dragon, a great bird, a bull and a giant.
Why did ships take off their dragon heads?
So as not to frighten the land spirits.