Ol
Yaghnobi · numen · Yaghnobi traditional religion; continuing · Recorded classification
Ol — recorded in the Yaghnob valley also as Xol and cognate with the Central Asian Al, Albasti and Almasti — is the demoness of childbirth, a malevolent female being who preys on women in labour and on the newborn, and to whom deaths in and after childbed are attributed. She is fended off by iron placed about the bed, by garlic and rue, by watchfulness through the perilous forty days, and above all by keeping her from water, to which she is drawn. Sources differ on whether Ol names a single demoness or a whole class of birth-spirits, folk usage treating the being at once as a species and as an individuated adversary of the mother.
Domains
- childbirth affliction
- disease
Powers
- seize the woman in childbed
- harm the newborn child
- be repelled by iron, garlic and prayer
Epithets
- Хол — the Xol (birth-demoness)'Al (folklore)': hal and xal in Tajikistan and Afghanistan. (secondary)
Relations
- enemy: Bibi SeshanbeAdversary of the female patronesses who guard women in childbed.P. Delaini, 'Traditional medicine in the Yaghnob Valley' (protective patronesses of women against the birth demon). (secondary)
- enemy: Bibi FotimaBibi Fotima is called to the childbed against her.P. Delaini, 'Traditional medicine in the Yaghnob Valley'; Bibi Fotima invoked to guard the birthing woman. (secondary)
Sources
- Ol (Xol/Hal), cognate with the Central Asian Al and Turkic Albasti, is the childbirth demoness attested in the Yaghnob valley, personifying the danger of the childbed.: P. Delaini, 'Traditional medicine in the Yaghnob Valley: notes on body therapy, pregnancy and birth care'. (secondary)
- Als are warded by iron, garlic, prayer and by keeping them from water.: 'Al (folklore)' (Al/Hal, ol/hal/xal in Tajikistan; apotropaic wards). (secondary)