Pukis or Puke ( Latvian. Pūķis ; Lat . Pyučs; pyukulis ; lit. pūkys ) - in Latvian mythology a flying spirit, a dragon. In Latvian legends, he appeared as a fire-breathing many-headed serpent, a spirit that brought wealth to the house. The dragon Pukis personified with the forces of darkness, he can sell the soul and the master Pukis can not ask for the blessing of God. According to Pukis beliefs, you need to feed the blood and give people. The owner of the dragon Pukis dies in agony and does not find peace even after death. Pukisa can be killed with a silver bullet.
The etymology of the word Pukis is not completely clear, according to Peter Schmidt, the word comes from German, according to Janis Enzelins, the word may have Latvian roots.
Sources
- Pukis // Mythological Dictionary / Ch. ed. E.M. Meletinsky . - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia , 1990. - 672 p.
- Pukis // Myths of the World, / Ed. S.A. Tokarev . - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia , 1992. - Vol.2 - 719 p.
- Pukis // Big Encyclopedic Dictionary . 2000
- Adamovice L., Pũkis latviesu folklora un senlatviesu mitologija, "Rigas Latvieiu Biedrlbas Zinatnu Komitejae. Rakatu krajums., Kr. 23 A. Humanitari raksti, Riga, 1940.