Those goblins (to my traditionalist annoyance...) are purely a Western-borrowed literary device, at least as far as I know. We have poorly differentiated evil-ish spirits iirc, nothing so precise as a goblin
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I think "goblin" is originally about as well-differentiated as שֵׁד
sep 2, 2025, 4:14 am • 3 0 • view
Oh yeah I’m convinced based on just random hunches none of these were really specific until D&D needed them to be so the dice nerds wouldn’t revolt. (Said the dice nerd, in remission)
sep 2, 2025, 4:17 am • 2 0 • view
My guess is 19th century, actually. A lot of systemizations date to that period.
sep 2, 2025, 4:28 am • 2 0 • view
I think you’re right, I just couldn’t resist the chance…
sep 2, 2025, 4:29 am • 2 0 • view
True But the characteristic feature of shedim since Talmudic times is that they choose their form
sep 2, 2025, 4:15 am • 3 0 • view
The traditional fare is usually demons and souls of the dead (in various degrees of temporary damnation, as the case may be)
sep 2, 2025, 4:02 am • 4 0 • view