Lord of the Forest and the Hunt

Adyghe ⟨Мэзытхьэ⟩ Məzytḥə, lit. 'forest-god' (məz 'forest' + tḥə 'god'). Functionally parallel to Abkhaz Azhwepshaa and the Georgian hunt-cult of Dali.

Domains

• the hunt
• forests and wild beasts

Powers

• releases wild game to the hunters who honor him
• disposes of the fate of the wild beasts and grants luck to the hunt

Epithets

• Мэзытхьэ

Relations

• equated with: Lord of the Forest and Game

Sources

• Jaimoukha, Amjad. The Circassians: A Handbook. Curzon, 2001, religion chapter (Mezitha/Mezithe).
• Colarusso, John. Nart Sagas from the Caucasus, 2002 (Caucasian hunt-deity context).