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STUDIA MYTHOLOGICA SLAVICA | Znanstvenoraziskovalni center SAZU |
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STUDIA MYTHOLOGICA SLAVICA 3, 2000
Mirjam Mencej:
Shepherds - Sourcerers
Abstract
In this article the authoress discusses the magic and supernatural powers which people have attributed to shepherds. It is evident from certain accounts that not all shepherds had these powers, but the people made strong distinctions between those shepherds who did possess "knowledge" and those who did not. It seems that this knowledge is related primarily to power of the shepherds over wild animals, particularly over wolves. For example, shepherds were capable of letting wolves loose among livestock or of protecting livestock from wolves. According to beliefs and literary folklore, shepherds were considered to have the ability to communicate with the other world and with mythological creatures representatives of the other world; it also seems that shepherds' power over wolves stems from these representatives of the other world or from shepherds' contact with the other world.
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