A porońiec ([ˈpɔrɔɲɛt͡s]; plural porońce) is a hostile and malicious demon from Slavic mythology. They were believed to come into existence from stillborn fetuses, but also from improperly buried remains of children who had died during infancy.[1]

Folklore

A porońiec is somewhat similar to a being from Scandinavian folklore, the myling. Porońce were considered to be extremely powerful demons, due to their potential of unrealized life.[2]

Porońce were associated with many taboos regarding pregnant women, such as drawing water from a well, leaving home with an infant, or engaging in sexual intercourse.[2]

A stillborn fetus did not turn into a porońiec if it was buried under the threshold of the house. Instead, it turned into a kłobuk – a protective house spirit.[2]

  • In the 2015 video game The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, one of the main quests revolves around the search for a botchling (porońiec in the original version) that can be killed or turned into a lubberkin (kłobuk).

See also

References

  1. ↑ Podgórscy, Barbara i Adam (2005). Wielka księga demonów polskich: leksykon i antologia demonologii ludowej. Katowice: Wydawn. Kos. ISBN 978-83-89375-40-7.
  2. 1 2 3 Szyjewski, Andrzej (2003). Religia Słowian (in Polish) (2nd ed.). Kraków: Wydawn WAM. ISBN 978-83-7318-205-9.
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