Poslom

Poslom is a disease-causing demon of the Zinacantecos that travels by night as a rolling ball of fire and, striking a sleeper or a passer-by on the trail, raises painful swellings on the body. It is counted among the specific spirit-agents of illness in highland curing lore, its attack diagnosed and treated by the shaman-curers who read the body's signs.

Domains

• disease swelling
• night fire

Powers

• travel by night as a ball of fire
• raise swellings on the stricken

Epithets

• Poslom

Sources

• Laughlin, Robert M. 1977. Of Cabbages and Kings: Tales from Zinacantán. Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology 23.
• Vogt, Evon Z. 1969. Zinacantán. Harvard University Press.