Ajdaha
Tat · numen · Tat traditional religion; continuing · Recorded classification
The ajdaha is the monstrous dragon of Tat and wider Iranian folk-tale, a vast serpent continuing the ancient Azhi Dahaka. It coils upon a spring or river and withholds the water from a village, releasing it only in return for a maiden delivered up in yearly tribute. The dragon is at last confronted and slain by a hero, who frees both the waters and the appointed victim. Distinct from the serpent-king Shahmar, the ajdaha is wholly hostile, a devourer without kingship over its kind.
Domains
- serpents
- waters and springs
Powers
- seize and withhold the waters
- demand human tribute
Sources
- The ajdaha is the great dragon of Tat and wider Iranian folk-tale, which seizes the waters and exacts maiden-tribute until slain by a hero.: Encyclopaedia Iranica, s.v. 'Aždahā' (secondary); Mify narodov mira, ed. S. A. Tokarev (Moscow, 1980) (secondary)