Zana e malit

The zana e malit is an Albanian mythological creature (Albanian: Zane or Zëre in southern Albania)[1]("fairy of the mountain" in English), zana (as a definite noun), or zanë (plural) of pre-Roman Paleo-Balkan origin.[2][3] It is also similar to the Bardha.[3] The Zana are thought to have observed the speeches at the League of Prizren[4] at 1878.

Etymology

Some sources relate the etymology to Latin Diana,[3] although there is no proof of this.[5]

Attributes

In Northern Albania and Kosovo every mountain was said to have its own zana, who appeared as a fair maiden found bathing naked in mountain streams.[1] The zana is believed to be extremely courageous, a formidable opponent, who can bestow her protection on warriors.[1] Albanians even have an expression Ai ishte trim si zana, meaning, "He was as brave as a fairy", this is used to refer to very courageous individuals.[6] The zana is believed to have the power to petrify humans with a glance.[7]

Appearances in folklore

The zana appear in many folktales and in the Albanian oral tradition. A zana appears, for example, in the Albanian folktale The Lover's Grave. She appears to a young army captain, Bedri, who prostrates himself at her feet and must be reassured that she means him no harm. On the contrary, she warns Bedri to beware a wooden beam and a doe, and that he is not safe when he is "at the root". Bedri goes on to meet a beautiful woman, with whom he elopes, pursued by soldiers who know from his pronunciation of the word for "wooden beam" that he comes from an area with which they are at war. Bedri learns that his beloved's name is Dre, meaning doe, and the soldiers capture and kill the couple outside the town of Nderendje - the name of which means "at the root".[8] They are comparable with the Valkyries of the Nordic mythology, and other branches of Balkan and European folkore like that of the Romanian zina and southern SlavVila.

From 'Albanian literature" by Robert Elsie;[9]

The Zana of mount Vizitor provides an idyllic interlude to the fighting.The Great Zana is outraged at witnessing the murder of her childhood companion Tringa.She brings the body back to the Alpine pastures where it is buried ceremoniously at the foot of a linden tree.In a spirit of vengerance the Great Zana calls upon all good men to hasten to the battlefield of Noshiq.

Lahuta e Malcís, a classic work of Albanian folk tradition published in the 1920s, includes several appearances by zana. In one canto the zana of the Šar Mountains watches over local noblemen as they rally against the Treaty of San Stefano (which awarded areas hitherto under Albanian rule to Prince Nikola of Montenegro), and delights in their speeches and rhetoric.[10] In another, the "great zana" issues a call to arms for all willing Albanian men to avenge the murder of the maiden Tringa by Slav bandits.[10]

Literature

Mato, Martin. Epos und Mythologie; in the book Albanien Reichtum und Vielfalt alter Kultur (ISBN 3-9807561-2-2) Mynih 2001

Mato, Martin. "New View on old Text" (article) in the newspaper “Albanian Daily News” page 10 30 November 1996,Tirana

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Fishta, Gjergj (2005). The Highland Lute. I.B. Tauris. p. 471. ISBN 1-84511-118-4.
  2. ↑ Lurker, Manfred (2004). The Routledge dictionary of gods and goddesses, devils and demons. Routledge. p. 207. ISBN 0-415-34018-7.
  3. 1 2 3 A Dictionary of Albanian Religion, Mythology and Folk culture, p. 269, by Robert Elsie, 2001
  4. ↑ Albanian literature: a short history by Robert Elsie, Centre for Albanian Studies (London, England),2005,ISBN 1845110315,page 123
  5. ↑ Manfred Lurker. The Routledge Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses, Devils and Demons. p. 207.
  6. ↑ Zymberi, Isa (1991). Colloquial Albanian. Routledge. p. 142. ISBN 0-415-05663-2.
  7. ↑ Bonnefoy, Yves (1993). American, African, and Old European mythologies. University of Chicago Press. p. 253. ISBN 0-226-06457-3.
  8. ↑ Elsie, Robert. "Albanian literature in translation: The Lover's Grave". Retrieved 14 June 2009.
  9. ↑ Albanian literature: a short history by Robert Elsie, Centre for Albanian Studies (London, England),2005,ISBN 1845110315,page 125
  10. 1 2 Elsie, Robert (2005). Albanian literature: a short history. I.B. Tauris. pp. 123–125. ISBN 1-84511-031-5.
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