Tradition: Lak Folklore, Russian Mythology
Alternative Names: Azzalav
Category: House dweller
The Myth
Azzalov is a household spirit in the folklore of the Laks, who live in the central part of Nagorno-Dagestan. It appears as a dishevelled woman dressed in rags and has an ambivalent nature. Azzalov can be kind, assisting the inhabitants of a house and providing physical and material benefits, but it can also become dangerous, bringing illness and misfortune to the household.
Azzalov is considered a guardian of the hearth and may remain loyal to the people living in the house. However, its benevolent nature has limits. It sometimes develops the habit of strangling people while they sleep. In such cases, the spirit can be driven away by tearing off its bone necklace and throwing it into a chimney. This necklace appears to be closely connected to its supernatural power and behaviour.
One account describes Azzalov taking up residence in the home of a woman named Pati. The spirit behaved disrespectfully towards its mistress, opening chests, rummaging through clothes, scattering objects around the house, and sometimes leaving the home while Pati was away. Yet Azzalov could also bring good fortune. When it was in a favourable mood, it left gold jewellery in plain sight, providing Pati with unexpected wealth.
Pati eventually grew tired of the spirit’s behaviour and sought advice from her neighbour. The neighbour explained that Azzalov’s necklace was not an ordinary piece of jewellery but a collection of beads and precious stones. Whoever obtained it would become its owner and be freed from the spirit’s mischief. Pati tried to steal the necklace while Azzalov slept, but the spirit awoke and snatched it back before she could escape.
The neighbour then advised Pati to throw the necklace into a churn, claiming that this was the only place from which Azzalov would be unable to retrieve it. When the spirit returned and attacked Pati again, she managed to tear the necklace from its neck and throw it into the churn. Azzalov burst into tears and begged Pati to return it, but Pati refused. The spirit eventually left the house, never to return.
Azzalov illustrates the contradictory nature of household spirits in Lak folklore. It can guard the hearth, assist a family, and bring material prosperity, yet it may also disturb the household, damage property, and threaten its inhabitants. Its bone necklace represents a potential vulnerability through which people can free themselves from its influence. The story of Pati demonstrates that living alongside Azzalov requires caution, as the same spirit that provides wealth and assistance can become a source of fear and disorder.
Sources
“Atstsalov.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). https://www.bestiary.us/atstsalov