Vedmak

Vedmak
FolkloreSlavic paganism
Other name(s)Vidmak
CountryUkraine, Poland, Belarus, Russia

In Slavic mythology, a vedmak (Belarusian: вядзьмак, вядзьмар;[1] Bulgarian: вещер; Croatian: vještac; Czech: vědmák; Macedonian: вештер; Polish: wiedźmak; ‹See Tfd›Russian: ведьмак; Serbian: вештац;[2] Ukrainian: відьмак[3]) is a warlock or male witch, the female equivalent (witch) being vedma,[4] but unlike the latter, the vedmak may also possess positive qualities. This role greatly focuses on the Shamanic aspects of Slavic Paganism.[5]

For example, they treat people and animals.[6] On the other hand, they are thought to be people connected to the devil, and are capable of bringing harm by sending illnesses, killing cattle, spoiling a harvest, etc.[7] The word was also used as an insult.[7] A vedmak can turn into any animal or any object.[7]

  1. ^ Слоўнік беларускай мовы. Менск: Беларуская навука, 2012. ISBN 978-985-08-1365-7
  2. ^ Bilbija, Zarko G. (1955). Aspects of contemporary Ukraine. Human Relations Area Files. ISBN 9780598542106.
  3. ^ Словник української мови в 4-х т. — К. : Вид-во Академії наук Української РСР, 1958, том 1, ст. 235 // Dictionary of the Ukrainian language / Ref. with addn. own of material by B. Grinchenko: in 4 volumes — K.: Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, 1958. Volume 1, Art. 235.
  4. ^ Wood Besant, Annie (January 1903). "Theosophical Review Magazine". Kessinger Publishing. p. 401.
  5. ^ Dworski, Lamus (5 March 2017). "3 'specializations' of spiritual leaders in Slavic Native Faith". Wordpress. Lamus Dworski. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  6. ^ Ushakov's Dictionary
  7. ^ a b c Yefimova's Modern Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian language, 2000.