Thekobalos (pl.kobaloi) (Ancient Greek: κόβαλος, plural: κόβαλοι) was asprite fromGreek mythology, a mischievous creature fond of tricking and frightening mortals.[1] The kobaloi were companions ofDionysus and could shapeshift as Dionysus in the guise of Choroimanes-Aiolomorphos.[2] According to one myth, they robbedHerakles while he slept. He captured them in revenge but took pity on them when he found them amusing. In one version of the myth, Herakles gave them to the Lydian queenOmphale as a gift. Thekobaloi were thought to live inEuboea or nearThermopylae.[3] Parents used tales of thekobaloi to frighten children into behaving.[4]
Greek myths depict thekobaloi as "impudent, thieving, droll, idle, mischievous,gnome-dwarfs",[3] and as "funny, little tricksyelves" of a phallic nature.[5] The term also means "impudent knave, arrant rogue" in ancient Greek, and such individuals were thought to invokekobaloi spirits.[6] Depictions ofkobaloi are common in ancient Greek art.
Thekobalos is related to two other Greek sprites: thekabeiroi (pygmies with large phalluses) and thekerkopes.[3] Thekobalos andkabeiroi came to be equated.[3] Nineteenth Century classicists proposed that other European sprites may derive from belief inkobaloi. This includes spirits such as the Northern Englishboggart, Scottishbogle, Frenchgoblin, Medieval gobelinus, Germankobold, and EnglishPuck.[7] Likewise, the names of many European spirits may derive from the wordkobalos. The word entered Latin ascobalus, then possibly French asgobelin. From this, the Englishgoblin and Welshcoblyn may derive.[8]
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