Naviya (Neveya) — a Malevolent Being of Slavic Mythology
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NaviyaNaviya, or Neveya, is a malevolent being of Slavic mythology, the eldest daughter of Mara. She is described as a hideous old woman with her eyes rolled back into her forehead, cackling wildly. This terrifying laughter drives people mad, but not everyone can hear it — only the person Naviya has chosen as her victim.
The creature also afflicts people with fever, during which the sick would mutter, rave, or seem to speak to someone unseen. This is why our ancestors believed that Naviya was tormenting them, trying to drive them to madness or death.
Naviya (Neveya)According to folk belief, Naviya is held in an iron prison, chained to a chair. Only once a year was she released, wandering from home to home in search of a victim. Various charms (wormwood, peony root, and others) and incantations served as protection against the creature.
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