Verbt
Verbt ( sq-definite, Verbti) is a fire, water and wind god in Albanian pagan mythology. He controls fire, water as the opposite element to fire, and the northern wind which fans the flames of fire. Also known as ''Shën Verbti'' or ''Rmoria'', he was worshiped in northern Albania until recent times. The purifying power of fire underlies the popular idea according to which this deity is the enemy of uncleanliness and the opponent of filth. A reconstructed name of an Albanian fire god is '' *Enji'', from which the Albanian word ''enjte'' "thursday" is considered to be derived. In Albanian mythology, Verbti is the counterpart of the weather and storm god Shurdh. Etymology The name ''Verbti'' appears to be connected with the Albanian term ''i verbër'' meaning "the blind one", however this link seems to be only a coincidence, since according to folk beliefs he can actually see very well. The name ''Verbt'' must be related to '' vorbull'' and the variant ''vorbëtinë'', "whirlpool, - ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Albanian Mythology
Albanian folk beliefs ( sq, Besimet folklorike shqiptare) comprise the beliefs expressed in the customs, rituals, myths, legends and tales of the Albanian people. The elements of Albanian mythology are of Paleo-Balkanic origin and almost all of them are pagan. Albanian folklore evolved over the centuries in a relatively isolated tribal culture and society. Albanian folk tales and legends have been orally transmitted down the generations and are still very much alive in the mountainous regions of Albania, Kosovo, western North Macedonia, ex-Albanian lands of Montenegro, and southern Serbia, and among the Arbëreshë in Italy and the Arvanites in Greece. In Albanian mythology, the physical phenomena, elements and objects are attributed to supernatural beings. The deities are generally not persons, but personifications of nature, which is known as Animism. The earliest attested cult of the Albanians is the worship of the Sun and the Moon. In Albanian folk beliefs, earth is the ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Shurdh
Shurdh ( sq-definite, Shurdhi) is a weather and storm god in Albanian pagan mythology, who causes hailstorms and throws thunder and lightning. Shurdh was worshiped in northern Albania until recent times. He is thought to have been an ancient Illyrian god. In Albanian mythology Shurdhi is the counterpart of the fire, water and wind god Verbti. Shurdhi could be related to the sky and lightning god Zojz, and to the presumable sky and weather god Perëndi. Some of Shurdhi's attributes can be found in the mythological figure of drangue. Etymology The name ''Shurdhi'' appears to be connected with the Albanian term ''i shurdhët'' meaning "the deaf one", however, this link seems to be only a coincidence, since the name ''Shurdh'' must be a compound of ''*seuro'', "water" (cf. Albanian '' shurrë'' "urine"), and ''*dos'' "giver/donor" (cf. Albanian '' dhashë/dha'', "I gave/he gave"); his name thus means "water donor". Some scholars believe that ''Shurdh'' seems to be related to the theon ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Zojz (deity)
Zojz ( sq-definite, Zojzi) is a sky and lightning god in Albanian pagan mythology. An epithet considered to be associated with him is 'father', thought to be contained in an Albanian name for the Supreme Being: ''Zot'', analyzed as Sky Father. In some of his attributes, Zojz could be related to Perëndi, to the weather gods Shurdh and Verbt, and to the mythological demigod Drangue. Etymology ''Zojz'' is the Albanian continuation of '' *Dyḗus'', the name of the Proto-Indo-European daylight-sky-god. Cognates stemming from the noun ''*Dyḗus'' with a similar phonological development are the Messapic ''Zis'' and Greek ''Zeus''. Other cognates are the Rigvedic '' Dyáuṣ'' and Latin '' Jovis''. This root is found also in the second element (''dí/día/dei'') of the name ''Perëndi'', used in Albanian to refer to the Supreme Being. In both the Albanian ''Zoj-z'' and the Greek ''Ζεύς'' the original cluster ''*di̯'' underwent affrication to ''*dz'', and in Albanian it further ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Drangue
The drangùe ( sq-definite, drangùa, drangòni) is a semi-human winged divine figure in Albanian mythology and folklore, associated with weather and storms. Babies destined to become drangue are born with their heads covered in caul and with two or sometimes four wings under their arms. The drangue hold supernatural powers, especially in the wings and arms. He is made invulnerable by the singular conjunction produced at his birth, and can die only if this conjunction is repeated once again. The main goal of the drangue is to fight the kulshedra in legendary battles. He uses meteoric stones, lightning-swords, thunderbolts, piles of trees and rocks to defeat the kulshedra and to protect mankind from storms, fire, floods and other natural disasters caused by her destructive power. Heavy thunderstorms are thought to be the result of their battles. Name and etymology Standard Albanian form of the name is ''dragùa'' ( def. ''dragói''). A common dialectal variant is ''drangue''. Durh ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Fire Gods
This is a list of deities in fire worship. African mythology Yoruba mythology * Ogun, fire god and patron of blacksmiths, iron, warfare, metal tools * Ọya, goddess of fire, wind, transforms into buffalo, fertility * Shango, god of thunder and fire, considered the storm-god * Aggayu, god of volcanoes, magma, sunlight, and heat Egyptian mythology * Ra, fire god of the sun, light, warmth, and growth * Sekhmet, protective lioness goddess of war, along with some elements of disease and curing of disease. Sometimes referenced in relation to the sun and its power, so possibly had to do with upkeep of the sun at times and fire * Wadjet, the protective serpent goddess who sends fire to burn her enemies Asian mythology Ainu mythology * Kamuy-huci, goddess of the fire Chinese mythology * Zhurong (Huoshen, God of Fire) * Huilu (Huoshen, Goddess of Fire) * Yandi (Huozhu, Accident of Fire) * Shennong (Huozhu, Accident of Fire) * Hua Guang Da Di * Ebo (Huozheng, Primary Fire) * Yùyōu ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Perëndi
Perëndi ( sq-definite, Perëndia) is an Albanian noun for God, deity, sky and heaven. It is used capitalized to refer to the Supreme Being, and uncapitalized for "deity", "sky" and "heaven". Name Description In Albanian, ''Perëndí'' (definite: ''Perëndía'') is the name of God, the sky and heaven, and is used capitalized to refer to the Supreme Being. The plural indefinite form is ''perëndí'' while the plural definite form is ''perëndítë'', used uncapitalized to refer to the deities. Some dialectal alternative forms include: ''Perendí'', ''Perenní'', ''Perondí'', ''Perundí'', ''Perudí'', ''Perndí'' and ''Parandí''. The word ''perëndi(a)'' is attested in Old Albanian literature, firstly mentioned by Luca Matranga in the late 16th century and Bishop Pjetër Budi in the early 17th century, included into the text of the Albanian translation of the ''Pater Noster''. However it never appears in the works of the earliest Albanian author, Gjon Buzuku, who translate '' ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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En (deity)
''*En'' or ''*Enji'' () is the reconstructed name of the fire god in the Albanian pagan mythology, which continues to be used in the modern Albanian language to refer to Thursday (''e enjte''). Another name of a fire god worshiped in Northern Albania until recent times is Verbt. The name ''hyj'', 'burn, glow', is also used uncapitalized to refer to the deities and the stars, and capitalized to refer to the Supreme Being. According to some scholars, the deity was worshiped by the Illyrians in antiquity and may have been the most prominent god of the pantheon in Roman times. Etymology In his work ''Speculum Confessionis'' (1621) Pjetër Budi recorded the Albanian term ''tegnietenee madhe'' for the observance of Maundy Thursday (''S.C.'', 148, vv. 26, 89). In his Latin-Albanian dictionary (''Dictionarium latino-epiroticum'', 1635), Frang Bardhi recorded ''dita ehegnete'' as the Albanian translation of Latin ''dies Iovis''. In 1820, the French scholar François Pouqueville reco ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Ljubi
The lubia or ljubi is a water and storm demon in Albanian mythology and folklore, usually depicted as a huge multi-headed female serpentine dragon similar to the kulshedra. In Southern Albanian beliefs, she is a storm deity. She is also referred to as ‘mother lubia’. Appearance Lubia is depicted as a female demon. She is believed to live in a wonderful vegetable garden. Lubia, as a powerful demon, can cause the waters to dry up unless a virgin is sacrificed to her. Lubia is described as having multiple heads, anywhere from 7-100. Like the Lernaean Hydra, when one of her heads is cut off, another grows in its place. Lubia is also known to have irresistible taste for flesh, especially that of little girls. Connection to Greek/Illyrian Mythology Lubia and other dragon creatures from Albanian mythology have similarities to Greek and Illyrian culture, which is thought to have played an influence on the religion. Dragons and serpent-like beings are considered to be a staple of bo ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Nëna E Vatrës
Nëna e Vatrës or Nana e Votrës ("The Mother of the Hearth") is the goddess of the fire hearth (''hyjnia e zjarrit të vatrës'') in Albanian mythology and folklore, associated with fire worship, the cult of the ancestor and the cult of the woman-centered family life. Names and etymology Nëna e Vatrës is the deity of the hearth fire ( Albanian: ''hyjni e zjarrit të vatrës'') commonly found in the folk beliefs of the Albanians, thus there are many dialectal variations, singular or plural: ''Nëna e Vatrës/Nana e Votrës'', ''E Ëma e Vatrës/E Ama e Votrës'', ''Mëma e Vatrës/Mama e Vatrës'', ''Shtriga e Vatrës/Votrës'', ''Plaka e Vatrës/Votrës'', ''Mëmat e Vatrës/Mamat e Votrës'', ''Xhuxhet e Vatrës'' etc. The first element ''nënë/nanë'' or ''ëmë/amë'', means "mother"; while the last element ''vatër/votër'', means " hearth", "fireplace", and is related to the Avestan ''atar'', "fire". Folk beliefs In Albanian folk beliefs, Nëna e Vatrës is the pro ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Stihi
Stihi is a fire-breathing storm demon in Albanian mythology and folklore, similar to the kulshedra. Etymology The Albanian term ''stihí'' is a variant of ''stuhí'', "storm", related to el, στοιχείο, "element, spirit". Appearance A female demon in south Albanian and Italo-Albanian popular belief. Sometimes depicted as a fearsome fire-breathing dragon guarding a treasure. See also * Kulshedra * Kukuth The Kukudh ( Albanian definite form: Kukudhi) is an undead creature in Albanian mythology. Etymology Undetermined. Most probably a derivative of Albanian kuku ("mourn, lament."), as its synonym kukuvriq suggests. Alternatively from Greek κο ... * Perria Sources Citations Bibliography * * * {{Euro-myth-stub Albanian legendary creatures Albanian folklore Demons ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Christianity In Albania
Christianity in Albania was established throughout the country in 325 AD. From 1100 AD, the Byzantine Empire carried out Church missions in the area. In relation to the increasing influence of Venice, the Franciscans started to settle down in the area in the 13th century. From the 15th century to the 19th century, under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, Christianity was replaced by Islam as the majority religion in Albania during the Ottoman Empire. The Albanian government, as per the disputed 2011 population census, gives the percentages of religious affiliations with only 58% Muslim, 10% Catholic, 7% Orthodox and 15% atheist or nonreligious since the fall of Communism in 1991, yet the 2011 census did not get most of the population due to poor counting of the population and the inability to reach most citizens. In the 2011 census the declared religious affiliation of the population was: 56.7% Muslims, 13.79% undeclared, 10.03% Catholics, 6.75% Orthodox believers, 2.5% atheists, 2. ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Demonized
Demonization or demonisation is the reinterpretation of polytheistic deities as evil, lying demons by other religions, generally by the monotheistic and henotheistic ones. The term has since been expanded to refer to any characterization of individuals, groups, or political bodies as evil. Religion Religions, even those that are radically monotheistic, do not necessarily deny the existence of other gods or spiritual beings. On the contrary, they claim other gods are not worthy of worship and in actuality are demons who mislead followers from proper belief or practice. Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ... missionaries often employed demonization tactics when converting pagans, although Judaism, Islam, and other religions have similar histories. Demonization i ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |