Kobold

The kobold, occasionally cobold, is a sprite stemming from Germanic mythology and surviving into modern times in German Folklore.

Appearance
Although usually invisible, a kobold can materialize in the form of an animal, fire, a human being, and a candle. The most common depictions of kobolds show them as human-like figures the size of small children.

Kobolds who live in human homes wear the clothing of peasants; those who live in mines are hunched and ugly; and kobolds who live on ships smoke pipes and wear sailor clothing.

Behavior
Most commonly, the creatures are house spirits of ambivalent nature; while they sometimes perform domestic chores, they play malicious tricks if insulted or neglected.

Variations
Legends tell of three major types of kobolds. In some regions, the previously mentioned kobolds are also known by local names, such as the Galgenmännlein of southern Germany and the Heinzelmännchen of Cologne.

Another type of kobold haunts underground places, such as mines.

A third kind of kobold, the Klabautermann, lives aboard ships and helps sailors.

Origin
Kobold beliefs are evidence of the survival of pagan customs after the Christianisation of Germany. Belief in kobolds dates to at least the 13th century, when German peasants carved kobold effigies for their homes. Such pagan practices may have derived from beliefs in the mischievous kobalos of ancient Greece, the household lares and penates of ancient Rome, or native German beliefs in a similar room spirit called kofewal.

Kobold beliefs mirror legends of similar creatures in other regions of Europe, and scholars have argued that the names of creatures such as goblins and kabouters derive from the same roots as kobold. This may indicate a common origin for these creatures, or it may represent cultural borrowings and influences of European peoples upon one another. Similarly, subterranean kobolds may share their origins with creatures such as gnomes and dwarves and the aquatic Klabautermann with similar water spirits.

Modern Depictions
In the present, "Kobold" also refers to bipedal beast-people who resemble jackals or dogs. These types of kobolds are found in caves or forests.

Video games

 * In Dungeons & Dragons, Kobolds are a dog/reptile hybrid who often worship an evil dragon named Tiamat.

Gallery
Image gallery of Kobold