Fern Flower
Published on February 11, 2020

Pile

  • Vora-mort
  • Vorkul
  • Inӧrsa
  • Vorys
  • Forest devil

Regions of expansion

Cape Verde

Description

Vorsa (aka vorkul or "forest devil", vora-mort or "forest man", as well as vorys from Komi-Permyaks) — a mythological character of the Komi peoples, a goblin. The Komi-Zyryans considered him an evil spirit, and the Komi-Permyaks had him close to the image of a mighty deity. The pile does not cast shadows, and the echo does not respond to the barking of his dog. 

Outwardly, he looks like a giant with shaggy ears and turned-out heels, but without eyebrows and eyelashes (he was about the height of a pine tree or higher). He does not wear clothes and has transparent bones in his body.

It was also believed that he could come in the form of a whirlwind. You can also see the pile through the outstretched fingers, if you look, bending down, at the howling of the wind between your legs.

The pile can turn into a cat and other small animals.

He can commit various minor dirty tricks against a person, especially if he does not follow the rules of hunting (makes him cheat, steals prey and cattle, etc.), but if he is appeased, he can help.

He will kidnap people. For example, children cursed by mothers, thieves and murderers. At the same time, the passage of time changed for the abducted: in 5 years, it was possible to become a gray-haired old man from a young boy.

Pile in popular culture

Links

  • Петрухин В. Я. Мифы финно-угров.-М.:Астрель: АСТ:Транзиткнига, 2005