Azhdaha
Tsez · numen · Tsez traditional religion; continuing · Recorded classification
The Azhdaha is the great serpent-dragon of Dido and wider Daghestani folktale, a monster of Iranian pedigree whose very name descends through Persian tradition from the Avestan serpent Aži Dahāka. In the tale-type shared across the Caucasus it coils about a spring or river and stops the water, releasing it only when the community yields up a maiden, until a hero comes to slay it and free both the water and the captive. As the embodiment of devouring chaos and withheld water it stands opposite the sky-god's gift of rain, and it belongs to the borrowed, Iranianised stratum of Daghestani demonology rather than to the oldest native pantheon.
Domains
- monsters chaos
- springs water
Powers
- seizes a spring and exacts tribute for its water
- swallows those given up to it
Sources
- The Azhdaha is the serpent-dragon of Daghestani and wider Caucasian folktale, a hoarder of water and devourer of victims overcome by the hero.: 'Кавказско-иберийских народов мифология', in Мифы народов мира, ed. S. A. Tokarev (Moscow, 1980–1982) (secondary)
- The dragon entered Daghestan under Iranian influence, its name descending from the Avestan serpent Aži Dahāka.: 'Драконы в мифах и фольклоре разных народов', culture.ru (secondary)