Black Horse

The Water Troll of Kökar

In short: In a legend from Kökar in Åland, two stones hold a troll at the bottom of the water.

The Water Troll of Kökar · Inscribed stones guarding the water FAIRY TALE ATLAS · № 234 The Water Troll of Kökar In a legend from Kökar in Åland, two stones hold a troll at the bottom of the water. Origin Frösö, Sweden Atlas record 1635 First appearance Exact date unknown SIGNATURE MOTIF Inscribed stones guarding the water Reach¹ 2/10 Suggested age² 8+ Member rating No votes yet 2 records · 2 countries or regions blackhorsestories.com

¹ Based on the number of Atlas countries, capped at 10. ² Editorial suggestion for reading this page. Discover Black Horse’s question

Origin and tradition

Frösö, Sweden

In the account recorded by pastor Gabriel Olai Hammodius in the 1680s, two stones stand on opposite sides of the water. The troll will regain its power if the writing wears away. In the 1635 Swedish account compared by Jesse Barber, Kettil Runske binds the serpent in Lake Storsjön with a single stone. The writing holds a creature under water in both stories, while the creature and the number of stones change.

Dated records and sources

  1. 1635 · Frösö, Sweden
    Morten Pederson Herdal · Storsjön legend · discussed by Jesse Barber, RMN Newsletter 17 (2022), p. 57 · Published collection
  2. 1680s · Kökar, Åland
    Gabriel Olai Hammodius · Kökar account · reproduced by Jesse Barber, RMN Newsletter 17 (2022), p. 56 · Published collection

Country pages

Origin
Black Horse. The Water Troll of Kökar. https://blackhorsestories.com/en/atlas-tale-kokar-water-troll/