Vedmak
In Slavic mythology, a Vědmák (Russian: Ведьмак; Ukrainian: Відьмак, Vidmak, Belarusian: вядзьмак, вядзьмар,[1] Polish: Wiedźmak Serbian: Вештац[2]) is a warlock or male witch, the female equivalent (witch) being vědma,[3] but unlike the latter, the vedmak may also possess positive qualities.
For example, they treat people and animals,[4] protect humanity, and force witches to stop doing evil. On the other hand, they are thought to be people connected to the Devil, and are capable of harming other human beings by sending illnesses, killing cattle, spoiling a harvest, etc.[5] The word was also used as an insult.[5] A vedmak can turn into any animal or any object.[5] He is capable of shapeshifting into a horse, a moth, or a wolf. He is also resistant to rusalkas' enchantments.
The term Vedmak comes from Proto-Slavic *vědět ("to know") and Old Russian вѣдь ("knowledge; witchcraft", compare the use of the term "cunning" in English folklore).[6]
Under the influence of The Witcher fantasy saga by Andrzej Sapkowski, the term vedmak can be translated as "witcher" in English.
References
- ↑ Слоўнік беларускай мовы. Менск: Беларуская навука, 2012. ISBN 978-985-08-1365-7
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Ushakov's Dictionary
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Yefimova's Modern Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian language, 2000.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
See also
- Articles containing Russian-language text
- Articles containing Ukrainian-language text
- Articles containing Belarusian-language text
- Articles containing Polish-language text
- Articles containing Serbian-language text
- Slavic legendary creatures
- Ukrainian mythology
- Russian mythology
- Slavic demons
- Shapeshifting
- Witchcraft
