Nëna e Vatrës
Albanian mythological figure of hearth
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Nëna e Vatrës or Nana e Votrës ("The Mother of the Hearth") is an Albanian mythological figure, the protector of the hearth (Albanian: vatër), associated with the household fire worship, the cult of the ancestor and family life.[1][2] She is sometimes regarded as a goddess (hyjni e zjarrit të vatrës "deity of the hearth fire") in Albanian traditions.[3][4][5]
Names and etymology
Nëna e Vatrës is a mythological figure of the hearth fire commonly found in the folk beliefs of the Albanians, thus there are many dialectal variations, singular or plural: Nëna e Vatrës/Nana e Votrës, E Ëma e Vatrës/E Ama e Votrës, Mëma e Vatrës/Mama e Vatrës, Shtriga e Vatrës/Votrës, Plaka e Vatrës/Votrës, Mëmat e Vatrës/Mamat e Votrës, Xhuxhet e Vatrës etc.[6][3] The first element nënë/nanë or ëmë/amë, means "mother"; while the last element vatër/votër, means "hearth", "fireplace", and is related to the Avestan atar, "fire".[5][7]
Folk beliefs
In Albanian folk beliefs, Nëna e Vatrës is the protector of the vatër, the domestic fireplace. It is said that the fireplace should be cleaned in the evening. If it is left uncleaned, Nëna e Vatrës becomes angry.[6][8] The family members should behave respectfully towards her.[8] At feasts, people used to practice sacrificial offerings to the deity throwing some of the food they prepared into the fire and around the hearth.[9][8]
Nëna e Vatrës bears similarities to Greek Hestia and Roman Vesta.[5][2][4][10] To the Greek and Roman goddesses well-defined public places of worship were dedicated, while in the Albanian tradition the place of worship of Nëna e Vatrës is the hearth of every house.[8]
See also
- Enji (deity) – Albanian fire god and cult
- I Verbti – Albanian god of fire and wind or thunderstorms
- Prende – Albanian dawn goddess, goddess love, beauty, fertility and health
- Fatia – Albanian mythological figure
- Ora (mythology) – Albanian mythological figure of Fate
- Vitore – Albanian domestic deity
- Gabija – Spirit of the fire in Lithuanian mythology
- Nymphaion (fire sanctuary)