MYTHS AND LEGENDS

Croatian

about water

THE WATER COURT

• mysterious creatures who live in and around the water• by night they appear on the surface, and call innocent people

to come into their watery empire, never to return

THE LEGEND OFTHE BLACK QUEEN

• there was a big drought• people were desperate for water

• they begged their Black Queen to give them water and she gave them profuse rain

• the rain made 13 lakes• they named it PLITVIČKA JEZERA (Plitvice Lakes)

WATER CREATURES

VODENJAKI(Water Men)

• live in the depths of rivers• drown anyone who disturbs their river• have powers all men wish to possess

VODENKINJE(Water Women)

• ugly, but they can turn into beauties• cruel and wise• lure people with their singing and looks

VILE VODENICE(Water Fairies)

• pretty and noble • can turn into swans

FTOPLENIKI(Drowned Men)

• slave of Water Men• people who swam in the river by night, in the dawn, and

during midday

VÜLIMAN (Water Giant)

• makes whirlpools• eats everybody who catches its fish• guardian of the underworld

GRABAR(Pit Monster)

• lives in swamp• lurks small kids in the reeds

“A quotation in the right place at the right time is like water in a desert.”

Vikrant Parsai