- Zana e malit
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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] Its etymology is related to Latin Diana [3] its also similar to the Bardha[3].The Zana are thought to have observed the speeches at the League of Prizren[4] at 1878.
Contents
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.[5] The zana is believed to have the power to petrify humans with a glance.[6]
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".[7] 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[8];
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 Malcis, 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.[9] 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.[9]
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
- Albanian mythology
- Shurdhi
- Drangue
References
- ^ a b c Fishta, Gjergj (2005). The Highland Lute. I.B. Tauris. p. 471. ISBN 1845111184. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=j7tLgANw8hAC&pg=RA1-PA471&lpg=RA1-PA471&dq=%22Zana%22+fairy+albanian&source=bl&ots=f9twOWc9dk&sig=9oOtPxMzxA-eEoBj2Jmuy2_Hzaw&hl=en&ei=BdM0SsKPMczRjAfOwomcCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10.
- ^ Lurker, Manfred (2004). The Routledge dictionary of gods and goddesses, devils and demons. Routledge. pp. 207. ISBN 0415340187. http://books.google.com/books?id=Vtj0wSsw1JcC&pg=PA207&dq=zana+goddess.
- ^ a b c A Dictionary of Albanian Religion, Mythology and Folk culture,page 269,by Robert Elsie,2001
- ^ Albanian literature: a short history by Robert Elsie, Centre for Albanian Studies (London, England),2005,ISBN-1845110315,page 123
- ^ Zymberi, Isa (1991). Colloquial Albanian. Routledge. p. 142. ISBN 0415056632. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_QrCCuPmWsMC&client=firefox-a.
- ^ Bonnefoy, Yves (1993). American, African, and Old European mythologies. University of Chicago Press. p. 253. ISBN 0226064573. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qmvR2YVCtLEC&pg=PA253&dq=%22Zana%22+fairy+albanian&client=firefox-a.
- ^ Elsie, Robert. "Albanian literature in translation: The Lover's Grave". http://albanianliterature.com/oral_lit3/OL3-09.html. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
- ^ Albanian literature: a short history by Robert Elsie, Centre for Albanian Studies (London, England),2005,ISBN-1845110315,page 125
- ^ a b Elsie, Robert (2005). Albanian literature: a short history. I.B. Tauris. pp. 123–125. ISBN 1845110315. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ox3Wx1Nl_2MC&pg=PA123&lpg=PA123&dq=%22Zana%22+fairy+albanian&source=bl&ots=lcVImhYIC4&sig=0D3bsYEUv19ZtTnbCiRR7JOPVuM&hl=en&ei=JtQ0SuSpIdCRjAfus8WFCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7#PPA124,M1.
- Mato, Martin (2001). Epos und Mythologie. Mynih. ISBN 3980756122.
Categories:- Albanian mythology
- Fairies
- Šar Mountains
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