Dragonflies have captured the human imagination for millennia. Their shimmering wings, darting flight patterns, and aquatic larvae have inspired myths and legends across many cultures. Dragonflies have acquired many mystical monikers that reflect their otherworldly qualities. This article will explore some of the mythical names given to dragonflies and examine the folklore behind them.
Fairies and Elves
One of the most common mythical associations for dragonflies is with fairies and elves. In many European folk traditions, dragonflies are referred to as “fairy flies.” This name originates from old legends stating that dragonflies were tiny fairies and elves in disguise. Some believed that if you caught a dragonfly, you could make a wish and it would be granted by the fairy. Others thought that dragonflies were the actual souls of fairies who could no longer fly.
Related names like “elf bolts” and “water witches” also tie dragonflies to the world of magical, diminutive creatures. The name “elf bolts” comes from an old belief that dragonflies were the arrows used by mischievous elves when hunting. “Water witches” is a Scandinavian name arising from the idea that dragonflies had supernatural powers over water. These names reveal how dragonflies were associated with mystic, invisible forces and seen as belonging to an enchanted realm.
Snakes and Dragons
Another common theme is linking dragonflies to serpents and dragons. Across Britain, dragonflies are known as “snake doctors” or “snake feeders.” This name comes from the mistaken belief that dragonflies hunted snakes to eat their eggs. “Adder bolts” and “eye stingers” are related names that reference their supposed aggression towards adders, a venomous snake species.
Meanwhile in Sweden, dragonflies are called “blind stingers” – referring again to a legend that they would attack the eyes of snakes. In many European languages, the word for “dragonfly” literally translates to “eye poker,” “eye piercer,” or “eye sticker” – conjuring images of them stabbing the eyes of their enemies.
These names evoke mythical ideas of the dragonfly as a noble hero and protector against sinister, dangerous serpents. At the same time, they also represent the dragonfly as an aggressive predator or even a miniature dragon itself. This dichotomy reflects the combination of awe and anxiety that dragonflies often inspired.
Mythical Beasts
More fantastical names are also given to dragonflies that associate them with mythical creatures and beasts. In Latvia, dragonflies are called “Pūķis” – directly named after a legendary dragon. Meanwhile in Norway and Sweden, folk names paint them as sly, quick-flying horses called “Himinglesværmere” and “Trollsländor” respectively.
The name “Trollsländor” ties dragonflies to magic and mischief, as trolls were tricksy sprites in Norse mythology. “Devil’s darning needles” is another name insinuating the dark, sinister nature of dragonflies, with their needle-like bodies used by the Devil to mend his socks! Equating dragonflies with mythical beasts and demons expresses both the whimsy and wariness they evoked.
Symbols of Change
Dragonflies have earned symbolic names related to transformation, instability, and ephemerality. This draws on their lifecycle, as dragonflies spend most of their lives underwater as nymphs before emerging and taking flight as adults. In Japan, dragonflies are known as “Kawazugami” – literally meaning “river gods” in reference to their aquatic phase.
In many Native American traditions, dragonflies symbolize change and instability because of how they metamorphosize throughout their life stages. Linked words like “snake feeder,” “devil’s darning needle,” “adder bolt,” and “eye poker” emphasize their transitional nature from dangerous predator as nymphs to mesmerizing fliers as adults.
Bringers of Rain
Another mythical role is that of dragonflies as harbingers of rain and water. Names like “water dipper,” and “rain bringer” depict the dragonfly skimming across the water surface and whisking up drops into the sky. These names are found from Zuni Pueblo traditions to Maltese folklore.
In more practical terms, the presence of dragonflies often indicated water was nearby. But mythologically, they were blessed with the power to actually summon rains, clouds, and life-giving water through their flight. As bringers of rain, dragonflies took on a symbolic role as guardians of crops and vegetation, ensuring the sustenance of plants, animals, and people alike.
Messengers and Cosmic Travelers
Dragonflies are often depicted as messengers, bearers of news, and translators between worlds in myth. The Zuni people named them “tototi,” referring to their erratic, darting flight – as if rapidly delivering important messages. In Japan, dragonflies represent late summer and the autumn harvest season when rice paddies ripple like water. Hence they are called “akitsumu” or “rice field dreamer” as they hover over the paddies.
Similarly in Indonesia, dragonflies are dubbed “capung jinak padi,” meaning “rice field friend.” They are seen as symbols of diligence and cooperation with farmers. As fast-flying insects constantly in motion, dragonflies perfectly embody the role of busy messengers traversing between dimensions.
Conclusion
Dragonflies have inspired an array of mystical names across cultures and time periods. They have been associated with fairies, elves, snakes, dragons, demons, mythical beasts, transformation, rain making, cosmic travel, and more. While emerging from superstition, these names reflect the wonder, mystique, and unease that have long surrounded dragonflies. Their otherworldly flight and metamorphosis lent them an air of magic and imagination. These mythical names represent an effort to understand the enigma of the dragonfly by linking it to fantastic tales, symbols, and lore.
Summary of Mythical Dragonfly Names
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Fairy flies | Dragonflies seen as fairies in disguise | Europe |
| Elf bolts | Dragonflies as arrows used by elves | Europe |
| Water witches | Dragonflies with power over water | Scandinavia |
| Snake doctors | Dragonflies that hunted snakes | Britain |
| Pūķis | Named after the Latvian word for dragon | Latvia |
| Trollsländor | Dragonflies linked to trolls | Sweden |
| Devil’s darning needles | Dragonflies associated with the devil | Europe |
| Kawazugami | Dragonflies seen as river gods | Japan |
| Rain bringers | Dragonflies carrying water drops from rivers to sky | Global |
| Tototi | Dragonflies as fast messengers | Zuni Pueblo |
