Veden emäg, the mistress of the water, belongs to the family of host spirits that Veps tradition assigns to every river and lake: vedehiine the 'waterman', veden ižand the 'master of the water', veden emäg his mistress-wife, and veden uk the 'water old man'. Like the other emäg figures of Veps lower mythology, she is the female head of the watery household, approached by fishermen and by families washing or drawing water, who owed her respect and small offerings. Water spirits in Veps belief were quick to punish offence, and diseases 'coming from the water' were traced back to them.