Greek Folklore and Legends: Greek Local Spirits

Harry's Note: I am pleased to announce collaboration with renowned scholar and author John L. Tomkinson.

Mr. Tomkinson is the author of many books about Greece (and other subjects) and he has agreed to provide for us, some of his insights, on this page, as well as others throughout my sites. 

Please visit http://www.anagnosis.gr for more of his fascinating insights into Greek culture and history.

True lovers of Greece will be well rewarded by obtaining some of his very reasonably priced editions which are only available internationally, direct from the publisher.

His series Greece: Beyond the Guidebooks has been a source of inspiration to me personally. Major credit cards accepted.

Greek Local Spirits

Local Spirits (genii loci)

Greek folk belief was animistic. It was thought that every cave, every well, every conspicuous tree, every building, was inhabited by a spirit, which might take many forms. They take the form, here of a donkey, there of a black giant, somewhere else of a naked boy, elsewhere of a horse, a priest, a small weeping child, a turkey, etc., etc. 

Such spirits were to be found all over the place: in wells, springs, caves, rivers, trees, houses and even churches. In general, someone seeing such a spirit should respectfully acknowledge it, but he should not address it, or he would lose his voice.

If by any chance he should insult it, it is likely that he would die soon afterwards. When such a spirit howled, someone in the vicinity would soon die.

Information from "Haunted Greece: Nymphs, Vampires and other Exotika" by John L. Tomkinson http://www.anagnosis.gr/Haunted_Greece.htm

Illustration copyright Maria Ine.