Herr Mannelig  
Giants and Trolls were part of  
the northern European  
mythologies, and even in those  
areas their stories were  
influenced by tales of Tartarian  
giants with whom mankind  
interacted. Like the story of  
Troy, there may be some truth  
in the stories, for even in the  
Bible David faced the giant  
“Goliath.”  
Made public image of men facing giants.  
In the Scandinavian countries, the  
tales about trolls had similar  
interactions with men with some being  
benign and friendly, and others quite  
violent. For the most part Trolls in  
many parts of the northern European  
countries were personified as  
demons.  
Over time the stories about trolls  
shifted from fierce warriors into  
woodland creatures who would try to  
tempt men to gain their souls. This  
theme became even more prevalent  
as Christianity moved into Northern  
Europe in the 3rd and 4th Centuries.  
The story of “Herr Mannelig” (Sir Mann(e) Lie) is about a young  
warrior who is confronted by a “female” troll early in the morning, and  
she wants to “marry” him. This temptation theme is an old one  
stemming from out of Asia and India which had a strong influence in  
the Scandinavian cultures. The name of the song itself means “Mister  
or Sir Man Kind.”  
Made public image of a knight being tempted by a troll.  
Continued …  

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