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Demonologia Słowiańska / Slavic myths : Liczyrzepa, Duch Gór ( Spirit of the Mountain )

Liczyrzepa or otherwise: Giant Mountains man, Rzepiór, Rzepolicz, Spirit of the Mountain, Rübezah. 

Legend of the Mountain Spirit dates back to the Middle Ages – its origins are associated with pagan worship probably the source of the Elbe. It was originally the personification of the forces of nature in this place, tied with the Świętowit (Swantewit) worship, who sacrificed black roosters. During the Christianization of an attempt to uproot old habits, replacing Swantewit holy Wit (the Czech Republic. Svaty Vit), which became an attribute in the region of Sudeten black cock. For struggle with the old beliefs also used in the Giant figures of other saints. The chapel of St. Lawrence built in 1681 on Snow White (so in the very heart of the land of the Mountain Spirit) Schaffgotsches Catholic princes and was part of the “odczarowywania” pagan genius loci of the Giant Mountains (similar character Mountain Spirit was exorcising the Czech side – at the source of the Elbe). Mountain Spirit also sometimes called “Mr. John” (Dominus Johannes) and was due to the introduction of the cult of St. John the Baptist in place of pagan rites of the summer solstice. 

Tales of the Mountain Spirit, however, were still popular. Initially, it was portrayed as an evil spirit or demon. The first known graphic representation of the Liczyrzepa’s form comes with maps of Silesia by the Silesian cartographer Martin Helwig 1561. It is a remarkable creature, resembling that of a deer standing on its hind legs, and some may even griffin. It has a devilish horns and forked tail, goat hooves, paws holds in high, standing upright stick. It is shown in profile, with the mouth facing to the right.

A much more popular and better known while another image of Liczyrzepa – an old man, leaning on his staff, sometimes fully clothed hunter. From the seventeenth century, it ceased to be just a demon arouses fear and created many legends about him – one of them says about how Liczyrzepa kidnapped princess who for diverting his attention told him to count the turnips in a box, and then take the opportunity escaped .. .