Lazavik

Lazavik[1] (Belarusian: Лазавік) is a creature of Belarusian mythology.

Sculpture of Lazavik, by Belarusian sculptor Anton Shipitsa on the basis of illustrations of Valery Slauk

Description

Lazavik is a benevolent Belarusian mythological character that lives amid the vine bushes ("laza" in Belarusian language). In Belarusian folk tales Lazavik is described as a small creature with one eye, a long beard and a very long whip in his hand. Belarusian people used to say that when Lazavik walks through the marshland, his only eye shines like a light.[2]

Mode of life

The creature Lazavik prefers to stay unnoticed by people, and constantly tries to hide in its house. The house of Lazavik is small, with no windows and no doors. In fact Lazavik is the guardian of Belarusian marshes. It is believed that Lazavik dies if its marshes are drained. With its whip, Lazavik drives away small, harmful, and noisy Lozniks through the vine bushes.[3]

See also

References
  1. "Magical World. From Belarusian Myths, Legends and Fairy Tales", Minsk, "Piatrus Brouka Belarusian Encyclopedia" Publishing House, 2008
  2. Boris Rybakov. Ancient Slavic Paganism. Moscow, 1981.
  3. Цыбулькин В. В., Сивальнёв А. Н., Сердюченко М. Н. «Влесова книга»: Быль и мифы Славянской цивилизации. — К.: ЧП Зеленский В. Л., 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.