Albaslı qatın
Kumyk · numen · Kumyk traditional religion; continuing · Recorded classification
Albaslı qatın ('the Albaslı woman') is the most feared demoness of Kumyk folk belief, a giant female with thick, loosely hanging hair and long pendulous breasts thrown back over her shoulders - a form typical of the wider Caucasian and Turkic demonology, cognate with the Albasty of neighbouring peoples. She is a malevolent being who menaces women, above all in childbirth, and lone travellers; folk tradition holds that, if mastered, an Albaslı could be compelled to serve a household. Her husband is the demon Temir-töš.
Domains
- demonic affliction
Powers
- menaces women and travellers
Epithets
- Албаслы къатын — the Albaslı womanChirikba, V. A. (2015). Between Christianity and Islam: Heathen Heritage in the Caucasus. Brill. (secondary)
Relations
- spouse: Temir-töšTemir-töš, 'iron breast', is her husband.Chirikba, V. A. (2015). Between Christianity and Islam: Heathen Heritage in the Caucasus. Brill (Temir-töš as husband of Albaslı). (secondary)
Sources
- Albaslı qatın is a giant demonic woman with thick loose hair and long hanging breasts thrown back over her shoulders, a character typical of Caucasian demonology.: Chirikba, V. A. (2015). Between Christianity and Islam: Heathen Heritage in the Caucasus. In Studies on Iran and the Caucasus (pp. 145-191). Leiden: Brill. (secondary)
- Among the Kumyks (as among Karachays, Balkars and Nogays) a tamed Albasty was believed to help with household tasks; her husband is Temir-töš.: Demonologiya narodov Severnogo Kavkaza; and Chirikba (2015), Brill. (secondary)