Myths of Polesia. From the witch and the toppler to the Pripyat mermaid and the Gomel brownie – Levkievskaya Elena – Mann, Ivanov, and Ferber – 2026 – ISBN 978-5-00281-207-3
Myths of Polesia. From the witch and the toppler to the Pripyat mermaid and the Gomel brownie
19.99 €
In stock
Myths of Polesia. From the witch and the toppler to the Pripyat mermaid and the Gomel brownie
19.99 €
A dive into the mythology of Polesia with philologist Elena Levkievskaya. A vivid account of the origins of the world, calendar holidays, ancestor worship, "unclean" dead, and natural and domestic spirits. A story about how Russian and Polish traditions influenced Polesia demonology, which characters embodied fear, fate, and illness, and how a "proper" death differed from a "bad" one.
How do knives, scythes, and sickles protect against the "walking" dead? What must one do to join the ranks of grandfathers, or ancestors, after death? Why was matted hair considered a sign of demonic illness?
This book reveals the mythological world of the ancient Slavic region of Polesia. The author explores a world in which the dead do not vanish without a trace, natural forces possess a will of their own, and dangerous and protective spirits exist alongside humans. Here we encounter "walking" dead people and unbaptized children, witches and healers, household spirits and drowned people, while fear, fate, and death are fully-fledged characters.
Polesia has preserved a remarkable diversity of rituals and beliefs. This book is a guide to the world of Polesian mythology, influenced by Russian, Polish, and other Slavic traditions.
How do knives, scythes, and sickles protect against the "walking" dead? What must one do to join the ranks of grandfathers, or ancestors, after death? Why was matted hair considered a sign of demonic illness?
This book reveals the mythological world of the ancient Slavic region of Polesia. The author explores a world in which the dead do not vanish without a trace, natural forces possess a will of their own, and dangerous and protective spirits exist alongside humans. Here we encounter "walking" dead people and unbaptized children, witches and healers, household spirits and drowned people, while fear, fate, and death are fully-fledged characters.
Polesia has preserved a remarkable diversity of rituals and beliefs. This book is a guide to the world of Polesian mythology, influenced by Russian, Polish, and other Slavic traditions.
See also:
- All books by the publisher
- All books by the author
- All books in the series Myths from start to finish