Myth and folktales

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perform magic is either innate or acquired 
in school of black magic, or from the fairies, 
or the devil. As is the case with the kresnik 
and the vedomec, two opposing wizards fight 
each other transformed into bulls, oxen, or 
boars. Wizards could traditionally fly or 
overcome large distances with lightning 
speed. After their death, they could manifest 
themselves as riders on a black horse. They 
could perform similar magic as witches. Sev-
eral renowned wizards have been preserved 
in Slovenian folklore: Vidovin, Jarnik, the 
wizard of Ganče, the wizard Tkavec from 
Medvedove Peči in Koroška; and Lampert 
the shooter. Sorcery was often ascribed to 
people with red hair, pharmacists, priests, 
or hermits. Acting as shamans, wizards 
initially played an important role in village 
community; in time, their magic became 
limited to healing powers (see witch doctor); 
to casting spells over natural phenomena and 
the weather or to clairvoyance.
Wolf-Shepherd, volčji pastir, Master of the 
Wolves (gospodar volkov), vólčko, béli volk, 
šent, večni pastir (eternal shepherd). 1) A 
supernatural chthonic being, the Master of 
Wolves, protector of sheep and cattle. 2) A 
human transformed into a wolf or a human 
who occasionally changes into a wolf. His 
arrival is predicted by the unusual manner 
of his birth. When bewitched, he could be 
saved if he consumed blessed meat. The wolf 
shepherd rides on a wolf or appears as a 
horseman; lame, blind on one eye, and as an 
eternal wanderer. He is believed to generally 
appear during the nights following Christ-
mas, the so-called wolf nights. According to 
some researchers, the legend about the wolf 
shepherd who distributes prey to wolves, 
allotting the man who had climbed an oak 
tree to the last wolf, perpetuates the memory 
of human sacrifice. The wolf shepherd suc-
ceeded the mythical protector of herds and 
flocks, a forest and chthonic deity. Wolves 
were believed to be the dogs of St. George 
who, according to Frazer, assumed the posi-
tion of the ancient Asian deity Pales. Polka 
believed that the original master of wolves 
was Leis, the forest master of animals. Ac-
cording to Mencej, the Master of Wolves in 
the Slavic lore originates in pagan beliefs 
and possesses characteristics of Veles, the 
pre-Slavic god of death and the afterlife. 
The role of the wolf shepherd was later as-
sumed by a number of saints, i.e. St. Sava, 
St. Nicolas, St. Martin, St. Jovan, St. Peter, 
and St. Triune. 
Lit.: J. Polka:, 
Volči pastyr. Sbornik praci venovanych 
profesoru Dru Vaclavu Tillovi k šedesatym narozeninam 
1867–1927, Praha 1927; Mirjam Mencej: 
Gospodar volkov 
v slovanski mitologiji (The Master of the Wolves in Slavic 
Mythology). Ljubljana 2001.
Zagórščak, see wind
Zála žéna, see žalik žena
Zavdána dúša, see bewitched soul 
Zdolščak, see wind
Zduhač, see bewitched souls 
Zeleni jurij, (Green George), Šentjurij (St. 
George), Juraj, Jurek, Jarilo, Vesnik. A super-
natural being riding a green (if vegetation has 
already turned green) or a white (if there is 
still snow on the ground) horse. Celebrated 
on April 23 or 24. St. George personifies the 
power of the sun that awakens the soil and 
vegetation in spring, hence the name Jarilo 
in the sense of “vernal, young”. In addition 
to being the protector of cattle and horses, he 
protects people from snakes, evokes fertility, 
and victoriously duels winter and evil. The 
fight between these two opposite forces repre-
sents the central act of the cosmological and 
fertility myth. Just as the struggle between 
Indra and Vritra represents the fundamental 
myth of Vedic mythology, the fight between 
Perun and Veles denotes the basic myth in 

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249
Balto-Slavic mythology. According to the 
findings of Russian philologists Ivanov and 
Toporov, in Slavic folk songs Zeleni Jurij 
personifies Perun (see Kresnik).
Lit.: F. V.V. Ivanov, V. N. Toporov: 
Slavjanskie modelirujuðčie 
semiotičeskie sistemi. Moskva 1965; ista: Issledovanija v 
oblasti slavjanskih drevnostej, Moskva 1974.
Zlata Baba, see Pehtra Baba
Zlati škorenjci, see golden boots
Zlatorog, (Goldenhorn), a white chamois 
with golden horns; a mythical animal; the 
leader of white wild goats in the Triglav 
Mountain Range. According to a tale re-
corded by Dežman in 1868, a hunter from 
Trenta shot Zlatorog from whose blood grew 
the flower of Triglav. Restored by the plant, 
Zlatorog thrusts the hunter into an abyss and 
digs up the miraculous garden. Preserved in 
ancient sources and European lore, the be-
lief in the mythical golden, or white animal 
with golden horns; with a single horn (see 
unicorn); with golden hooves; etc. is of Indo-
European origin. Preserved are the legends 
about St. Hubert; St. Eustace; St. Felix of Va-
lois; or St. Julian the Hospitaler, each pursu-
ing a white stag. When the stag turns around 
a cross appears between its antlers and the 
voice of Jesus Christ speaks from the cross. 
The miraculous animal personifies a celestial 
deity that brings life and possesses the key to 
earthly riches. Zlatorog is protected by fair-
ies. According to Matičetov, the tale recorded 
by Dežman is a late Romantic mystification 
that inspired Baumbach, Funtek, and Aškerc. 
Far from being extinct, the lore has been 
preserved in the tales about the chamois with 
golden hooves and about the wild hunter 
who fires at the chamois with a golden cross 
on its brow, etc. Similar to Zlatorog is the 
Srebrnokrilec (Silverwing), a black chamois 
with silver wings. 
Lit.: T. Cevc: 
Pripovedno izročilo o gamsih z zlatimi parklji 
iz Kamniških Alp (Oral Tradition about the Chamois with 
Golden Hooves in the Kamnik Alps). Traditiones 2, 1973; 
R. Wildhaber: 
Das Tier mit den goldenen Hörnern. Alpes 
orientales 7, Monachii 1975.
Zlato tele, see golden calf 
Zmaj see dragon 
Zmin see škopnik, see dragon
Žálik žéna, žal-žéna, žálka, zála žéna, žár 
žéna, jébek žéna, zavdána žena. A female 
supernatural being similar to fairies, whose 
lore frequently blends with the lore on the 
Fates, and wild women. The term žalik žena 
has probably been borrowed from the Ger-
manic the Seligen Fräulein (sacred maiden). 
Also the name jebek žena probably derives 
from German, ewig meaning eternal. As 
those of the krivopete, the feet of the žalke
 
in 
Rož/Rosental in Koroška were also turned 
backwards. The lore on the žalik žena was 
particularly widespread in Koroška, where 
people told stories about the žalik žene who 
could foretell the destiny of children; offered 
helpful advice to farmers; slept with the 
farmers; brought prosperity to farmsteads; 
or presented the housewife with a ball of 
endless yarn that came to an end only after 
the housewife has cursed the eternal yarn.

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