albanian mythology creatures

[43][29] A number of parallels are found with Ancient Greek and Roman mythologies. I actually remember similar sayings from my childhood too, but even back then it was confusing to me because I couldnt understand what the creature would get out of this. The Zana are thought to have observed the speeches at theLeague of Prizren at 1878. Speaking of spitting into someones mouth If you want to avoid that for your children, or any children, for that matter, youll be relieved to know that in some Albanian regions its common to say mashaallah to children and babies while also touching their noses. But Im getting ahead of myself. Now, Im not sure *which* God this is referring to. [46], Among the Illyrians of early Albania the Sun was a widespread symbol. He envisioned that for the monastery to be built successfully he had to incorporate someone into its walls. [21], Another important Albanian folklore collector was Thimi Mitko, a prominent representative of the Albanian community in Egypt. People who develop their blood thirst after an encounter with lugat are called sanguinarians. Baba is woken by his four eagles and makes sure Earthly Beauty is taken to safety before setting off to battle Shpirag. Each Balkan country has a version of dhampirs, some descriptions are shared and some slightly different or more detailed. For a cover? She might be able to do it in different ways too, but for now, spitting is the only way that is mentioned. Eine ethno-linguistische Fallstudie", "Rrnj dhe deg t krishterimit ndr shqiptar", "The Rediscovery of folk literature in Albania", "Un regard critique sur l'ethnographie de la mort en Albanie", "Lexicon of Albanian Mythology: Areal Studies in the Polylingual Region of Azov Sea", "Ngjashmri t hyjnive homerike dhe atyre shqiptare", "The Albanian World in the Folk Teller's Stories", "Figures mythologiques Albanaises et rencontres Balkaniques", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albanian_folk_beliefs&oldid=1138071053, Toka: living earth; it is believed that water is to the earth what blood is to the humans, Dhe-toksi, Dheu or Toksi: chthonic serpent, Golden horned goats: wild goats protectors of the forests, Uji: water; uji i gjall: living water; it is believed that water is to the earth what blood is to the humans. [2] Baron Franz Nopcsa related the term Ora to the ancient Greek Oreads, nymphs of the mountains. Mujo set off for the high mountain pastures, Leaving his saviours, the zanas, behind him., The Vitore is identified with the Fatia and Mirai in Southern Albanian folk beliefs and folklore. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Its etymology is related to Latin Diana its also simil ar to the Bardha. This is a method that, according to Albanian urban legends, can protect you from the evil eye of shtriga. Afraid of Zukus strength, his mother offers to blind her son. Another important Arbresh publisher of Albanian folklore was the linguist Demetrio Camarda, who included in his 1866 Appendice al Saggio di grammatologia comparata (Appendix to the Essay on the Comparative Grammar) specimens of prose, and in particular, Arbresh folk songs from Sicily and Calabria, Albania proper and Albanian settlements in Greece. In addition to that, no one knows the exact number of Lubias heads, but Albanian creepy urban legends hint that it can be any number between 7 and a hundred. Baba. And you wouldnt be wrong for seeking that because of what in Albanian is called syliga. Save Balkan Folklore Discover the Fascinating Tales and Mythical Creatures for later by pinning the image below. 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. [59] Since its founding in 1912, Albania has been a secular state, becoming atheist during the Communist regime, and returning secular after the fall of the regime. Who knows. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. There are no known explanations why, but one could assume that female vampires are either not attracted to mortals or simply do not possess a sexual appetite as vast as the males do. As for the origins of vrykolakas and how you can turn into one, wellhold on tight, the list is long. So you already know that a shtriga typically targets infants for some weird reason. Edith Durham reports on the frequent supernatural happenings in the city of Gjakova, Kosovo. [17][18], Extract from Songs of the Frontier Warriors (The Marriage of Halili), translated by Robert Elsie . Unfortunately, the information about them is very general and short, which leaves a lot of space for your mind to fill the gaps. I could go on for days on what can turn you into a vrykolakas. It is said that lugat tends to lure its victims to its dark home and can even murder people in their sleep. So we have a little bit of background now, but every good storyteller knows that a story needs a face. Albania is known for Street Art and Colourful buildings in Tirana Where is Albania located? In particular an important role was played by the Theme of Dyrrhachium and the Archdiocese of Ohrid. Mount Shpirag is marked with deep streams of water running down its face and lies across the valley. Is it that heavy? The reason why I wouldnt exclude her from the vampire category is that a shtriga is depicted as a blood-sucking witch in Albanian folklore. These would travel high into the clouds and even change into creepy, dark figures. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. [14] Heroes' bravery and self-sacrifice, as well as love of life and hope for a bright future play a central role in Albanian tales. And its not pretty. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Because of this, the Prince threatened to murder Manole and his team. The whole idea, the concept of a boogeyman is to scare people, most often children, into doing or not doing something. Balkan travel inspiration and practical travel tips. Often you could even call this family business (yes, like Sam & Dean), as the young dhampirs learn the craft from their own parents and grandparents. They also have the tail of a snake, golden wings and incredible physical strength. They also have the tail of a snake, golden wings and incredible physical strength. [32] Albanian legend also shows similarities with neighbouring Indo-European traditions, such as the oral epics with the South Slavs and the folk tales of the Greeks. In this case, one of the most famous Albanian mythology creatures, sampiro, is no different. This serpent slithers over my wounds to heal them. [2], Extract from Songs of the Frontier Warriors (Mujos Oras), translated by Robert Elsie [6], As Slavic Warrior Paji Harambashi searches for Mujo within the mountain ranges, he encounters three snow-white Oras Mujos protectors. InEastern Serbia,the Drekavac has been described in the form of a humanoid canine creature that walks on its back legs. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Ive never heard much about Balkan folklore, but I am always so interested in the history behind these stories and myths! This next creature can, in some way, count as a vampire, although its best-known as a witch. the albanian history. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. As Mujo and Behuri duel, the Ora intervenes guiding Mujo to distract Behuri and use the poison dagger which the Ora had hidden on Behuri, to slay him. Within Albania, people believed the Ora would protect them, while others believed the Ora were dangerous creates with evil purposes. Lets go! So if youre a fan of all things vampire, you wont be surprised to read that the general Balkan stories, and hence Albanian stories, imply that the regular vampires are not just thirsty for blood, but women too. Jerko, from Herceg Novi, could not choose between the sisters and, instead, he set off on a long sea voyage which he hoped would make the decision easier. Which, by the way, also serves as a very serious warning to avoid this person, as this is someone undoubtedly evil and dangerous. She did not die and re-emerged on a different isle. Lets start by dissecting the name shtriga and the meaning behind it! : or/t) is an Albanian mythological figure that every human possesses from birth, associated with human destiny and fate. On a final note about a lugat, I just wanted to add that basically there is no positive way to see the creature. So an encounter with shtriga doesnt end with her victims immediate death. If your parents had an intimate gathering and it resulted in giving life to you on a Holy Day you are vrykolakas. A pronounced mythological component to the text is revealed, as the brothers engage with mystical creatures that help them throughout their journey[15] one of those creatures being the Ora. But yeah, its that simple. The eldest sister died first so the other two bricked up her sea facing window. Mitko's own collectionincluding 505 folk songs, and 39 tales and popular sayings, mainly from southern Albaniawas finished in 1874 and published in the 1878 Greek-Albanian journal Alvaniki melissa / Belietta Sskiypetare (The Albanian Bee). [67][3][68] Ancient paganism persisted among Albanians, and within the inaccessible and deep interior it has continued to persist, or at most it was partially transformed by the Christian, Muslim and Marxist beliefs that were either to be introduced by choice or imposed by force. In fact, according to the local lore, Shtriga can cure her victims by spitting in their mouths. 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. Dean manages to kill the monster by shooting it in the head with concentrated iron bullets while it was feeding on Sam. Whenever vrykolakas saw people going to a church, it would loudly and openly mock the people of faith and on some occasions even throw rocks at them to emphasize his disapproval. Slavic warrior Paji Harambashis encounters three white oras, mystical creatures in the mountains who revel and frolic as he searches for Mujo. Any kind of partnerships and even a simple interaction could turn Albanians into vampires. Naturally, every country has its own version of the word, though its easy to tell that they are referring to the same creature. Only the shtriga herself could cure those she had drained. He is visualised as a wise but strong old man with a full, white beard. A common feature appearing in these songs is the desire for fame and glory, which is related to the courage of a person. Found in folktales, both are mythological figures of fate and destiny, often depicted as three female deities. Edith Durham recorded several methods traditionally considered effective for defending oneself from shtriga. SHE SEEMD, AT ONCE, SOME PENANCED LADY ELF, SOME DEMONS MISTRESS, OR THE DEMONS OWN SELF. Really, it should be quite a view seeing a covered figure swaying and glowing. In the 1800s, John Keats, a romantic poet, created this vision of Lamia, SHE WAS A GORDIAN SHAPE OF DAZZLING HUE, VERMILION-SPOTTED, GOLDEN, GREEN, AND BLUE; STRIPED LIKE A ZEBRA, FRECKLED LIKE A PARD, EYED LIKE A PEACOCK, AND ALL CRIMSON BARRD; AND FULL OF SILVER MOONS, THAT, AS SHE BREATHED, DISSOLVD, OR BRIGHTER SHONE, OR INTERWREATHED THEIR LUSTRES WITH THE GLOOMIER TAPESTRIESSO RAINBOW-SIDED, TOUCHD WITH MISERIES. hopefully they are just myths haha! Or it eats their food? Albanian urban legends claim that Lubia has an insatiable appetite for children. There are legends behind almost every building, mountain and village in the Balkans! [31] As discussed by Snorri Sturluson, the Norns were three maidens whose names are Urr, Verandi and Skuld,[32] meaning past, present, and future. But thats not all. The first part is a deep dive into vampires and vampire-like creatures in Albanian folklore, whereas the second part will introduce you to many other terrifying creatures with a large focus on metamorphosis and the battle between good and evil. Clearly, vrykolakas sounds like a cowardly predator, avoiding a confrontation with its victims and only sneaking into their homes when theyre asleep. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Drop a comment in the box, wed love to hear from you! Should an Ora howl at a person, the threads of their fate would be cut. Zanas are depicted as mountain fairies, and similarly to the Ora, live near springs within the highlands of Northern Albania. Fun facts! Its all part of the fun of exploring this amazing, unusual part of the world. 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. I hope youre ready to meet the dark side of Albanian culture! [26][20], The next generation of scholars who became interested in collecting Albanian folk material were mainly philologists, among them the Indo-European linguists concerned about the study of the then little known Albanian language. These maidens would shape the life of every child that is born, appointing varying destinies to each similarly to the Ora. But there are also those who have certainpreferences. While Jin is a general reference to concealment, al-janin refers specifically to a fetus that is concealed in its mother's womb. It can even take weeks. Balkan Folklore is really interesting to read but its even better to hear the tale told by an enthusiastic local who has been brought up with these legends. Albanian giants are as tall as pine trees, with black beards that reach to their knees. But lets pretend that it all adds up. The Balkan region is home to many captivating legends and mythical creatures. Linguistically in Albanian the word llugat is a synonym for a frightening and wicked character. 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 ). [7], And turning, set off for the high mountain meadows, But nowhere upon them was he to find Mujo. Yet another similarity between lugat and sampiro is that lugat also tends to getattached to its victims and prefers to feed off the same one for as long as it can. Dhampirs are a widely-spread subject in Balkan folklore, which includes Albania, todays subject. Songs of the Frontier Warriors described by Robert Elsie as one of the best-known cycles of Albanian epic verse.[14] The earliest written account of the epic was in Northern Albania in the early twentieth century, by Franciscan priests located in the mountains. Luckily for dhampirs, the human genes neutralize these weaknesses, meaning that their bodies dont crave human blood, hence their nutrition consists of what a regular human would eat. This is the part where I just want to point something out. The spread of a Sun cult and the persistence of Sun motifs into the Roman period and later are considered to have been the product of the Illyrian culture. And yes, its a huge generalization once again, but in this particular case it also involves bad blood between Albania and the Turkish Ottoman Empire or the modern day Turkey. She just has this stare you would probably want to get away from as soon as possible. If you cross paths with a snake before sunrise or after sunset it foretells the death of some of your relations.[27], Within Albanian folklore, the role of the Ora tends to differ. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The German physician Karl H. Reinhold collected Albanian folklore material from Albanian sailors while he was serving as a doctor in the Greek navy and in 1855 he published Noctes Pelasgicae (Pelasgian Nights). He compiled his collection with Spiro Risto Dine who emigrated to Egypt in 1866. They bound all his wounds and healed all of his ailments. More specifically, the Albanian word for shtriga is shtrig, the Polish version is strzyga, in Romanian its strig, and Italian is strega. Scary! Indeed, the lack of Old Church Slavonic terms in Albanian Christian terminology shows that the missionary activities during the Christianization of the Slavs did not involve Albanian-speakers. The three fates of Greek Mythology, the Moirai, are represented similarly to the Ora as three goddesses who determine human destiny. Like most things about vrykolakas, the death part has multiple versions of what can actually end the vampire. [48] After the first access of the ancestors of the Albanians to the Christian religion in antiquity the term Zot which in the pre-Christian pagan period was presumably used in Albanian to refer to the sky father/god/lord, father-god, heavenly father (the Indo-European father daylight-sky-god) has been used for God, the Father and the Son (Christ). Are represented similarly to the Ancient Greek Oreads, nymphs of the best-known cycles of Albanian culture is said lugat! You wouldnt be wrong for seeking that because of what can turn into one, wellhold tight... Iron bullets while it was feeding on Sam battle Shpirag infants for some weird reason courage. Three goddesses who determine human destiny and fate but for now, but every good storyteller that. On a final note about a lugat, I just want to point something out Albania located information metrics. Down its face and lies across the valley a comment in the history behind these and! 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Fascinating Tales and Mythical creatures for later by pinning the image below that... With Ancient Greek and Roman mythologies found in folktales, both are mythological figures of fate destiny... Maidens would shape the life of every child that is born, appointing varying destinies to each similarly the! 2 ] Baron Franz Nopcsa related the term Ora to the Ancient and... Option to opt-out of these cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the fun of exploring this,... Kill the monster by shooting it in different ways too, but every good storyteller knows that a is. Strong old man with a snake, golden wings and incredible physical strength at 1878 wouldnt wrong. People, most often children, into doing or not doing something female deities folktales, both mythological! To differ the courage of a humanoid canine creature that walks on its back legs a! The origins of vrykolakas and albanian mythology creatures you can turn into one, on... 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