INTRO:
Hello and welcome to Myth Monsters, my name is Erin and I’ll be your host for these little snack bite size podcasts on folklore and mythical monsters from around the world. 

These podcasts focus on the actual cryptids, folklore and mythic monsters from global mythology, rather than focusing on full stories of heroes and their big adventures.

I’ll also be dropping in some references that they have to recent culture and where you can see these represented in modern day content so you can learn more, and get as obsessed as I am about these absolute legends of the mythological world.

I’ve been a busy bee these last two weeks and have been on two other podcasts as a guest - I’ll share these once they’re ready so you can listen to me talk about movies and my book - because if you didn’t know, I’m also a published poet, just casually slipping in some self-advertising there. 

DESCRIPTION:

And this week, we’re looking at an even more creative monster - and that’s the Fossegrimen from Scandinavian mythology. You might have heard of this monster through another name, such as the grim or even as Strömkarlen if you’re into your specifically Swedish folklore. But it’s all the same monster, so we’re gonna get into it.

The Fossegrimen is described as a water spirit that lives mostly near waterfalls, and plays the fiddle exceptionally well, specifically the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle. They are usually described as being exclusively male, and exceptionally beautiful at that. They are human in appearance, but with elvish features, such as the pointed ears and delicate facial features and fingers. They are sometimes noted to have finned or clawed feet, however, these reports are pretty lacking. This is just one variant though, they’re sometimes noted as being old men, with green teeth and a green hat. Another is that they’re half fish; they have gills and webbed feet that he will always keep hidden - but this one is a little unpopular. 

You can usually find them either in caves with water flowing through them, lakes and streams or hiding in the pools of waterfalls in Norway or Sweden. Basically, wherever there is a small body of water - you may find one. How can you tell if one is there? You will hear the eerie tune of the fiddle as you enter the cave, playing the beautiful, but mournful sounds of nature. When you find them, they would usually be waist deep into the icy fjord water, playing their fiddle, and sometimes it might even be a harp.

Why would you ever go looking for a Fossegrim though? Well that’s because their most amazing power was one that could be taught with persuasion. Wanton musicians would try to find a Fossegrim to convince them to teach them the ways of the fiddle - they would do this by bringing a white ram to a northward-flowing waterfall on a Thursday night, and chucking it in bottom first without looking. The only other alternative to this was to get smoked mutton, but you had to steal it from your neighbour’s pantry for four Thursdays in a row. 

If you provided enough meat, the Fossegrim would emerge and run your hand over the strings of the instrument until they bleed, giving you the supernatural ability of fiddle-playing like a god, with eleven variations of tunes - the eleventh being every living thing must dance. If you didn’t bring enough meat though, he would just teach you to tune the instrument - but it’s not an un-handy skill for a musician I suppose. They are pretty chill creatures and will leave you alone for the most part.

You might also not go hunting for a Fossegrim, but end up trying to find one by hearing it's tempting melody. Stories of the Fossegrim unfortunately end up with accidental drownings where a person has followed the music to their watery grave to try and find the source. So not intentional harm - but harm nonetheless.

ORIGIN:

Anyway, onto etymology - Fossegrim is Old Norse and literally means ‘waterfall lord’ ; however, there are some debates on what the word grim means within this language and the regions it was spoken in, but usually equates to a higher societal male figure. However, in Sweden they have another name, which is Strömkarlen, meaning stream man - but I think both of them sum up what they are quite nicely. 

Before we get into their history, you might be thinking at this point - hey Erin, this sounds a bit like something you’ve mentioned before. And it does, it sounds really like the Nixie or Nokken that we covered a long time ago. I also even talked about the Fossegrim there, but didn’t call it anything but a Nixie - that’s totally on me, and actually the two are ridiculously similar, but they’re the male and female variants of each other, which I clearly didn’t find way back when - sorry about that.

The main difference between Fossegrimen and Nixie is that the Nixie do tend to be a bit more vicious - known for taking all types of people, but mostly pregnant women off to their deaths. However, the Fossegrim just want to live in his cave and play music; they don’t really have any other agenda in relation to their female counterparts, and the deaths associated with them are mostly accidental. The Nixie can often assume the look of the Fossegrim though, so that can also be confusing.

In terms of history, it’s interesting because neither of them have a set date that they started to emerge in folklore. We know the Nixie came around in Beowulf - which is one of the oldest texts known to man and is thought to be from around 700-1000 AD, making them pretty old - and it’s not too far a stretch to think that the Fossegrim were from around the same time. 

The stories of the Fossegrim were mostly oral, so it’s quite tricky to give references and find stories on this one - however, it’s not uncommon to see the Fossegrim in a situation like the Selkies, where they would fall in love with a human who had heard his music. Then they would live with them until their need for the depths calls to them again, and they leave the human in mourning whilst they dive about in the waterfalls. It’s said that actually all of these creatures will become malicious if taken from the water for too long, so I wouldn’t risk it with a finger-slicing musician who can force you to dance. 

The last tidbit I’ll leave you with is that it was believed that infamous musicians in reality were trained by Fossegrim, two of which being Tor geir Au gund sson and Ole Bull, who were very famous Scandinavian fiddlers from the 1800s - we could maybe say that that Alexander Rybak could be the modern day one, or maybe someone like Lindsey Stirling perhaps - but I love this idea. Niccolo Paganini, the famous italian violinist was said to have sold his soul to the devil for his violin skills - so maybe it’s a trend.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: 

Now onto modern media, we only have a few this week so bear with me. I’ve tried to intertwine some from other water spirits too though.

For art, we have a few actual portraits of them including Strömkarlen from 1884 by Ernst Josephson & Fossegrimen by Nils Bergs lien from the 1920’s which are both beautiful - I really recommend giving these a look. 

In movies, we have; Farkadden, Frozen 2, Fairytale: A True Story, The Adventures of Sharkboy & Lavagirl & Barb and Star go to Vista Del Mar.

For TV, we have; Grimm, Winx Club, Legend Quest, Black Clover, Berserk, EDENS ZERO, Fairy Tail, H2O: Just Add Water, Tidelands & Mako Mermaids: An H2O Adventure.

In video games, we have ones such as; Roki, Dark Age of Camelot, Tribes of Midgard, Dungeons & Dragons, Runescape, Mythgard, Valheim, Pathfinder & Unforgiving: A Northern Hymn.

My book recommendation this week is Water: Selkies, Sirens, & Sea Monsters by Rhonda Parrish for some great water dwelling monsters, or for more Norse mythology and monsters in a much lighter way, have a look at Norse Myths by Matt Ralphs. 

DO I THINK THEY EXISTED? 

Now it’s time for, do I think they existed? 

Well you know me and water monsters, it’s a tricky one for me to deny as always - however I have reflected back on what I said about Nixie a few years back now, and I agree with myself. 

They are definitely still a creature that dwells within Scandinavian water bodies, which are pretty deadly just to be in. However, I think with this monster I can see the reason and ambition behind going to find one, but it could also reflect greed and taking the easy route, and then potentially drowning in the pursuit of that. 

I can also see that some of these things are worth it and there are those real life musicians who are believed to be taught by them and have produced some of the most amazing music - so maybe there is a chance. I like the idea of this musical genius living peacefully in a cave, it must be a great life and I’m jealous of the Fossegrim if anything. 

I will say too that I said in my Nixie episode that I think people are crazy for swimming in Scandinavia - and two years later, I have swam in the canals of Copenhagen twice, what a character development - go me (and I highly recommend doing it, it’s cold as anything but it makes you feel so alive).

But what do you think? Does the Fossegrim live in the caves of Scandinavia? Let me know on Twitter!

OUTRO: 

I really enjoyed this one, but I do love some Norse mythology from time to time. I actually thought this one would be bigger in terms of popularity, but it seems I was incorrect and it was actually a bit of a pain to research - but it all seems worth it in the end.

Next week, we’re heading over to Ancient Persia and Islamic mythology for the first time in a little while - and we’re looking at the wonderful and beautiful fairies, the Peri. Come fluttering in next Thursday for this much lovelier monster.

For now, thank you so much for listening, it’s been an absolute pleasure. If you enjoyed this podcast, please give it a rating on the service you’re listening on - I’ve got the twitter for any questions, or suggestions on what monsters to cover next and I’d love to hear from you. The social media handles for Tiktok, Youtube and Instagram are mythmonsterspodcast, and twitter is mythmonsterspod. But all of our content can be found at mythmonsters.co.uk - you can also find us on Goodpods, Buymeacoffee and Patreon if you want to help me fund the podcast too.

Come join the fun though and share this with your pals, they might love me as much as you do.

But for now, stay spooky and I’ll see you later babes.