Bauk (mythology)

Serbian mythological creature

Bauk (Serbian: Баук, Serbian pronunciation: [bauk]) is an animal-like mythical creature in Serbian mythology.[1] The bauk is described as hiding in dark places, holes, or abandoned houses, waiting to grab, carry away, and devour its victim; but it can be scared away by light and noise.[1] It has a clumsy gait (called bauljanje), and its onomatopoeia is bau (Serbian pronunciation: [bau]).[1]

Interpretation of the bauk's attributes leads to the conclusion that the bauk is actually a description of real bears,[1] which were already regionally extinct in some parts of Serbia and known only as legend.[1] The word "bauk" was initially used as a hypocorism.[1]

## In popular culture

[edit]

Bauk is used as the translation for goblin in Serbian editions of works of J. R. R. Tolkien, first translated by Mary and Milan Milišić.[2] Bauk is also used as the translation for the Imp in the Serbian edition of A Song of Ice and Fire series, translated by Nikola Pajvančić.[3] It's also used as the Croatian translation for Boggart in the Harry Potter book series.

In the cinematic reveal trailer for the upcoming video game The Witcher IV by Polish developer CD Projekt Red, the game's main protagonist can be seen fighting a bauk.[4]

## See also

[edit]

* Bear in culture

* v
* t
* e

Slavic mythology and religion

Deities|

* Chernobog and BelobogH
* ChernoglavF
* Dazhbog
* DevanaH
* Dyi [ru]H
* Diviya [ru; uz]H
* Khors
* KresnikH
* Lada mythology
* MoranaH
* Mokosh
* PizamarHH
* YariloH
* HennilH
* KyiH
* Lel and PolelH
* Niya
* Perun
* PodagaF
* Porenut
* Porevit
* Prove [ru] or ProneF
* RadegastH
* Rod
* Rugiaevit
* PereplutH
* PerperunaH
* Simargl
* Stribog
* Pogoda [ru; cs; fr]H
* Zelu [cs]H
* Svarog
* Svarozhits
* Svetovit
* Triglav
* Veles
* Yarovit
* ZhivaF
* Zorya
* ŻywieH

Personifications|

* Dola
* Karna and Zhelya [ru]H
* Koliada
* Mat Zemlya
* Moryana
* Rod
* Rozhanitsy
* Zorya

Pseudo-deities|

* Chislobog
* Chur
* Dana [ru]
* Dzidzileyla
* Flins
* Krodo
* Kupala
* Lada
* Lelya [ru]
* Pogvizd [ru]
* Troyan [ru]
* Uslad
* Vesna
* Voloska
* Yesha

Priesthood and cult|

* Vedmak
* Volkhv
* Zhrets

Legendary heroes|

* Alyosha Popovich
* Burislav
* Damned Jerina
* Đerzelez Alija
* Dobrynya Nikitich
* Dragon of Bosnia
* Hrnjica Brothers
* Ilya Muromets
* Ivan Kosančić
* Ivan Tsarevich
* Jugović brothers
* Kyi, Shchek and Khoryv
* Lech, Czech, and Rus'
* Libuše
* Mikula Selyaninovich
* Mila Gojsalić
* Milan Toplica
* Miloš Obilić
* Misizla
* Mustay-Bey of Lika
* Nikita the Tanner
* Popiel
* Prince Marko
* Sadko
* Solovey-Razboynik
* Svyatogor
* Vasilisa the Beautiful
* Volga Svyatoslavich

Legendary creatures|

| Unquiet dead|

* Vila
* Drekavac
* Kikimora
* Mavka
* Upiór

|

Place spirits|

* Bannik
* Bolotnik
* Cornflower Wraith
* Domovoy
* Dvorovoy
* Lady Midday
* Leshy
* Boruta
* Mistress of the Copper Mountain
* Moryana
* Ovinnik
* Polevik
* Vodyanoy
* Shubin
* Water spirits

Entities|

* Ala
* Alkonost
* Baba Yaga
* Babay
* Baš Čelik
* Bauk
* Berehynia
* Bies
* Black Arab
* Błędnica
* Blud
* Boginki
* Bukavac
* Chernava
* Chuhaister
* Cikavac
* Chort
* Čuma
* Dukljan
* Dziwożona
* Fern flower-Chervona Ruta
* Firebird
* Gagana
* Gamayun
* Indrik
* Ispolin
* Karzełek
* Koshchei
* Krsnik
* Likho
* Likhoradka
* Mare
* Meduza
* Molfar
* Nav
* Nocnitsa
* Płanetnik
* Povitrulya
* Psoglav
* Raróg
* Rahmans
* Raskovnik
* Rozhanitsy
* Rusalka
* Samodiva
* Sirin
* Shishiga
* Skrzak
* Strzyga
* Stuhać
* Stricha
* Sudice
* Tintilinić
* Topielec
* Ved
* Vesna
* Zduhać
* Zmey
* Werewolf

Ritual figures|

* Baba Marta
* German
* Dodola and Perperuna
* Koliada
* Kupala
* Kostroma
* Marzanna
* Maslenitsa
* Jarilo

Mythological places|

* Alatyr
* Bald Mountain
* Buyan
* Faraway Tsardom
* Oponskoye Kingdom
* Kitezh
* Lukomorye
* Vyraj

Objects|

* Axe of Perun
* Sword Kladenets

Beliefs|

* Creation myths
* First humans in Slavic mythology
* Russian traditions and superstitions
* Serbian folk astronomy

Folklore|

* Czech
* Russian
* Serbian
* Ukrainian
* Polish

Literature|

* Bosniak epic poetry
* Bylina
* Russian fairy tale
* Serbian epic poetry
* Ukrainian fairy tale

Christianization|

* Moravia (830s)
* Bulgaria (860s)
* Bohemia (880s)
* Poland (960s)
* Kievan Rus' (980s)
* Pomerania (1120s–60s)
* Bogomilism

Folk practices|

* Apocryphal prayer
* Zagovory
* Egg decoration
* Martenitsa

| Folk cults (also including Ossetian)|

* Ognyena Maria
* Paraskeva of Iconium
* Paraskeva Friday
* Nicholas the Wonderworker
* Veles
* Ilya the Prophet
* Uacilla
* George the Victorious
* Dazhbog
* Uastyrdzhi
* Saint Anastasia
* Saint Nedelya
* Saint Vlasius
* Veles
* Maslenitsa
* Saint Peter
* Donbettyr
* Saint Theodore
* Tutyr
* Saint Eustace
* Apsat

|

Revivalist organizations|

* God-Building
* Slavic Native Faith
* Authentism
* Bazhovism
* Ivanovism
* Kandybaism
* Levashovism
* Peterburgian Vedism
* Ringing Cedars' Anastasianism
* Slavic-Hill Rodnovery
* Sylenkoism
* Vseyasvetnaya Gramota
* Ynglism
* Roerichism
* Russian Zoroastrianism

In popular culture|

* Fantasy
* Film

Related topics|

* Book of Veles
* Slavic Native Faith's calendars and holidays

Notes: H historicity of the deity is dubious; F functions of the deity are unclear.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f Kulišić, Špiro (1970). "Баук". In Kulišić, Špiro; Petrović, Petar Ž.; Pantelić, Nikola (eds.). Српски митолошки речник (in Serbian). Belgrade: Nolit. p. 20.
2. ^ Tolkien, J. R. R. (1986). Hobit [The Hobbit] (in Serbian). Translated by Meri Milišić; Milan Milišić. Belgrade: Nolit. p. 65\. ISBN 86-19-00897-8. COBISS.SR 31269383.
3. ^ Martin, G. R. R. (2003). Igra prestola [A Game of Thrones] (in Serbian). Translated by Nikola Pajvančić. Belgrade: Laguna. p. 37, corresponding to page 34 (beginning of chapter "Eddard") of an English edition. ISBN 86-7436-099-8. COBISS.SR 107207180.
4. ^ The Witcher 4 Lore You Need To Know. IGN. December 13, 2024.

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