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Vatër
The vatër ( sq-definite, vatra) is the domestic hearth in Albanian folklore. The fire of the domestic hearth, zjarri i vatrës, is considered the sustainer of the continuity between the world of the living and that of the dead, and ensures the continuity of the tribe (''fis'') from generation to generation. Etymology The Albanian term ''vatër'', "hearth", "fireplace", is derived from Proto-Indo-European ', and is related to the Avestan , "fire". Tradition The function of the fire of the domestic hearth (''zjarri i vatrës'') is the sustenance of the continuity between the world of the living and that of the dead. After death, the souls of the ancestors (''hije'') assume a divine connotation and remain in contact with the family protecting the domestic hearth. In Albanian tradition, the fire of the domestic hearth is protected also by Nëna e Vatrës (the Mother of the Hearth), a beneficent deity akin to Greek Hestia and Roman Vesta. At feasts, people used to practice sacrific ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Albanian Folklore
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] |
Hearth
A hearth () is the place in a home where a fire is or was traditionally kept for home heating and for cooking, usually constituted by at least a horizontal hearthstone and often enclosed to varying degrees by any combination of reredos (a low, partial wall behind a hearth), fireplace, oven, smoke hood, or chimney. Hearths are usually composed of masonry such as brick or stone. For centuries, the hearth was such an integral part of a home, usually its central and most important feature, that the concept has been generalized to refer to a homeplace or household, as in the terms "hearth and home" and "keep the home fires burning". In the modern era, since the advent of central heating, hearths are usually less central to most people's daily life because the heating of the home is instead done by a furnace or a heating stove, and cooking is instead done with a kitchen stove/range (combination cooktop and oven) alongside other home appliances; thus many homes built in the 20t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vitore
The Vitore ( sq-definite, Vitorja, also ''Gjarpni i Vatrës'', ''Gjarpni i Shtëpisë'', ''Bolla e Shtëpisë'' or '' Ora e Shtëpisë'') is a household divine serpent (''gjarpër'' or ''bollë'') in Albanian mythology and folklore, associated with human destiny, good fortune and the souls of the ancestors. Vitorja is usually depicted as a small, colourful and benign golden horned serpent. However, in some traditions Vitorja is described also as an old woman, a mythological figure similar to Nëna e Vatrës. Vitorja is also identified with Fatia in southern folklore and Ora in central and northern folklore. Etymology The name ''Vitore'' has been analyzed as descendant from the Albanian > > /, " loom", thus meaning "a spinster, a woman who spins", related to the weaving of fate. The Albanian terms ''gjarpën/gjarpër'' ( def.: ''gjarp(ë)ni''/''gjarp(ë)ri'') and ''bollë'' (def.: ''bolla'') mean 'serpent, snake', ''vatër'' (def.: ''vatra'') means 'hearth' and ''shtëpi/shp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ora (mythology)
The Ora ( Albanian: orë, definite form: ora, pl.: orë/t) is an Albanian mythological figure that every human possesses from birth, associated with human destiny and fate. Often depicted as three female deities, the Ora “maintain the order of the universe and enforce its laws” – “organising the appearance of humankind.” The Northern Albanian Ora, along with the Zana, can be found within the folk beliefs and oral epics of the Gheg Albanians. Folk beliefs of the Southern Tosk Albanians reveal similar Albanian mythological figures of fate and destiny, the Mirai and Fatia. Geographic location of the Ora The Ora reside towards the north of the Drin River in Northern Albania. Within Central Albania it was believed that the Ora were present everywhere, “listening to people’s blessings and curses, which they would then aim to quickly fulfil”. Outside of Central Albania Oras live in forests and mountains, residing in streams, lakes, and caves. Baron Franz Nopcsa r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fatia
The fatia ( Albanian ''fatí'', definite form: ''fatía'', pl.: ''fatí/të''; English: ''fate'') is an Albanian mythological figure associated with human destiny. Often depicted as three female deities, the essential function of the fatí is to maintain the order of the universe and to enforce its laws. Along with the mira, they can be found in the folk beliefs of Tosk Albanians. Albanian mythological figures related to fate and destiny can also be found in the folk beliefs of Gheg Albanians with the name of ora and zana. Appearance The fatí are visualized as riding on butterflies. On the third day after a child has been born, three Fatits approach the baby's cradle and determine that child's fate. They are also known as ''Miren'', possibly from the Greek ''Moirai''. See also * Ora * Bardha * Zana e malit Zana (''Zanë'' in Gheg or ''Zërë'' in Tosk, pl. ''zanë(t)/zërë(t)'', see other variants below) is an Albanian mythological figure usually associated with mountain ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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] |
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] |
Atar
Atar, Atash, or Azar ( ae, 𐬁𐬙𐬀𐬭, translit=ātar) is the Zoroastrian concept of holy fire, sometimes described in abstract terms as "burning and unburning fire" or "visible and invisible fire" (Mirza, 1987:389). It is considered to be the visible presence of Ahura Mazda and his Asha through the eponymous Yazata. The rituals for purifying a fire are performed 1,128 times a year. In the Avestan language, ''ātar'' is an attribute of sources of heat and light, of which the nominative singular form is ''ātarš'', source of Persian ''ātaš'' (fire). It was once thought to be etymologically related to the Avestan ''āθrauuan'' / ''aθaurun'' (Vedic ''atharvan''), a type of priest, but that is now considered unlikely (Boyce, 2002:16). The ultimate etymology of ''ātar'', previously unknown (Boyce, 2002:1), is now believed to be from the Indo-European *hxehxtr- 'fire'. This would make it related to Latin ''ater'' (black) and possibly a cognate of Albanian ''vatër'', Roman ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sacrificial Offering
Sacrifice is the offering of material possessions or the lives of animals or humans to a deity as an act of propitiation or worship. Evidence of ritual animal sacrifice has been seen at least since ancient Hebrews and Greeks, and possibly existed before that. Evidence of ritual human sacrifice can also be found back to at least pre-Columbian civilizations of Mesoamerica as well as in European civilizations. Varieties of ritual non-human sacrifices are practiced by numerous religions today. Terminology The Latin term ''sacrificium'' (a sacrifice) derived from Latin ''sacrificus'' (performing priestly functions or sacrifices), which combined the concepts ''sacra'' (sacred things) and ''facere'' (to do or perform). The Latin word ''sacrificium'' came to apply to the Christian eucharist in particular, sometimes named a "bloodless sacrifice" to distinguish it from blood sacrifices. In individual non-Christian ethnic religions, terms translated as "sacrifice" include the Indic ''y ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vesta (mythology)
Vesta () is the virgin goddess of the hearth, home, and family in Roman religion. She was rarely depicted in human form, and was more often represented by the fire of her temple in the Forum Romanum. Entry to her temple was permitted only to her priestesses, the Vestal Virgins, who guarded particular sacred objects within, prepared flour and sacred salt (''mola salsa'') for official sacrifices, and tended Vesta's sacred fire at the temple hearth. Their virginity was thought essential to Rome's survival; if found guilty of inchastity, they were punished by burial alive. As Vesta was considered a guardian of the Roman people, her festival, the '' Vestalia'' (7–15 June), was regarded as one of the most important Roman holidays. During the ''Vestalia'' privileged matrons walked barefoot through the city to the temple, where they presented food-offerings. Such was Vesta's importance to Roman religion that following the rise of Christianity, hers was one of the last non-Christian cu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hestia
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Hestia (; grc-gre, Ἑστία, meaning "hearth" or "fireside") is the virgin goddess of the hearth, the right ordering of domesticity, the family, the home, and the state. In myth, she is the firstborn child of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and one of the Twelve Olympians. According to ancient Greek tradition, Hestia was along with four of her five siblings devoured by her own father Cronus as an infant due to his fear of being overthrown by one of his offspring, and was only freed when her youngest brother Zeus forced their father to disgorge the children he had eaten. Cronus and the rest of the Titans were cast down, and Hestia then became one of the Olympian gods, the new rulers of the cosmos, alongside her brothers and sisters. After the establishment of the new order and in spite of her status, Hestia withdraws from prominence in mythology, with few and sparse appearances in tales. Similar to what Athena and Artemis did, Hestia elect ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Roman Mythology
Roman mythology is the body of myths of ancient Rome as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans. One of a wide variety of genres of Roman folklore, ''Roman mythology'' may also refer to the modern study of these representations, and to the subject matter as represented in the literature and art of other cultures in any period. Roman mythology draws from the mythology of the Italic peoples and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European mythology. Roman mythology also draws directly on Greek mythology, potentially as early as Rome's protohistory, but primarily during the Hellenistic period of Greek influence and through the Roman conquest of Greece, via the artistic imitation of Greek literary models by Roman authors. The Romans identified their own gods with those of the ancient Greeks—who were closely historically related in some cases, such as Zeus and Jupiter—and reinterpreted myths about Greek deities under the names of their Roman counterparts. Greek and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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