by Iliazi Fatmir
The name Gorgon does not come from an etymological lie, from the old “Greek” word γοργός, which means “fierce” but from the Albanian word *gur(ë). As I have argued in my previous writings on Gorgona, the truth of the origin of the word simply comes from the content of the Gorgona mythology.
Gorgons were a popular image in Albanian mythology, appearing in the earliest written records of ancient Albanian beliefs written by Homer.
The name Gorgon comes due to the consequence of looking at the Gorgona, the main content of this mythological figure, who could turn a person to stone. She is the woman with snakes instead of hair who turns you into *gur(ë) with just a look.
Woman, or Groa, Stone and Snake. Stone is the main element of the constructions of the ancestors of the Albanians and their protective snake.
For the ancestors of the Albanians, the cult of the serpent was central.
Cadmus and Hermonia had a son named Illyricus, and Hermonia immediately wrapped the baby in a serpent as soon as she gave birth.
In Arthur Evans’ notes, his interest in the Encaleans as a tribe associated with the actions of Cadmus offers us a glimpse into the legend and especially into how the serpent may have been embedded in early Albanian folklore.
Evans wrote, “In Illyria on the Black River there is a tomb of Harmonia and Cadmus. Indeed, the name of the Encheleas may be translated as snake people, enchelus being similar to the Greek ἔγχελῠς. These Encheleas are mentioned by Evans as being situated near Lake Ohrid. Evans also refers to Scylax as placing them along the Illyrian coast. Evans was also familiar with the legend of Cadmus and Harmonia transforming themselves into snakes or dragons, and with Cadmus’ son named Illyrus. “Greek” legend has Cadmus as king of Thebes.
“Greek” mythology tells of Cadmus slaying a water dragon, which brought him misfortune, and then asking the gods that if they cared so much for the life of a snake, he might become one himself, he was transformed into a snake, causing his wife Harmonia to request the same. luck from the gods.”
The cult of the snake in Albanian folk belief, as a relic of ancient pagan beliefs, not only flourished in the Albanian settlements of Albania and Kosovo, Chameria and Macedonia but also survived time and came to our days.
Snakes were an important part of Albanian folklore, since the way the snake symbol penetrated Albanian art, appearing on tombstones, in the clothing of Albanian women, being included in architecture and being part of their ritual practices.
Also, in the past in Albanian folk belief and ritual the snake was represented as an earthly creature with totemic power. It is no coincidence that the oldest stone pediment of the Gorgon, which dates back to 600 years BC, is located on the Albanian island of Corfu. In the scheme of the 3rd century BC pafta found in the monumental rock tombs of Selca e Poshtme, behind the back of the Illyrian knight is also outlined an Albanian divine snake.
The myth created with the protective elements of the snake and turning to stone are Albanian myths that were also embodied in the legend of the Gorgon. The Gorgon’s head was placed on objects, buildings and tombs.
Most researchers today think that the Gorgons were placed only for protection in buildings up to the body shields of soldiers and emperors.
What connection does the snake have with the birth of a baby? How can a snake be a protector for a baby or symbolize protection? I think that the symbol of the snake and the creation of its protective myth comes from the old symbol of the snake as a symbol of danger and death.
Psychoanalyst Joseph Lewis Henderson and ethnologist Maude Oakes have argued that the snake is a symbol of beginning, birth, and rebirth precisely because it is a symbol of death.
Anthropologist Lynne Isbell has argued that the snake as a symbol of death is unconsciously built into our minds due to our evolutionary history. Isbell argues that for millions of years snakes were the only predators of apes (primates) and that this explains why the fear of snakes is one of the most common phobias worldwide and why the symbol of the snake is so widespread in world mythology; the snake is an innate image of danger and death.
Etymology
A Gorgon (/ˈɡɔːrɡən/; plural: Gorgons, Ancient Greek: Γοργών/Γοργώ Gorgṓn/Gorgṓ) is a creature in Greek mythology. Gorgons occur in the earliest examples of Greek literature.
While descriptions of the Gorgon vary, the term most often refers to three sisters who are described as having hair made of poisonous snakes and terrifying features that turned those who saw them to stone.
Those indoctrinated by the “magnificent” culture of ancient Greco-Roman times say that the name is derived from the Ancient Greek word gorgós (γοργός), meaning ‘gloomy or terrible’, and seems to come from the same root as the Sanskrit word garjana (गर्जन), meaning a guttural sound, similar to the roar of a beast, thus possibly originating as an onomatopoeia.
Albanian has many words that are created from the sounds that linguistic objects produce. For example, hunger, gurgling, roaring, thundering. But when it created the word Gorgon, it created it based on a previous word /stone.
The Greeks, after they arrived, created a new word when the Albanians showed them their Pelasgian pearl, who were well known as masters of stone. Turning into stone was a terrible thing for the Greeks and they created a new word for Gorgon, terrible from the Pelasgian Gurbon. They had a phonetic problem with B, so they changed it to G.
References
Dhima, Edlira and Qemal, Ismail, ‘SKANDERBEG, AN EMBLEM IN WORLD LITERATURE’, European Scientific Journal, (January 2013), vol.9, No.2, pp.164-169.
Doli, Flamur, ‘Decoration from the snake cult belief system of the house, as evidenced in Kosovar folk architecture’, Faculty of Architecture, University of Pristina, Republic of Kosovo, Thesis Kosovo, No.1, (2009).
