The distant ancestors of modern Scandinavians at the mention of the name of this creature began to shake with fear, whispering prayers to themselves. What kind of monster is this? Friends, this is a troll!
These are fabulous characters, presented differently in a given era. For example, modern science fiction endowed these creatures with a number of repulsive qualities: they are very huge, horribly ugly, brainless.
In addition, they are constantly preoccupied with the same problem: how to fill their insatiable womb and fall asleep soundly. And Scandinavian folklore presents us with trolls in their more needed quality. A troll is a creature endowed with tremendous physical strength and supernatural powers! But where is the truth?
What do they look like all the same?
Friends, and the truth in this matter, we are not looking even in the afternoon and with bright fire! Indeed, according to ancient legends, these creatures looked completely different, and each of the descriptions has a right to exist: some say that they are healthy men the size of a mountain, while others say that the troll is a small creature that has a tail and fits into your clothing pocket (e.g. Snusmumrik).
Interestingly, on the heads of the trolls, in addition to hair, all sorts of muck grew: moss and trees! According to legends, the number of goals of various trolls was different: one, five, ten ... It was believed that the more goals - the older, wiser and more experienced this creature. At the same time, the language of the troll was so long that it was possible to catch worthless people scattering in different directions at the sight of these nightmarish creatures! Many trolls simply adored in this way to grab and absorb their prey alive.
Where did they live?
It is believed that the root country of the trolls is Norway, but our heroes existed both in Iceland and in the dense Swedish forests, as well as on the Orkney and Shetland Islands. Contrary to popular belief, there have never been trolls in Denmark, because they did not like treeless and flat lands ...
Lifestyle
Some trolls loved to live as hermits, occupying a whole mountain, while others created their own families, uniting into tribes. Some legends say that our heroes could form whole kingdoms with a clearly defined hierarchy and vertical power. Maybe the famous Shrek - this is an example of such a "state" lifestyle of trolls, even though he is an orc.
What else is known about them?
And here's what: some legends say that the troll is not a human enemy at all! Not always did they kill and devour people. Very often, these creatures simply grabbed women, carried them to their caves, turning them into a slave. The poor thing had to put up with the eternal darkness and dampness of the underground troll den. She was there as a cook: the trolls brought human pieces of meat and bone, and their slaves were supposed to prepare a hearty meal for them.
If a woman was beautiful, she often became the wife of a male troll. She was rubbed with some magical potions that turned the poor thing into a monster: her face was dark, wrinkled, her nose was swollen, and her skin was covered with hair ...