Zhytsen

Zhytsen[1] or Žycień (Belarusian: Жыцень) is a positive creature from Belarusian mythology said to live in fields.

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

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
  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.
  3. 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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