Shatans

Shatans[1] are odd-looking creatures of Belarusian mythology. In accordance with Belarusian folklore, Shatans are neutral characters and act as symbols of idleness and laziness.

Sculpture of Shatans, by Belarusian sculptor Anton Shipitsa on the basis of illustrations of Valery Slauk

Mode of life

Shatans lead a mindless way of life. All day long they wander about aimlessly without doing anything useful. Shatans are very annoying for other people and dispose them to the same way of useless wandering. But Shatans cannot communicate with anyone in a normal way, even with each other, and in case of trouble they don't rescue and help one another.[2]

In Belarusian folklore it is said that angry mythological creatures (for example, the Witch) tease Shatans. As Shatans are also known as cowardly creatures - they hide or run away from offenders. Sometimes, Shatans have died from attacks of evil spirits and beings.

When Shatans are tired of wandering around, they sometimes spin bast shoes. Bast shoes are quickly worn away because of the Shatans’ useless wandering.

See also

References
  1. "Magical World. From Belarusian Myths, Legends and Fairy Tales", Minsk, "Piatrus Brouka Belarusian Encyclopedia" Publishing House, 2008
  2. Boris Rybakov. Ancient Slavic Paganism. Moscow, 1981. Б. А. Рыбаков. Язычество древних славян. — М.: Наука, 1981. — ISBN 5-02-009585-0.
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