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 fairy-tale characters presented in different ways in one era or another. For example, modern science fiction endowed these creatures with a number of repulsive qualities: they are very huge, terribly ugly, brainless. Besides, 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 appropriate quality. The troll is a creature endowed with great physical strength and supernatural abilities! But where is the truth?
How do they look anyway?
Friends, but we will not find the truth in this matter even during the day and with bright fire! After all, if you believe the ancient legends, then these creatures looked completely different, and each of the descriptions has the right to exist: some say that they are big men the size of a whole mountain, while others say that a troll is a small creature with a tail andfits in a pocket of clothes (for example, Snufkin).
It is interesting that on the heads of the trolls, besides hair, all sorts of disgusting things grew: moss and trees! According to legend, the number of heads of various trolls was different: one, five, ten … It was believed that the more heads - the older, wiser and more experienced this creature is. At the same time, the troll's tongue was so long that it was possible to catch useless people who scatter in different directions at the sight of these nightmarish creatures! Many trolls simply loved to seize and absorb their prey alive in this way.
Where did they live?
It is believed that the native country of the trolls is Norway, but our heroes also existed 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 an entire mountain, while others created their own families, uniting in tribes. Some legends say that our heroes could form entire kingdoms with a clearly defined hierarchy and vertical power. Maybe the famous Shrek is an example of such a "state" way of life of the trolls, even though he is an orc.
What else is known about them?
Here's the thing: some legends say that a troll is not a human enemy at all! They didn't always kill and devour people. Very often these creatures simply grabbed women,they took them to their cave, turning them into a slave. The poor thing had to put up with the eternal darkness and dampness of the underground lair of the troll. She was there as a cook: the trolls brought human pieces of meat and bones, and their slaves had 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 kind of magic potion that turned the poor thing into a monster: her face darkened, covered with wrinkles, her nose was swollen, and her skin was covered with hair…
