Zhytsen or Žycień ( be, Жыцень) is a positive creature from
Belarusian mythology
Slavic mythology or Slavic religion is the religious beliefs, myths, and ritual practices of the Slavs before Christianisation, which occurred at various stages between the 8th and the 13th century. The South Slavs, who likely settled in the Balk ...
said to live in fields.
Description
In Belarus, Zhyten is described as a little old man with a
beard
A beard is the hair that grows on the jaw, chin, upper lip, lower lip, cheeks, and neck of humans and some non-human animals. In humans, usually pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards.
Throughout the course of history, societal at ...
. A distinctive feature of Zhytsen is the third eye in the back of its head, which is needed to complete its tasks more efficiently.
Mode of life
Zhyten is often called a spirit of wealth and wellbeing. It is believed that Zhytsen contributes to good ripening of crops and vegetables, and accordingly, Zhyten is considered the caretaker of good
harvest
Harvesting is the process of gathering a ripe crop from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper. On smaller farms with minimal mechanization, harvesting is the most labor-i ...
s.
Zhytsen walks through the fields and ensures that crops there are well reaped. It is believed in Belarusian folklore that if Zhytsen finds some left ears of grain, it binds them in sheaves and brings to the fields of more diligent
farmers
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, raising living organisms for food or raw materials. The term usually applies to people who do some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry, or other livestock. A farmer mi ...
.
[Цыбулькин В. В., Сивальнёв А. Н., Сердюченко М. Н. «Влесова книга»: Быль и мифы Славянской цивилизации. — К.: ЧП Зеленский В. Л., 2016.]
File:Житень3.jpg,
File:Житень5.jpg,
File:Житень4.jpg,
See also
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Damavik
In the Slavic religious tradition, Domovoy ( Russian: Домово́й, literally "he oneof the household"; also spelled ''Domovoi'', ''Domovoj'', and known as pl, Domowik or Serbian and ua, Домовик, translit=domovyk) is the household ...
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Dzedka
Dzedka"Magical World. From Belarusian Myths, Legends and Fairy Tales", Minsk, "Piatrus Brouka Belarusian Encyclopedia" Publishing House, 2008 ( be, Дзедка, russian: Кладенец, pl, Skarbnik) is a character of Belarusian mythology. Dze ...
*
Lazavik Lazavik ( be, Лазавік) is a creature of Belarusian mythology.
Description
Lazavik is a benevolent Belarusian mythological character that lives amid the vine bushes ("laza" in Belarusian language). In Belarusian folk tales Lazavik is desc ...
*
Shatans Shatans are odd-looking creatures of Islamic mythology. In accordance with Islamic folklore, Shatans are humanoid projections of the devil. Spreading the knowledge of dark magic among their followers. On the contrary with Christian believes, Islam d ...
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Younik
The Ovinnik (russian: Овинник), Joŭnik or Jownik ( be, Ёўнік) is a malevolent spirit of the threshing house in Slavic folklore whose name derived from ''ovin'' 'barn'.Dixon-Kennedy, Mike (1998). ''Encyclopedia of Russian and Slavic ...
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Zheuzhyk
Zheuzhyk is a creature of Belarusian mythology. It is considered to be a good creature that lives deeply in the lake bed. Zheuzhyk is considered to be the guardian of rivers and lakes of Belarus.
Description
In Belarusian folklore Zheuzhyk is des ...
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Zlydzens
Zlydzens are hazardous creatures in Belarusian mythology. These mythological characters often live under the masonry stove.
Description
In the fairy-tales and myths of Belarusian nation Zlydzens are usually described as small, humpbacked and ...
References
{{Belarusian mythology
Belarusian folklore
Slavic legendary creatures
Slavic tutelary deities