Bies /ˈbjɛs/ (Polish), bes (Russian: бес [ˈbʲɛs], Slovene, Serbian) or bijes (Croatian) is an evil spirit or demon in Slavic mythology. Under the influence of Christianity the word often became synonymous with chort.
After the acceptance of Christianity the bies (same as chort or czort) became identified with the devil, corresponding to the being referred to in Ancient Greek, as either daimon (δαίμων), daimónion or pneuma (πνεῦμα). For example, biesy (Russian plural of bies) is used in the standard Russian translation of Mark 5:12, where we have the devils entering the swine in KJV.[1][2][non-primary source needed] Compare to Ukrainian bisy or bisytysia and Polish zbiesić się (to go mad). In Slovenian (bes), Croatian (bijes) and Serbian (bes) the word means "rage", "fury".[3] It comes from the proto-Slavic běsъ.
- ^ Mark 5, Russian text
- ^ Mark 5, KJV English text
- ^ "bijȇs". Hrvatski jezični portal. Retrieved 2019-02-01.