Faeries have been documented in history.  Around 1000 B.C., the Greek poet Homer wrote The Illiad, in which he describes, “watery fairies dance in mazy rings.”  (“Mazy” means maze-like, or like a labyrinth.)

In the 12 century, Gervase of Tilbury described portunes (one variety of small faeries).  He said that some are as tiny as one half inch tall, or as little as a small finger.

Later reports confirm his descriptions.

Shakespeare popularized the image of playful, tiny faeries in his play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  However, he didn’t invent them.  (Nobody invented faeries.  They already existed.)

There are many theories about the origins of faeries, going back to the time of Genesis in the Bible.  We know so little about faeries, it’s difficult to be certain what’s true about them, except that they exist.

In this 13-minute podcast, Fiona Broome talks about many topics.

* Little faeries in history
* The possible importance of our belief in them
* Early descriptions of faeries as “pygmies”
* William Allingham’s poem, The Faeries, and the clues in it

Listen to this podcast on your computer (MP3)

Mushroom photo by Steve Knight, U.K.
Music: Moods of Man, written & orchestrated by James Underberg

Related posts:

1. A brief history of dragons
2. History of mermaids
3. Faeries – Questions, Answers and Boggarts
4. Faeries, Angels, Ghosts and Aliens
5. Where Do Faeries Live? – mini-podcast