Also called Zmej, Zmey (South Slavic sense), Smok (Polish dragon, related).
Their story
Unlike the Russian Zmey Gorynych, the South Slavic zmaj is often a protector who lives in caves or lakes and fights the alas to keep hail from the fields. In folk songs a zmaj may fall in love with a mortal woman and visit her at night as a fiery light. Heroes of Serbian epic, such as Zmaj Ognjeni Vuk, the fiery dragon-wolf, were said to have a zmaj for a father and small wings under their arms.
Best times to give to them
- summer storm season
- Kupala Night
What they like being given
- bread and milk
- songs of heroes
How to honour them
- Hear the Serbian epic songs of Zmaj Ognjeni Vuk.
- Honour protective strength that serves others.
How they can help you
- protection
- heroic courage
- defending your home ground
Symbols
- a winged fiery serpent
- lightning
- a man with small wings under his arms
Sources
- Vuk Stefanović Karadžić, Srpske narodne pjesme (Serbian Folk Songs)
- Š. Kulišić, P. Ž. Petrović and N. Pantelić, Srpski mitološki rečnik (1970)
More Slavic beings
- Div The crying omen in the tree-top
- Vodyanoy The old man of the millpond
- Polevik The spirit of the fields
- Poludnitsa Lady Midday of the harvest fields
- Mavka Hollow-backed maiden of the Ukrainian woods
- Mora The night-mare who sits on the chest
- Zmey Gorynych Many-headed dragon of the byliny
- Firebird The glowing bird of the golden apples