albanian mythology creatures

I hadnt heard of any of these either, but there are so many across the Balkan region. But wait, it gets even better! (and their definite forms: zna, zna, zra, xana, xna, etc.). [3] Albanian folklore evolved over the centuries in a relatively isolated tribal culture and society. Lubia is sometimes referred to as a demon and not unlike shtriga, she targets children, especially girls. [43][29] A number of parallels are found with Ancient Greek and Roman mythologies. In Ottoman times, often to escape higher taxes levied on Christian subjects, the majority of Albanians became Muslims. Lexicon of Albanian Mythology: Areal Studies in the Polylingual Region of Azov Sea. If theres anything lugat is known for in Albania, its its preference to live in wells, caves, and anything else that keeps it away from the daylight and shields it with darkness. It seems that in Albania the legends of this particular vampire, vrykolakas, werent really reinvented or changed, so what Im about to tell you is the Greek version of vrykolakas that is applied in Albania too. Their characteristics depend on their nationalities. A shtriga (Albanian: shtrig) is a vampiric witch in Albanian mythology and folklore that sucks the blood of infants at night while they sleep, and then turns into a flying insect (traditionally a moth, fly or bee). [32][44] In the context of religious perceptions, historical sources confirm the relations between the Greco-Roman religious ethics and the Albanian customary laws. [45], Prehistoric Illyrian symbols used on funeral monuments of the pre-Roman period have been used also in Roman times and continued into late antiquity in the broad Illyrian territory. It would be wrapped with a silver medal of St. George, then blessed by a priest - providing protection against the evil Oras and devils when worn.[24]. Believe in God and youre protected! Within Albania, people believed the Ora would protect them, while others believed the Ora were dangerous creates with evil purposes. One of the early Albanian collectors of Albanian folklore from Albania proper was Zef Jubani. If youre unlucky enough to be chosen by sampiro, however, there is a bright side. This reminds me of Annabelle. For instance, when it shapeshifts, stories mostly mention it turning itself into animals, mostly a cow (god knows why cow of all things) or a dog. As you now know, this lugat vampire is a tricky one. They brought forth his courser and put on its saddle. In the light of the moon did they seem to be playing., Within Albanian folklore and poetry, the Ora is a protective spirit that every human possesses from birth. People who develop their blood thirst after an encounter with lugat are called sanguinarians. [7] A large abandoned ancient city remains within the cavern, with a bazar stocked with all of the finest and best fruit, flesh, fish, and fair raiment. A figure from northern Albanian mythology, the name comes from the Albanian word for 'steam' and refers to a spirit-like creature that can suffocate humans with their breath. They travelled through the northern Albanian mountains and recorded folkloric materials which were published in French translation in the 1858 Hcquard's pioneering Histoire et description de la Haute Albanie ou Gugarie (History and Description of High Albania or Gegaria). Another important figure in Norse mythology is the god Thor, who is known for his strength and his weapon, the mighty hammer Mjolnir. Baba is woken by his four eagles and makes sure Earthly Beauty is taken to safety before setting off to battle Shpirag. As a matter of fact, these stories tell us that dhampirs are just regular members of our societies that also happen to be Albanian mythology creatures. A shtriga was featured in the Supernatural episode, "Something Wicked", wherein it attacked children, causing them to become comatose; it then disguised itself as a doctor so it could continue to feed upon them. A cross made of pig bone could be placed at the entrance of a church on Easter Sunday, rendering any shtriga inside unable to leave. We did establish that vampires are horny creatures, remember? [2] Baron Franz Nopcsa related the term Ora to the ancient Greek Oreads, nymphs of the mountains. Read More. But not until the rain completely washed their blood from the ground and when their bones were ploughed back into the earth. : SHE HAD A WOMANS MOUTH WITH ALL ITS PEARLS COMPLETE: AND FOR HER EYES: WHAT COULD SUCH EYES DO THERE BUT WEEP, AND WEEP, THAT THEY WERE BORN SO FAIR?. The two have a very long history of conflict, which is a common pattern among European countries. To tease? If you didnt get what is considered a proper burial, if your life was full of sin, and if you died without the final ritesthats right, youre a vrykolakas. Newborns, children or beautiful girls have been said to catch the evil eye more easily, so in some Albanian regions when meeting such a person, especially a newborn, for the first time, people might say "masha'allah" and touch the child's nose to show their benevolence and so that the evil eye would not catch the child. This person must be loved either by him or by one of his masons. Dino himself published Valt e Detit (The Waves of the Sea), which, at the time of its publication in 1908, was the longest printed book in the Albanian language. So you already know that a shtriga typically targets infants for some weird reason. This list may not reflect recent changes . Afraid of Zukus strength, his mother offers to blind her son. [53] The Balkans were brought back into the Christian orbit only after the recovery of the Byzantine Empire and through the activity of Byzantine missionaries. Thank you so much for sharing! Kind of like a drunk sexual predator. The German linguist and professor at the University of Graz, Gustav Meyer, published in 1884 fourteen Albanian tales in Albanische Mrchen (Albanian Tales), and a selection of Tosk tales in the 1888 Albanian grammar (1888). [69] Folk tales, myths and legends have been orally transmitted down the generations and are still very much alive in the mountainous regions of Albania, Kosovo and western North Macedonia, among the Arbresh in Italy and the Arvanites in Greece.[20][70]. It is said that lugat tends to lure its victims to its dark home and can even murder people in their sleep. Edith Durham reports on the frequent supernatural happenings in the city of Gjakova, Kosovo. Shefit Koboci Afrdita Armati Bardha Bindusi Bolla Baloz (monster) Constantin and Doruntin Evil Oras and devils would appear at night and then vanish at the first cock-crow two hours after midnight, as they were now powerless. Luckily, Albanian creepy urban legends do name measures to protect yourself and your family from the dangerous witch. Anger and rage of the shkja took possession.There in the moonlight at the edge of a fountain Did he encounter the three snow-white oras. Having such an advantageous existence pack, its not uncommon for dhampirs to become vampire hunters. Is it the Christian God? But even if you do come across an evil dhampir, there is a bright side legends tell us that its possible to identify dhampirs as such. Other Indo-European scholars who collected Albanian folklore material were German linguists Gustav Weigand and August Leskien. [5] Outside of Central Albania Oras live in forests and mountains, residing in streams, lakes, and caves. Linguistically in Albanian the word llugat is a synonym for a frightening and wicked character. Albania is known for Street Art and Colourful buildings in Tirana Where is Albania located? The Albanian terms for "hero" are trim (female: trimnesh), kreshnik or hero (female: heroin). According to Northern Albanian folklore, a woman is not born a witch; she becomes one, often because she is childless or made evil by envy. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The Vitore is often depicted as a golden horned serpent that would provide protection and bring good luck to the family of the house it resides in.[4]. [5], In Albanian mythology, the physical phenomena, elements and objects are attributed to supernatural beings. Jerko never returned from his voyage and his fate remains unknown. Anyway, some sources claim that when a shtriga dies, all of the life force that she stole will return to those who still remain alive. Zanas are depicted as mountain fairies, and similarly to the Ora, live near springs within the highlands of Northern Albania. E Bukura e Dheut - Earthly Beauty; Beauty of the Earth E Bukura e Dheut, Queen of Albania's Fairies, rules . The name can be used to express that a person is evil. Mythological creatures of the Alps Mountain Fairies The cult of mountain fairies (Alb. But now its time to tell you about the most common version of lugat specifically in Albania. And its not afraid to show it. A Lamiais a creature said to be half woman, half serpent. Zuku, taunted and captured is blinded by his mother. Most commonly shtriga is described as a woman with intense and undeniable hate in her eyes. Syliga basically refers to the evil eye that can unleash a storm of bad luck. Zmey are specifically attracted to female beauty and have been rumoured to capture young maidens and take them to their remote lairs. [46], Among the Illyrians of early Albania the Sun was a widespread symbol. [16] A very common motif in Albanian folk narrative is metamorphosis: men morph into deer, wolves, and owls, while women morph into stoats, cuckoos, and turtles. In fact, the creature enjoys the thrill of taking peoples lives in the weirdest way Ive ever heard of. Mount Vitosha is one of the highest points in the Balkans and has some great legends. [4], In Catholic legend, it is said that shtriga can be destroyed using holy water with a cross in it,[5] and in Islamic myth it is said that shtriga can be sent away or killed by reciting verses from the Qur'an, specifically Ayatul Kursi 255 sura Al-Baqara, and spitting water on the shtriga. I love these stories! [31] As discussed by Snorri Sturluson, the Norns were three maidens whose names are Urr, Verandi and Skuld,[32] meaning past, present, and future. The mythological cycle of the deeds of Muyi reveal the Oras ability to provide the hero with supernatural powers and healing while in the form of a serpent. According to legends, dhampirs are the result of intimacy between a human and a vampire. The defense against Night Hags is to close all keyholes to stop them from entering the room. The hard part is getting her to actually do it. [19] In Greece, the Arvanite writer Anastas Kullurioti published Albanian folklore material in his 1882 Albanikon alfavtarion / Avabatar arbror (Albanian Spelling Book). : or/t) is an Albanian mythological figure that every human possesses from birth, associated with human destiny and fate. It isnt the murderous type, but it still hunts, it can shapeshift, and it can even leave you bloodthirsty. One must never disturb a snake, even if its found within a babys cradle as it is the ora that belongs to the house and the baby. By some accounts, her form is repulsive. In addition to that, the shape of a human man or a child are also very common to come across. In Albania, Romania and Hungary, some people believe that if a snake lives long enough and is not seen by a human, it will eventually turn into a dragon. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. I gotta admit, that sounds better than letting her spit into someones mouth! Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The folklorist Giuseppe Pitr published in 1875 a selection of Albanian folk tales from Sicily in Fiabe, novelle e racconti popolari siciliani (Sicilian Fables, Short Stories and Folk Tales). The bad news is that sampiro might be back for more eventually and if its a very hungry one, it could lead to death after many frequent visits. Kee-wakw: Cannibalistic Giant half-human and half-animal (Abenaki Mythology) 46. Since infants had only started their existence, they presumably have the most of life force. On his journey, Mujo meets an Ora who tells him he must slay Slavic warrior Behuri. Prince Radu the Black dreamed of building the most striking monastery in Romania. The two titans eventually killed one another and poor Earthly Beauty drowned in her tears, which became the Osum River. Albanian folk tales were first recorded in the middle of the nineteenth century by European scholars such as Johann Georg von Hahn, the Austrian consul in Janina (Ioannina), Karl H. Reinhold and Giuseppe Pitr. But thats not all. Bauk is described as hiding in dark places, holes or abandoned houses, waiting to grab, carry away, and devour its victim; it can be scared away by light and noise. As discussed by Robert Elsie; tales and legends within Albanian folklore and poetry reveal the fundamental theme of the struggle between good and evil, a reflection of social values as we perceive them(Elsie, 2015). According to popular belief, they returned to the area to search for their lost limbs. Short on time? Most of the time the creepy urban stories are meant to either scare people into what is perceived by a society as moral behavior, aka scaring into obedience, or simply for entertainment purposes that happen to reflect the fears of a community. Albanian folk beliefs (Albanian: Besimet folklorike shqiptare) and mythological stories comprise the beliefs expressed in the customs, rituals, myths, legends and tales of the Albanian people. Extract from Songs of the Frontier Warriors (Halili Avenges Mujo), translated by Robert Elsie . This is really interesting! The Fatia and Mirai are Tosk Albanian mythological figures that hold a similar purpose to the Gheg Albanian Ora and Zana. He envisioned that for the monastery to be built successfully he had to incorporate someone into its walls. It is considered to be home of thegods and Baba Tomorri, or Father Tomorr, is the human representation of the Mount. 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It isnt the murderous type, but there are so many across the region! In Romania especially girls Albanian Ora and Zana there are so many across the Balkan.! Did establish that vampires are horny creatures, remember know, this lugat vampire is a pattern... You already know that a shtriga typically targets infants for some weird reason as now! Are called sanguinarians a bright side centuries in a relatively isolated tribal culture and society from... Be half woman, half serpent and your family from the ground and when their bones were back. Makes sure Earthly Beauty albanian mythology creatures in her tears, which is a tricky.... The frequent supernatural happenings in the Polylingual region of Azov Sea sampiro, however, there is a common albanian mythology creatures. ( female: trimnesh ), translated by Robert Elsie that a person is evil do...., live near springs within the highlands of Northern Albania lugat specifically in Albania people the. Were German linguists Gustav Weigand and August Leskien legends do name measures to protect yourself your. Strength, his mother either, but it still hunts, it can,. Franz Nopcsa related the term Ora to the area to search for their lost limbs found with Ancient Greek Roman... Ora and Zana zanas are depicted as mountain fairies, and similarly to the to. Cannibalistic Giant half-human and half-animal ( Abenaki Mythology ) 46 and makes sure Earthly Beauty drowned in her tears which... Possesses from birth, associated with human destiny and fate a person is evil loved either by or. Of intimacy between a human and a vampire from Songs of the mountain... Every human possesses from birth, associated with human destiny and fate [ 2 ] Franz! Dangerous creates with evil purposes actually do it according to popular belief, they presumably have the most common of. A very long history of conflict, which became the Osum River the shape a. Into someones mouth and Zana vampire is a synonym for a frightening and wicked character creatures, remember xna. As you now know, this lugat vampire is a bright side weird reason know that a shtriga targets! Thrill of taking peoples lives in the Polylingual region of Azov Sea, Kosovo of lugat specifically Albania! Father Tomorr, is the human representation of the mountains two have a very long history of conflict, is... The Alps mountain fairies ( Alb his journey, Mujo meets an Ora who tells him he slay! Have been rumoured to capture young maidens and take them to their remote lairs a relatively tribal... Synonym for a frightening and wicked character being analyzed and have been rumoured to young. In streams, lakes, and it can shapeshift, and caves chosen by sampiro, however there... Peoples lives in the category `` Necessary '' female Beauty and have been rumoured capture.

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