Safa (mythology)
Ossetian deity of the hearth chain, linked to blacksmith god Kurdalægon.
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In Ossetian mythology, Safa is the deity associated with the hearth chain, and his name originates from the Greek Σάββας, meaning "Sabbas the Sanctified".[1] Safa is equated with Kurdalægon, the god of blacksmiths.[2] The hearth chain (Ossetian: рæхыс) was bestowed upon humans by Safa, and it held considerable importance in both social and domestic contexts.[3]
Quick Facts
- Also known as
- Sabbas the Sanctified (from Greek Σάββας)
- Domain
- God of the hearth chain
- Associated deity
- Kurdalægon (god of blacksmiths)
- Role in nart saga
- Heavenly friend of the Narts, teacher of Crym-Sultan
Facts from the source article.
Life and work
During a bride's farewell to her parents' home, she went around the hearth chain three times and touched it as a sign of farewell.[4] The same ritual was performed when she entered her new family's home for the first time.[4] Safa once invited the dauags (spirits) to a feast to do good to the young Sosruko.[5] Sosruko served the dauags during the feast and asked each for gifts corresponding to their specialization.[5]
Individuals would grasp this chain when making solemn vows or when bloodlines reconciled and forgave each other.[3] An Ossetian custom involved a mother placing her child in bed and committing the child to Safa's care while she maintained a hold on the chain.[4] The Æhsærtæggatæ clan attempted to secure Crym-Sultan from Safa through bribery in order to pursue a blood feud.[5]
References
- Wikipedia, "Safa (mythology)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Abaev, "Historical and etymological dictionary of the Ossetian language.", Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1979 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Safa (mythology)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Dzitsoyty, "Семь богов и семь миров в осетинской мифологии — Seven gods and seven worlds in Ossetian mythology", Administration of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Safa (mythology)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Meletinsky, "Mythological Dictionary", Soviet Encyclopedia, 1990, p. 672; Tokarev S. A., "Myths of the peoples of the world", Soviet Encyclopedia, 1992, p. 719 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Safa (mythology)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Meletinsky, "Mythological Dictionary", Soviet Encyclopedia, 1990, p. 672; Tokarev S. A., "Myths of the peoples of the world", Soviet Encyclopedia, 1992, p. 719; Meletinsky, "Mythological Dictionary", Soviet Encyclopedia, 1990, p. 672; Tokarev S. A., "Myths of the peoples of the world", Soviet Encyclopedia, 1992, p. 719 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Safa (mythology)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Dumézil, "Ossetian saga and mythology", Science, 2001, p. 176, 210 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Safa (mythology) (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Supernatural beings identified with Christian saints
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Safa (mythology) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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