Tradition / Region: Armenian Mythology
Alternate Names: —
Category: Water spirit, Demonic being
The Myth
The Nhang is a malevolent water spirit in Armenian mythology, associated with rivers and deep waters. Although the word originally meant “crocodile,” it came to refer to a supernatural being believed to inhabit certain waterways.
These spirits were said to dwell in specific rivers, including the Euphrates and the river Aragani, where they remained and caused harm. They were regarded as incorporeal beings rather than ordinary animals.
The Nhang could take different forms. At times it appeared as a woman in the water, resembling a mermaid-like figure. At other times it took the shape of a seal-like creature that attacked swimmers, seizing them by the feet and dragging them beneath the surface.
It was also said to prey on animals, feeding in a blood-drinking manner and leaving them dead afterward.
Its nature was not clearly defined in tradition, as some described it as a beast while others considered it a type of Dev.
Sources
Ananikian, M. H. (1925). Armenian Mythology. In The Mythology of All Races, Vol. 7. Published by the Archaeological Institute of America p. 89-90.