Zana e malit
Encyclopedia
The zana e malit is an Albanian
mythological creature
(Albanian
: Zane or Zëre in southern Albania)("fairy of the mountain" in English), zana (as a definite noun
), or zanë (plural) of pre-Roman
Paleo-Balkan origin. Its etymology is related to Latin
Diana its also similar to the Bardha.The Zana are thought to have observed the speeches at the League of Prizren
at 1878.
every mountain was said to have its own zana, who appeared as a fair maiden found bathing naked in mountain streams. The zana is believed to be extremely courageous, a formidable opponent, who can bestow her protection on warriors,. Albanians even have an expression Ai ishte trim si zana, meaning, "He was as brave as a fairy", this is used to refer to very courageous individuals. The zana is believed to have the power to petrify
humans with a glance.
oral tradition. A zana appears, for example, in the Albanian folktale The Lover's Grave. She appears to a young army captain, Bedri, who prostrates himself at her feet and must be reassured that she means him no harm. On the contrary, she warns Bedri to beware a wooden beam and a doe, and that he is not safe when he is "at the root". Bedri goes on to meet a beautiful woman, with whom he elope
s, pursued by soldiers who know from his pronunciation of the word for "wooden beam" that he comes from an area with which they are at war. Bedri learns that his beloved's name is Dre, meaning doe, and the soldiers capture and kill the couple outside the town of Nderendje - the name of which means "at the root".
They are comparable with the Valkyrie
s of the Nordic mythology, and other branches of Balkan
and European folkore like that of the Romanian zina and southern SlavVila.
From 'Albanian literature" by Robert Elsie
;
Lahuta e Malcis, a classic work of Albanian folk tradition published in the 1920s, includes several appearances by zana. In one canto
the zana of the Šar Mountains watches over local noblemen as they rally against the Treaty of San Stefano
(which awarded areas hitherto under Albanian rule to Prince Nikola
of Montenegro
), and delights in their speeches and rhetoric. In another, the "great zana" issues a call to arms for all willing Albanian men to avenge the murder of the maiden Tringa by Slav bandits.
Mato,Martin "New View on old Text" (article) in the newspaper “Albanian Daily News” page 10 30 November 1996,Tirana
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
mythological creature
Legendary creature
A legendary creature is a mythological or folkloric creature.-Origin:Some mythical creatures have their origin in traditional mythology and have been believed to be real creatures, for example the dragon, the unicorn, and griffin...
(Albanian
Albanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
: Zane or Zëre in southern Albania)("fairy of the mountain" in English), zana (as a definite noun
Definiteness
In grammatical theory, definiteness is a feature of noun phrases, distinguishing between entities which are specific and identifiable in a given context and entities which are not ....
), or zanë (plural) of pre-Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
Paleo-Balkan origin. Its etymology is related to Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
Diana its also similar to the Bardha.The Zana are thought to have observed the speeches at the League of Prizren
League of Prizren
The League for the Defense of the Rights of the Albanian Nation commonly known as the League of Prizren was an Albanian political organization founded on 10 June 1878 in Prizren, in the Kosovo province of the Ottoman Empire....
at 1878.
Attributes
In Northern Albania and KosovoKosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
every mountain was said to have its own zana, who appeared as a fair maiden found bathing naked in mountain streams. The zana is believed to be extremely courageous, a formidable opponent, who can bestow her protection on warriors,. Albanians even have an expression Ai ishte trim si zana, meaning, "He was as brave as a fairy", this is used to refer to very courageous individuals. The zana is believed to have the power to petrify
Petrifaction in mythology and fiction
Petrifaction, as definied as turning people to stone, is also a common theme in folklore and mythology, as well as in some works of modern fiction.-Historical:...
humans with a glance.
Appearances in folklore
The zana appear in many folktales and in the AlbanianAlbanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
oral tradition. A zana appears, for example, in the Albanian folktale The Lover's Grave. She appears to a young army captain, Bedri, who prostrates himself at her feet and must be reassured that she means him no harm. On the contrary, she warns Bedri to beware a wooden beam and a doe, and that he is not safe when he is "at the root". Bedri goes on to meet a beautiful woman, with whom he elope
Elope
To elope, most literally, merely means to run away with a girl and to not come back to the point of origination. More specifically, elopement is often used to refer to a marriage conducted in sudden and secretive fashion, usually involving hurried flight away from one's place of residence together...
s, pursued by soldiers who know from his pronunciation of the word for "wooden beam" that he comes from an area with which they are at war. Bedri learns that his beloved's name is Dre, meaning doe, and the soldiers capture and kill the couple outside the town of Nderendje - the name of which means "at the root".
They are comparable with the Valkyrie
Valkyrie
In Norse mythology, a valkyrie is one of a host of female figures who decides who dies in battle. Selecting among half of those who die in battle , the valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin...
s of the Nordic mythology, and other branches of Balkan
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
and European folkore like that of the Romanian zina and southern SlavVila.
From 'Albanian literature" by Robert Elsie
Robert Elsie
Robert Elsie is a scholar who specializes in Albanian literature and folklore.- Life :Born on June 29, 1950 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Elsie studied at the University of British Columbia, graduating in 1972 with a diploma in Classical Studies and Linguistics...
;
The Zana of mount Vizitor provides an idyllic interlude to the fighting.The Great Zana is outraged at witnessing the murder of her childhood companion Tringa.She brings the body back to the Alpine pastures where it is buried ceremoniously at the foot of a linden tree.In a spirit of vengerance the Great Zana calls upon all good men to hasten to the battlefield of Noshiq.
Lahuta e Malcis, a classic work of Albanian folk tradition published in the 1920s, includes several appearances by zana. In one canto
Canto
The canto is a principal form of division in a long poem, especially the epic. The word comes from Italian, meaning "song" or singing. Famous examples of epic poetry which employ the canto division are Lord Byron's Don Juan, Valmiki's Ramayana , Dante's The Divine Comedy , and Ezra Pound's The...
the zana of the Šar Mountains watches over local noblemen as they rally against the Treaty of San Stefano
Treaty of San Stefano
The Preliminary Treaty of San Stefano was a treaty between Russia and the Ottoman Empire signed at the end of the Russo-Turkish War, 1877–78...
(which awarded areas hitherto under Albanian rule to Prince Nikola
Nicholas I of Montenegro
Nikola I Mirkov Petrović-Njegoš was the only king of Montenegro, reigning as king from 1910 to 1918 and as prince from 1860 to 1910. He was also a poet, notably penning "Onamo, 'namo!", a popular song from Montenegro.-Early life:Nikola was born in the village of Njeguši, the ancient home of the...
of Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
), and delights in their speeches and rhetoric. In another, the "great zana" issues a call to arms for all willing Albanian men to avenge the murder of the maiden Tringa by Slav bandits.
Literature
Mato,Martin Epos und Mythologie; in the book „Albanien Reichtum und Vielfalt alter Kultur“ (ISBN 3-9807561-2-2) Mynih 2001Mato,Martin "New View on old Text" (article) in the newspaper “Albanian Daily News” page 10 30 November 1996,Tirana