In “Dolopathos,” the lord finds a mysterious fairy or a swan maiden in an enchanted forest and marries her. By avoiding the wrong path, they become worthy of finding the object of their quest, which is often a beautiful maiden. They often confront crossroads and forks that force them to go within and examine their intent and purpose for their adventures.Īlong the way, they meet wise old men and women who give them direction to reduce the chances of error. The forest was a place of bewilderment for knights who go on quests, galloping on their horses as they wander on trackless pathways. Snow White was able to escape the evil schemes of her stepmother in the home of the Seven Dwarfs nestled deep in the deep forest. She found safety in the woods when a magical doe came to help her. In Beauty and the Beast, Belle’s father gets lost in the forest and runs into ferocious wolves before finding Beast’s castle.Īn enchanted forest offered refuge to Genevieve of Brabant, a heroine of medieval legend. We see references to this treacherous journey in fairytales like Hansel and Gretel, where they encounter a cannibalistic witch. Peasants avoided going into those territories because of the possibility of running into an unfriendly creature who could eat them or lead them toward danger. In this passage, travelers encounter monsters, witches, ogres, fairies, and strange people that might either benefit or test them. It’s a location that people have to travel through on their way to their destination. Throughout centuries the woods have been featured prominently in folktales where the natural landscape of the land is a forest. He vividly describes the vast wilderness and the legend of mythical creatures like unicorns living there. The Hercynian Forest was an ancient and dense forest mentioned by Julius Caesar in his book, Commentarii del Bello Gallico. In Norse mythology, these are tales of heroes and gods crossing Myrkviðr (or Mirkwood), a dark and foreboding forest between several lands. The oldest records of this narrative are found in ancient Sumerian stories where heroes Enkidu and Gilgamesh travel through the Cedar forest to fight the monsters that dwell in the shadows of the woods. Journeying through a folkloric forest is a challenge only the bravest heroes take on. Below, we’ll look at some of the most popular mentions of enchanted forests that span over centuries of story-telling. References to the mythical forests across the agesįrom fantasy to folklore, mythical forests have symbolized great mystery and unpredictability - where anything can happen. Get ready to enter into a magical realm of possibility - a place that will both captivate and spook you. You’ll also learn about their significance in literature and popular fiction. Tolkien, the Lord of the Rings saga writer, drew a lot from Norse mythology.Įxplore the most famous magical enchanted forest in Scandinavia and other parts of the world. We see references to enchanted forests everywhere in storytelling, from the Forbidden Forest in Harry Potter to the Hundred Acre Wood in Winnie the Pooh. In Scandinavian folklore, common forest inhabitants include trolls, elves, dwarfs, giants (Jötnar), Zombies (Draugr), fairies, and others. It’s a site where both sacred acts and wicked schemes are carried out.īrimming with life, all kinds of friendly and fearsome creatures live in enchanted forests. It can offer refuge and adventure, but it can also be perilous. Not only is it a place of intrigue and enchantment, but one where evil and darkness lurks. What is a mythical forest?Ī mythical forest has a dualistic appeal. Its allure has earned it a special place in the story-telling worlds of folklore and mythology in several countries and regions, including Scandinavia. These enchanted forests have become synonymous with magic, mystery and mystique. Mythical forests have long been a source of inspiration and wonder in our culture.
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