Recently I ordered a book on elves and dwarfs from inner traditions. Originally elves were connected to a spirit known as an Alf or Alpf (not to be confused with the TV show “ALF.”) One of its incarnations was known as Al, which was a vampire-like spirit. This was an Armenian anti-fertility spirit, meaning a spirit connected to blight. But children were a special target of the Al, similar to a monster one would find in Grimm’s fairy tales.
Such tragedies as miscarriages were blamed on the Al, as well as crib death. Again, we see that iron would be placed under the crib to ward off such demons. But, as with most superstitions, there are contradictions with it. The Al has iron teeth and iron claws.
This particular monster was also described as having snakes for hair (like Medusa). This terrifying apparition was also believed to eat the sun and/or moon during eclipses. And so it goes.