The Alp is a shapeshifting, nightmare-causing creature from Germanic and Slavic folklore, most prominently documented in medieval and early modern German belief. Unlike a ghost or demon, the Alp was thought to be a living being—often a human with magical ability—that could leave its body at night to torment sleepers and livestock.
Origins and Regional Names
The word Alp (plural Alpe or Alben) shares a root with the English word elf and the Scandinavian elf, pointing to a common Germanic origin. In different regions, the same creature appears under other names: Mahr or Nachtmahr in German-speaking areas (related to the English word nightmare), Mare in Old English, and Mora in Slavic languages. The Slavic mora or kikimora shares many traits with the German Alp, suggesting a shared ancient belief in a being that sits on a sleeper’s chest and causes suffocation and bad dreams.
Appearance and Shapeshifting
The Alp was rarely described as having a single fixed form. In many accounts, it appeared as a shadowy figure, a small man, or a cat, but its most famous ability was shapeshifting. It could become a straw, a feather, a pig, a dog, or a ball of wool. A common tale tells of a man who caught an Alp in the form of a straw and locked it in a box; the next morning, the box contained a naked woman—the Alp’s human form. This story, recorded in various German collections, illustrates the belief that the Alp was not a spirit but a person, often a woman, who practiced magic.
Behavior and Victims
The Alp’s primary activity was to visit sleeping people and press down on their chest, causing the sensation of suffocation and terrifying dreams. This is the origin of the term nightmare. The Alp would also sit on the stomach of livestock, particularly horses, causing them to sweat and become exhausted overnight. In some accounts, the Alp drank the milk of nursing mothers or caused impotence in men. Unlike some malevolent spirits, the Alp was not usually said to kill its victims, but it could cause lasting harm through exhaustion and fear.
How to Ward Off an Alp
Folk remedies against the Alp were widespread and varied. Common methods included:
- Placing a shoe or a broom upside down at the foot of the bed, which was thought to confuse the Alp.
- Leaving a sieve or a bundle of straw with a specific number of knots, because the Alp was compelled to count the holes or untie the knots before it could attack.
- Putting a mirror facing the sleeper, so the Alp would see its own reflection and flee.
- Using a protective charm, such as a pentagram or a piece of iron, placed on the door or above the bed.
In some regions, people would say a prayer or make a sign of the cross, reflecting the Christianization of older beliefs.
The Alp in Literature and High Culture
The Alp appears in several notable literary works. In Goethe’s play Faust, the character Mephistopheles is referred to as an Alp in one scene, showing the creature’s familiarity to German audiences. The Alp also appears in the works of the Brothers Grimm, who collected folk tales and legends that mention the creature. In the 19th century, the Alp was often used in Romantic literature as a symbol of irrational fear and the dark side of the human mind.
Alp vs. Other Night Creatures
The Alp is often confused with other supernatural beings. Unlike a vampire, the Alp did not drink blood or bite; it fed on the life force or breath of its victims. Unlike a ghost, the Alp was a physical being that could be caught and injured. In some accounts, if a person wounded an Alp in its animal form, the same wound would appear on the human body the next day. This distinguishes it from a mere spirit. The Alp also differs from the incubus or succubus, which were demons that sought sexual intercourse; the Alp’s attacks were more general, though some tales do mention sexual elements.
Scientific and Psychological Interpretations
Modern scholars and folklorists have interpreted the Alp as a personification of sleep paralysis, a condition in which a person wakes but is temporarily unable to move, often experiencing a feeling of pressure on the chest and hallucinations. This medical explanation aligns with the Alp’s most consistent trait: sitting on the sleeper’s chest. The Alp also served a social function in rural communities, providing an explanation for unexplained fatigue in livestock or for the exhaustion of a person who slept poorly. Accusations of being an Alp were sometimes directed at unpopular neighbors, similar to accusations of witchcraft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Alp the same as a nightmare?
Yes, the word nightmare comes from the Old English mare, which is the same creature as the Alp. The mare was a female spirit or witch that sat on sleepers, and over time the word came to mean the bad dream itself.
Can an Alp be killed?
In folklore, the Alp could be injured or killed, often by cutting off the straw or object it had transformed into, or by striking it with a knife. Since the Alp was believed to be a human in a trance, killing it would kill the human. Some tales say that if you cut the Alp’s hand or leg, you would find the same wound on the suspected person the next morning.
Did the Alp only appear in Germany?
No, similar creatures appear across Europe. The Slavic mora, the Hungarian lidérc, and the Scandinavian mara all share the core traits of the Alp. The German Alp is the most well-documented, but the belief was widespread.
What is the difference between an Alp and an elf?
The words are related, but in folklore they describe different beings. An elf in Germanic mythology was often a nature spirit or a being of light and darkness, while the Alp was specifically a nightmare demon or witch. Over time, the Alp became a subtype of elf in some texts, but their functions were distinct.
Is the Alp mentioned in any medieval texts?
Yes, the Alp appears in medieval German charms and medical texts. For example, the Merseburg Charms (10th century) mention elves and a creature that presses on the chest, though the exact term Alp is not used. Later, in the 13th century, the term alp appears in German glossaries. The most detailed accounts come from the 16th and 17th centuries, when demonologists and folklorists wrote about it.
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