Armenian Monsters & Spirits: Shahapet (Շահապետ)
friendly and guarding ghosts
usually in shape of a serpent; serpent-ghost
live in houses, orchards, fields and forest and especially graveyards
name meaning: lord of the field or lord of the land
appears both as man and as serpent
always good character, except when angered
even vinestocks and olive-trees had Shahapets
there are district serpents, guarding a district (hurting strangers and leaving inhabitants in peace)
Shvaz
-> Shahabeds that are more common outside
-> watched over the agricultural products and labours
-> appears to men once a year in the spring
Shvod
-> Shahabeds that guard houses
-> treated well, they will thank the residents of the house with gold
-> a conflict will drive them away
-> even today people scare naughty children with their name
-> instead of offering them presents for a good harvest, the Armenians take sticks and hit the walls of their houses to drive the Shvods out, so they will help with the field work
-> sometimes they appear in the middle of the night as strangers seeking hospitality and it pays to be kind and considerate to them
-> if they depart in anger, they will leave nothing but sorrow and misfortune behind
Other names
-> Khshatharapti
-> Shavod
-> Shoitharapaiti
-> Shvaz
-> Shvod
