In Armenian tradition, the als steal the lung, liver and heart of women in childbirth, pregnant women, and women who have just given birth. They also destroy embryos in the womb, causing miscarriage, and can steal babies forty days after childbirth, replacing them with imps.[1] They are male and female. They have clay noses and fiery eyes, and "appear with sharp fangs, disheveled hair, copper claws, iron teeth, the tusks of a wild boar and sagging breasts, resembling a crone."[3] After stealing the organs of a woman, the al attempts to escape and cross the first source of water, after which the woman cannot be saved. Apotropaic wards against als include methods used against other demons (such as charms, prayers, iron objects, onions, and garlic), and preventing the al from reaching water.[4]
In Iran, the al is "a bony, thin old woman, with a clay nose, red face, and a straw or reedy basket hanging from its shoulder, in which the liver or lung of the young mother is placed."[1] In Central Asia, the al is customarily "a fat, ugly and hairy crone with sagging breasts, the one hanging over one shoulder, while hanging over her other shoulder is a woolen bag ... in which she has placed the heart and liver of her victim."[5]
According to numerous Near Eastern traditions, God created an al for Adam's first consort, but the earth-born Adam couldn't adapt to the al's fiery nature; this is the origin of the enmity between the al and Eve and her daughters.[3]
The al is first documented in European literature in the middle of the 19th century.[5]
folklore, persian, آل, armenian, Ալ, Ալք, mongolian, Гал, oirat, Һал, russian, Алы, class, demon, folklore, caucasus, iran, central, asia, armenia, demons, childbirth, interfering, with, human, reproduction, known, various, other, names, including, armenian, k. Al or Hal Persian آل Armenian Ալ or Ալք Mongolian Gal Qal Oirat Һal Russian Aly is a class of demon in the folklore of the Caucasus Iran Central Asia and Armenia Als are demons of childbirth interfering with human reproduction The al is known by various other names including alk in Armenian and Kurdish ol hal and xal in Tajikistan and Afghanistan almasti or albasti in Central Asian Turkic speaking countries and halmasti among the Dards 1 Contents 1 Other languages 2 Traditions 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingOther languages EditArmenian Ալ or Ալք Al or Alk 2 Lezgian Al Al Georgian ალი Ali Tat Ol Ol Talysh Ala Ala Udi Һal hal Kurdish Alk or Hal Turkmen Al Al Persian آل Al Traditions EditIn Armenian tradition the als steal the lung liver and heart of women in childbirth pregnant women and women who have just given birth They also destroy embryos in the womb causing miscarriage and can steal babies forty days after childbirth replacing them with imps 1 They are male and female They have clay noses and fiery eyes and appear with sharp fangs disheveled hair copper claws iron teeth the tusks of a wild boar and sagging breasts resembling a crone 3 After stealing the organs of a woman the al attempts to escape and cross the first source of water after which the woman cannot be saved Apotropaic wards against als include methods used against other demons such as charms prayers iron objects onions and garlic and preventing the al from reaching water 4 In Iran the al is a bony thin old woman with a clay nose red face and a straw or reedy basket hanging from its shoulder in which the liver or lung of the young mother is placed 1 In Central Asia the al is customarily a fat ugly and hairy crone with sagging breasts the one hanging over one shoulder while hanging over her other shoulder is a woolen bag in which she has placed the heart and liver of her victim 5 According to numerous Near Eastern traditions God created an al for Adam s first consort but the earth born Adam couldn t adapt to the al s fiery nature this is the origin of the enmity between the al and Eve and her daughters 3 The al is first documented in European literature in the middle of the 19th century 5 See also EditAbyzou Lamia LilithReferences Edit a b c Asatrian 150 Gotter und Mythen der Kaukasischen und Iranischen Volker Carsten Colpe p 89 a b Asatrian 149 Asatrian 149 150 a b Asatrian 153 Further reading EditAsatrian Garnik 2001 Al Reconsidered Iran amp the Caucasus 5 1 149 156 doi 10 1163 157338401X00189 ISSN 1609 8498 JSTOR 4030855 Ananikian Mardiros H 1925 Chapter XI The World of Spirits and Monsters Armenian Mythology The Mythology of All Races Vol VII New York This article about a legendary creature is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Al folklore amp oldid 1067932014, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
