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The [[vodianoi]] is a male water [[spirit]] of Slavic origin. He is viewed to be particuarly malevolent, existing almost exclusively to drown swimmers who have angered him by their boldness. Reports of his appearance vary; some tales define him as a naked old man, bloated and hairy, covered in slime, covered in scales, or simply as an old peasant with a red shirt and beard. He is also reported to have the ability to tranform into a fish. | |||
The vodianoi lives in deep pools, often by a mill, and is said to be the spirit of unclean male dead (this definition includes those who have committed suicide, unbaptized children, and those who die without last rites. As previously stated, the vodianoi would drown those who angered him with boasts or insults. However, this was no certain protection, as the spirit was particuarly capricious. Peasants feared the vodianoi and would often attempt to get rid of the spirit or, failing that, appease him. | |||
The only people who were generally safe from the vodianoi's anger were millers and fishermen. Millers in particular were viewed to be so close to the vodianoi that they often became seen as sorcerous figures. This may be influenced by the belief that millers yearly drown a drunk passerby as an offering to the vodianoi. Fishermen were somewhat less suspect, offering only the first of their catch with an incantation. If a vodianoi favored a fisherman he would herd fish into the nets. | |||
==See also== | |||
[[Rusalka]] | |||
==Source== | |||
Ivanits, Linda. Russian Folk Belief. M.E. Sharpe, Inc: New York, 1989. | |||
[[Category:Water spirits]] | |||
[[Category:Ghosts]] | |||
[[Category:Slavic mythology]] | |||
[[Category:Water]] |
Latest revision as of 18:40, 18 April 2007
The vodianoi is a male water spirit of Slavic origin. He is viewed to be particuarly malevolent, existing almost exclusively to drown swimmers who have angered him by their boldness. Reports of his appearance vary; some tales define him as a naked old man, bloated and hairy, covered in slime, covered in scales, or simply as an old peasant with a red shirt and beard. He is also reported to have the ability to tranform into a fish.
The vodianoi lives in deep pools, often by a mill, and is said to be the spirit of unclean male dead (this definition includes those who have committed suicide, unbaptized children, and those who die without last rites. As previously stated, the vodianoi would drown those who angered him with boasts or insults. However, this was no certain protection, as the spirit was particuarly capricious. Peasants feared the vodianoi and would often attempt to get rid of the spirit or, failing that, appease him.
The only people who were generally safe from the vodianoi's anger were millers and fishermen. Millers in particular were viewed to be so close to the vodianoi that they often became seen as sorcerous figures. This may be influenced by the belief that millers yearly drown a drunk passerby as an offering to the vodianoi. Fishermen were somewhat less suspect, offering only the first of their catch with an incantation. If a vodianoi favored a fisherman he would herd fish into the nets.
See also
Source
Ivanits, Linda. Russian Folk Belief. M.E. Sharpe, Inc: New York, 1989.