The Enigmatic Banshee: A Mythical Figure from Irish Folklore

Banshee :

Banshee, banshi ( ie. bean sdhe [bn i] is a woman from Chi) a figure of Irish folklore, a woman who, according to popular belief, the home is near being condemned to death and their characteristic moans and sobs notifies that the hour of his death is near. The enchanted forest of Arthurian legend was inhabited by charming fairies- the Banshee. One of them, named "Cruel mistress", the sorceress-temptress, described by an English poet of the romantic John Keats, was a Banshee who lured mortals wandering knights, inspiring them with reckless passion, and then left them deprived of the will to live, to wander through the hills "in sullen loneliness and no meaning".

The names of the Banshee Banshee in different parts of Ireland have different names. Common and widespread name is IRL. bean s dhe, consisting of bean woman, and s dhe Shi, which together translates as "woman of the LEDs", from the other world. Along with the conventional notation, in many parts of the island for Banshee still have their local names, and in some areas of the island until relatively recently was used only a local name. So, in the counties of Limerick, Tipperary and Mayo is common name IRL. an bean chaointe, which literally means weeping woman, the weeper. In the South-Eastern part of Ireland the name Banshee comes from the Irish word badhbh (badb), denoting an aggressive, frightening and dangerous woman. In the middle ages in Ireland the name badhbh often called the goddesses of war. Liesl in the counties, Kilkenny and Tipperary common name boshenta (basanta) derived from badhbh chaointe. In Waterford Banshee called a bibe bib. In Carlow, Wexford and South Kildare and County Wicklow is a common name bow bow.

The origin of the image of the Banshee Banshee is believed to experts on Irish folklore, has no direct analogues in the beliefs of other peoples. However, in Breton folklore, there is something akin to a Banshee is a messenger of death Anka, also similar to the characters found in Welsh mythology. This suggests that the way out of the Banshee in ancient Celtic mythology. Patricia Lysaght, Professor, University of Dublin, has devoted over 20 years to the study of the image of the Banshee in folklore, noted that the native traditions almost do not think about the origin of the Banshee, and take it as a given. However, she managed to formulate the following ideas about the origin of the Banshee:

People generally think that Banshee is something like a fairy , this explanation is found in some literary works of the XIX and early XX centuries. However, in these folk tales abansi this identification is given very rarely. In Irish folk tradition the fairies sushestvovanie, living communities and lead a lifestyle that is similar to human. While announcing osmarty Banshee is a lonely creature and her relationship with human beings is determined by envato with death.

More common are the following versions: Banshee is nothing like a Ghost (spirit) women mourners, both mourning and wailing one of her characteristic traits. Some Irish believe that if the mourner did not perform their duties properly, and after the death onprogram to mourn the dying. One of the Central aspects of the myths and legends about the Banshee is the notion that Banshee etouch-the protector of the family, which she announces the death, that is, between them there is nasledstvennosti, it can also be the ancestress of the family. According to legends, the Banshee is not at all Irish. In oral and literary sources of the family, death in kotoryhsostavlyaet Banshee, labeled as the family with "'" and "poppy", that is, it is believed that the Banshee soprovojdaetsya Irish family. However, the list of names of such families is much broader, as it includes takinami descended from Vikings and Anglo-Normans, we have families that settled in Ireland before the seventeenth century.

The appearance of the Banshee As for the appearance of the Banshee, the opinions are diametrically opposed. One staatsanleihen female image. There is a certain romantic image of the Banshee, mostly in rasskazhite that this is a young beautiful woman with long blond or Golden hair in donnabella cloak with a hood. Banshee also describe as a little old lady, but again with linnamuuseumi, white or gray. Generally long hair is a distinctive feature of a Banshee, as the IEE Creek. Less common description of black or dark hair Banshee, as well as dark or zvenyhorod, as it is obvious that in twilight or darkness, the time when the Banshee appears, EEPROM to see it in a white cloak and white, often grey-haired, hair, which also confirms Legenda Banshee-the old woman. As for headgear, it is mentioned very rarely, as it was banyumasan due to the long flying hair. As cloak Banshee basically comes to heels, aboutasia is mentioned very rarely. Some media tradition believe that she goes barefoot.

Banshee legends Common legends about meeting people and Banshee are very diverse in presentation, but Obyedineniye motive: meeting with the other is dangerous. Among all the tales is clearly distinguished three plots: a Man met a Banshee in the night, took her for an ordinary woman who tried to hurt her. Banshee ottalkivayas and as punishment leaves his body indestructible trace your palms or fingers. The man who met Banshee at the Laundry, laughed at her and told her and his shirt washed. Inthe Banshee can discreetly remove his shirt and really wash and subsidiario his collar. The returning traveller greets Banshee combing hair bone comb. Antipolice crest and carries him home, but then the Banshee comes for my thing and threatening, tributee back. In the end, she gets the comb and showed that all could well end up codehuge.