Baloz

Baloz or bajloz is a legendary character in Albanian mythology and folklore, who appears as an antagonist of the Albanian legendary heroes. He sometimes is described as a sea monster.

Etymology

Maximilian Lambertz suggested that the word 'Baloz' is derived from Italian bailo, the title of the Venetian ambassador to the Ottomans.[1]

Literally, the word seems to have originated from the Albanian blozë (soot), referring to baloz's armour color. It may also have come from Turkish word "balyoz", meaning "hammer"; this may be due to the hammers of war the baloz carried.

Folklore

Baloz (as a character) has been found in many Albanian myths and legends about fighting against the Albanian nobles such as: Muji, Halili, Gjergj Elez Alia and Constantin. The monster is found in the Albanian Songs of the Frontier Warriors.[1]

Detailed descriptions have been found in a collection of Albanian myths named Ancient Albanian Tales (Albanian: Tregime të Moçme Shqiptare)[2] collected and rewritten by Dhimitër Pasko.

Baloz Sedelija was a Slavic warrior in Albanian folklore.[1] Another character was Baloz(i) i Zi.

References

  1. ^ a b c Robert Elsie; Janice Mathie-Heck (2004). Songs of the Frontier Warriors. Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers. pp. 367–. ISBN 978-0-86516-412-3.
  2. ^ Kuteli, Mitrush (1987). Tregime të moçme shqiptare. Tirana: Naim Frasheri. Retrieved 2010-07-08.
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