Review article
Fairy and Baba Toponymy and Topography in the Paklenica National Park and its Wider Surroundings
Mirjana Trošelj
Abstract
The paper focuses on the topography of mythical toponyms in the Park and its
wider area, which the inhabitants of southern Podgorje traditionally associate
with the degraded and demonised deities of Slavic mythology. The interpretation
is based on traditional narratives collected in field research and from more recent
written sources (philological, ethnological-anthropological and historical-geographical).
The fairy and baba toponomastics in the Park and its wider surroundings
are recognised as the remnants of Old Slavic cosmogony and other mythical
concepts using the examples of fairies and old women (baba). On southern Velebit
their origins could be medieval, although archival material, primarily historical
cartography, does not offer information before the 18th century. This article
seeks to deepen and expand knowledge about mythical toponymy in the spatial
context of southern and south-eastern Velebit. Since the topic has so far not been
systematically researched, it will not be possible to give definitive answers and
conclusions and some questions will remain open to future research requiring an
interdisciplinary approach. The paper interprets the folk etymology of narratives
and ritual folk songs, but philological etymology was not the subject of analysis.
Keywords
southern Velebit; Paklenica National Park; toponymy and topography; mythical landscape; mythical creatures.
Hrčak ID:
278887
URI
Publication date:
8.6.2022.
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