248
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
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.