Tradition: Russian Mythology, Turkish Mythology
Alternative Names: Шекә
Category: Dwarf

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The Myth

Sheka is a dwarf-like being associated with forests, abandoned houses, and fields. In Turkic tradition, Sheka is said to live among forests or in derelict houses and often appears in strange or comical situations. In Slavic pagan tradition, however, Sheka takes on a much darker form as a field spirit. It appears as a deformed dwarf with differently colored eyes and grass growing in place of hair. It may be dressed entirely in black or entirely in white and is most often encountered around noon or at sunset.

The field Sheka is a dangerous spirit for anyone wandering or working in the countryside. It can deliberately lead travelers astray among the fields, cause illness, and even ride over sleeping people with horses. Peasants working beneath the midday sun must beware of it, for Sheka enjoys sneaking up on them and pulling their hair. Children are especially vulnerable, as the spirit is said to make them lose their way among the tall cornfields.

When Sheka catches a person, it can force its victim to sing for hours without allowing them to stop. Its strange behavior makes it both a frightening and mischievous presence of the fields, turning ordinary places of work and travel into places where a small, deformed spirit might suddenly appear, confuse travelers, torment peasants, or carry away unsuspecting children.

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Sources

“Sheka (mythology).” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 4, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheka_(mythology)

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