In
Serbian, Macedonian and in Bulgarian mythology, Black Arab ( sr, Црни Арапин, Crni Arapin, bg, Църен Арапин, Черен Арап(ин),
Macedonian: Црна Арапина, Crna Arapina) is a designation for
Arab
The Arabs (singular: Arab; singular ar, عَرَبِيٌّ, DIN 31635: , , plural ar, عَرَب, DIN 31635: , Arabic pronunciation: ), also known as the Arab people, are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in Western Asia, ...
s and
black people.
The Black Arab is often depicted as a dark skin
ruffian who kidnaps women and girls.
[ In Serbian folklore, as well as in the beliefs of other Balkan peoples, the Arab is a chthonic demon, a replacement for the ]devil
A devil is the personification of evil as it is conceived in various cultures and religious traditions. It is seen as the objectification of a hostile and destructive force. Jeffrey Burton Russell states that the different conceptions of ...
.[ Some authors compare it with Slavic Triglav.][
In a story of Serb folklore, an Arab, after being slain in battle, escapes while carrying his head in his arm. Some other tales and folk songs have the character of a three-headed Arab.][
In Bulgarian folklore, notable national heroes such as Sider Voevoda or Strahil Voevoda fight Black Arab.
In Serbian and Macedonian folklore ]Krali Marko
Marko Mrnjavčević ( sr-cyr, Марко Мрњавчевић, ; – 17 May 1395) was the '' de jure'' Serbian king from 1371 to 1395, while he was the '' de facto'' ruler of territory in western Macedonia centered on the town of Prilep. H ...
fights against Black Arab.
Literature
* Interpretations, volume III, 2009
Black Arab as a Figure of Memory
References
Further reading
* Stojanović, Lidija (2011). “Arapot Vo Makedonskata Narodna kniževnost I Negovi Paraleli Na Mediteranot" he Black Arab in Macedonian Folk Literature and Parallels in the Mediterranean Folklore In: '' Studia Mythologica Slavica'' 14 (October). Ljubljana, Slovenija, 195-211. https://doi.org/10.3986/sms.v14i0.1609.
Anti-Arabism in Europe
Anti-black racism in Europe
Black people in European folklore
Serbian folklore
Slavic mythology
Stereotypes of Arab people
Stereotypes of black people
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