Vitore
{{Short description | Albanian domestic deity}}
File:Snake silhouette.svg and to ward off the evil eye.{{harvnb|Tirta|2004|pp=152–162}}; {{harvnb|Doli|2009|pp=127–128}}.]]
The Vitore ({{lang-sq-definite|Vitorja}}, also Gjarpni i Votrës, Gjarpni i Shtëpisë, Bolla e Shtëpisë or Ora e Shtëpisë) is a household divine serpent (gjarpër or bollë) in Albanian mythology and folklore, associated with human destiny, good fortune and the souls of the ancestors.{{harvnb|Galaty|Lafe|Lee|Tafilica|2013|p=161}}; {{harvnb|Stipčević|2009|p=507}}; {{harvnb|Berishaj|2004|pp=49–50}}; {{harvnb|Elsie|2001|p=260}}; {{harvnb|Tirta|2004|pp=147–149}}; {{harvnb|Poghirc|1987|p=179}}. In folk beliefs the household serpent is strongly related to the cult of the hearth (vatër) and it is especially considered the guardian of the family and the house.{{harvnb|Galaty|Lafe|Lee|Tafilica|2013|p=161}}; {{harvnb|Stipčević|2009|p=507}}.
Etymology
The name Vitore has been analyzed as descendant from the Albanian {{lang|sq|vejtare}} > {{lang|sq|vektare}} > {{lang|sq|vek}}/{{lang|sq|vegj}}, "loom", thus meaning "a spinster, a woman who spins", related to the weaving of fate.{{sfn|Doja|2005|p=456}}
The Albanian terms gjarpën/gjarpër (def.: gjarp(ë)ni/gjarp(ë)ri) and bollë (def.: bolla) mean 'serpent, snake', vatër (def.: vatra) means 'hearth' and shtëpi/shpi (def.: shtëpia/shpia) means 'house'.
Beliefs
The serpent is an animal totem of the Albanians, especially in the north.{{sfn|Sinani|2010|p=111}}{{sfn|Galaty|Lafe|Lee|Tafilica|2013|p=161}} The belief of the personification of the souls of the ancestors in household serpents has been handed down from prehistoric times. The widespread cult of the serpent among Albanians is related to Illyrian beliefs.{{sfn|Stipčević|2009|p=507}}
Vitorja is usually described as a small, colourful and benign golden horned serpent. However, in some traditions Vitorja is described also as an old woman, a mythological figure similar to Nëna e Vatrës. Vitorja is also identified with Fatia in southern folklore and Ora in central and northern folklore.{{harvnb|Elsie|2001|p=260}}; {{harvnb|Tirta|2004|pp=147–149}}; {{harvnb|Poghirc|1987|p=179}}.
As a serpent, when Vitorja dwell in the walls of a house, it is believed to bring good luck, so the inhabitants treat it with much respect. Its hissing announces important events to the family. The death of the household serpent brings bad luck and even the extinction of the family.{{sfn|Elsie|2001|p=260}}{{sfn|Poghirc|1987|p=179}}{{sfn|Stipčević|2009|p=507}} The household serpent is said to walk around the house marking the territory it guards.{{sfn|Stipčević|2009|p=507}}
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
{{refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}
- {{cite book|last=Berishaj|first=Martin|title=Skrita moč bese: Ženske v imaginariju albanskega tradicionalizma. Dodatek: Skenderbegov kanon|publisher=Založba ZRC|year=2004|isbn=9789616500746|language=Slovenian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iEgwEAAAQBAJ}}
- {{cite journal|last=Doja|first=Albert|title=Mythology and Destiny|journal=Anthropos|volume=100|number=2|year=2005|url=http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/18364/1/18364.pdf|pages=449–462|doi=10.5771/0257-9774-2005-2-449|jstor=40466549|s2cid=115147696 }}
- {{cite journal|last=Doli|first=Flamur|title=Decoration from the house snake cult belief system, as evidenced in Kosovan vernacular architecture|journal=Thesis Kosova|number=1|year=2009|pages=127–144}}
- {{cite book|last=Elsie|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Elsie|title=A Dictionary of Albanian Religion, Mythology and Folk Culture|place=London|publisher=Hurst & Company|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N_IXHrXIsYkC|isbn=1-85065-570-7|year=2001}}
- {{cite book|last1=Galaty|first1=Michael|last2=Lafe|first2=Ols|last3=Lee|first3=Wayne|last4=Tafilica|first4=Zamir|title=Light and Shadow: Isolation and Interaction in the Shala Valley of Northern Albania|year=2013|publisher=The Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press|isbn=978-1931745710|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f2mRDwAAQBAJ}}
- {{cite book|last=Poghirc|first=Cicerone|title=The Encyclopedia of Religion|volume=1|chapter=Albanian Religion|editor=Mircea Eliade|place=New York|publisher=MacMillan Publishing Co|year=1987|pages=178–180}}
- {{cite book|last=Sinani|first=Shaban|chapter=Rikodifikimi i shenjës në romanin “Dranja”. Një vështrim Antropologjik|title=Wir sind die Deinen: Studien zur albanischen Sprache, Literatur und Kulturgeschichte, dem Gedenken an Martin Camaj (1925–1992) gewidmet|editor=Bardhyl Demiraj|editor-link=Bardhyl Demiraj|publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag|year=2010|isbn=9783447062213|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bmIVOGu0WWEC|pages=101–112}}
- {{cite journal|last=Stipčević|first=Aleksandar|author-link=Aleksandar Stipčević|title=Elementët parahistorike në besimet e arbëreshëve të Zarës|journal=AKTET|issn=2073-2244|year=2009|language=sq|pages=505–509}}
- {{cite book|last=Tirta|first=Mark|title=Mitologjia ndër shqiptarë|language=sq|editor=Petrit Bezhani|publisher=Mësonjëtorja|year=2004|place=Tirana|isbn=99927-938-9-9}}
{{refend}}
{{Albanian mythology}}
Category:Albanian legendary creatures