For the black metal musical group, see Ajattara (band). For the clothes line, see Ajatar (fashion).
In Finnish folklore, Ajatar or Ajattara (also spelled Aiätär or Aijotar) is an evil female spirit. She lives in the woods, in the mountains of Pohjola; "the home of the north" in Finnish folklore. Ajatar is the granddaughter of Hiisi (the master of the woods and spreader of disease) and is the master of Lempo and Gnomes. Through her connections with Hiisi and Lempo, she is said to spread disease and pestilence. She is closely associated with serpents, and is often depicted in modern art as a dragon or half-humanoid and serpentine figure. Though she is similar in some ways to the characteristics of Äijo, Louhi, and Loviatar, she is not to be confused with Syöjätär, the Finnish Ogress.
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Etymology
The word "ajatar" is possibly derived from the Finnish word ajaa, "to pursue" (also, "to drive"). The feminine suffix "-tar-" appears in several Finnish names, including a variation of Louhi (Louhetar, Loviatar, Louhiatar) and Syöjätär (syoda 'to eat,' with the feminine suffix of -tar, means 'devourer, vampire'). Applying this to Ajatar, the verb ajaa is suffixed by the feminine "-tar," translating as "female pursuer." The name may as well have its root in aika 'time', from where ajatar would be an equally regular derivative. Or both. Aika and ajaa might be etymologically connected through the sense of time, like death, hunting oneself.
Literature
Although Ajatar does not appear by name in documented Finnish folk songs, she appears in fiction inspired by the Kalevala and in modern fantasy interpretations.
- In the second act of Aleksis Kivi's play, Kullervo (1860), Ajatar is described as ferocious and shameless, encouraging the protagonist to kill his master's family. Ajatar states that she lives in the mountains, has Lempo and Gnomes in her service, and that her mother's father is Hiisi. Ajatar is further described as "nasty" and compared to a "vicious wife who rejoices in evils."
- In Leviticus 17.7 of the Finnish Bible (1776 ed.), a variation of Ajatar's name (Ajattaroille) appears to use her as a general devil or demon and not a separate entity.
In the King James version, the passage says:
- Fantasy author, Philip Mazza, portrays the Ajatar as a race of fire breathing dragons, causing pestilence and disease. In his book, The Harrow: From Under a Tree, Mazza describes two races of Ajatar, black and red, which fight amongst each other. One race, the black dragons, are evil whereas the red race are described as more benevolent.
- In The Eye of Disparager: Book One of the Legend of the Bloodstone written by Brett Stuart Smith, Ajatar is a beautiful woman with the upper body of a green scaled woman and the lower half made up of many snakes. She has serpentine fangs and seductive eyes, and is the mother of all snakes.
- Ajatar is mentioned twice in Matt Smith's Big Game: Movie Tie-in Edition. Smith referred to her as "the Devil of the Woods who appeared as a dragon and made you sick if you so much as looked at her" and later associations a force of nature to her destructive powers.
Music
- "Ajatar Rising" by Epic North Music, released August 16, 2013.
- "Ajatar" by Winter Gardens in October 30, 2011.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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