Zhytsen
Sculpture of Zhytsen, created by Belarusian sculptor Anton Shipitsa on the basis of illustrations of one of the leading contemporary Belarusian graphic artist
Valery SlaukZhytsen[1] or Žycień (Belarusian: Жыцень) is a positive creature from Belarusian mythology said to live in fields.
Description
In Belarus, Zhyten is described as a little old man with a beard. A distinctive feature of Zhytsen is the third eye in the back of its head, which is needed to complete its tasks more efficiently.
Mode of life
Zhyten is often called a spirit of wealth and wellbeing. It is believed that Zhytsen contributes to good ripening of crops and vegetables, and accordingly, Zhyten is considered the caretaker of good harvests.[2]
Zhytsen walks through the fields and ensures that crops there are well reaped. It is believed in Belarusian folklore that if Zhytsen finds some left ears of grain, it binds them in sheaves and brings to the fields of more diligent farmers.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ "Magical World. From Belarusian Myths, Legends and Fairy Tales", Minsk, "Piatrus Brouka Belarusian Encyclopedia" Publishing House, 2008
- ↑ Boris Rybakov. Ancient Slavic Paganism. Moscow, 1981. Б. А. Рыбаков. Язычество древних славян. — М.: Наука, 1981. — ISBN 5-02-009585-0.
- ↑ Цыбулькин В. В., Сивальнёв А. Н., Сердюченко М. Н. «Влесова книга»: Быль и мифы Славянской цивилизации. — К.: ЧП Зеленский В. Л., 2016.
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| Deities | |
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| Spirits | Forest spirits | Vužalka • Zazoŭka • Hajovy Dzied • Hajoŭka • Liasun • Puščavik |
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| Swamp spirits | Aržavienik • Balotnik • Lazavik • Bahnik • Lojma |
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| Rivers and lakes spirits | |
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| Home, field and
fertility spirits | Damavik • Damavucha • Humiennik • Joŭnik • Krasnaliudak • Piačurnik • Siorbaj • Chlieŭnik • Chut • Valasień • Punnik • Lion and Llianica • Rajok |
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| Demons | Pavietryk • Prach • Piakieĺnik • Čort • Liucypar • Chichitun • Šešačak |
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| Disease, death and
disaster spirits | Apivień • Baba-vialikanka • Badziulia • Bielaja Baba • Zmora • Kaduk • Kasny • Kopša • Mara • Načnica • Pamorak • Traska-Šuchna |
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| Spirits that are
dangerous for children | Žalieznaja baba • Žaliezny čalaviek • Mieša • Rasamacha • Stryha • Chapun • Cyhra |
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| Other | Dziady • Ziuzia • Kladnik • Kumiaĺhan • Och • Son |
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Mythical nations,
people, monsters | Valatoŭna • Volat • Dziva Adnavokaje • Začaravanyja kniazioŭny • Kamień-kraviec • Cmok • Jadzierki |
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| People-demons | Vaŭkalak • Viedźma • Vupyr |
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| Kings of animals | Varhin • Snake King (Vužyny Car) • Kuk • Fish King (Rybin Car) • Chabior • Škurapieja |
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| Plants | |
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| Lands | Vyraj • Zalataja Hara • Guelder rose bridge (Kalinavy most) • Smarodzina River • Kraj svietu • Lysaja hara • Hell (Piekla) |
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| Universe | Wind • Venus • Rainbow • Cosmogony • Sun • Universe • World tree |
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| Legendary heroes | Baj • Bielapoĺ • Bras • Mašeka • Mieniesk • Radar • Rydan • Rymar |
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| Saints-copycats of gods | Illia • Ulas • Juraj • Mikola • Piatro • Sciapan |
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