Warz
Aghul · numen · Aghul traditional religion; continuing · Recorded classification
Warz, the Moon, is the Sun's brother in the astral lore shared across the Lezgic peoples of southern Daghestan. His waxing and waning ordered the traditional lunar calendar that governed agricultural and ritual life, and the dark markings on his face were explained by folk narrative. Like the Sun, the Moon could be swallowed by a dragon at an eclipse, prompting communal noise-making to compel its release.
Domains
- moon
- lunar calendar
Powers
- orders the months by waxing and waning
Relations
- sibling: RagBrother of the Sun in the shared Lezgic astral legend; the dark markings on his face are explained by folk narrative.Халидова М.Р. Мифологический и исторический эпос народов Дагестана. Махачкала, 1992. (secondary)
- enemy: AzhdahaAt a lunar eclipse the azhdaha was said to swallow the Moon until driven off by communal noise.Халидова М.Р. Мифологический и исторический эпос народов Дагестана. Махачкала, 1992. (secondary)
Sources
- Warz, the Moon, is a personified celestial being of Aghul folk religion whose phases ordered the lunar calendar.: Булатова А.Г. Сельскохозяйственный календарь и календарные обычаи и обряды народов Дагестана. СПб.: Петербургское Востоковедение, 1999. (secondary); Сефербеков Р.И. Пантеон языческих божеств народов Дагестана. Махачкала, 2009. (secondary)