Al Pab - the antagonist of pregnant women and protector of wild animals

In the Lezgian mythology one of the most dangerous demons is known as Al Pab. Her name consists of two words "Al" - "Fiery" and "Pab" - "Woman". For this reason Al Pab is translated as "Fiery Woman". She is depicted as a very tall old woman, with long claws and reddish hair that goes all the way down to her heels. She also has big copper breasts. Al Pab exposes herself to people naked or dressed in rags. She lives in abandoned places, mountains or caves.

The main mission of Al Pab is to steal the viscera of pregnant women. She has the power of transformation. Al Pab may come to a pregnant woman in a form of some relative or a neighbour and start to talk to her. As soon as the victim opens her mouth to answer, Al Pab catches the tongue and pulls itout together with the viscera. Afterwards Al Pab must take the inner organs and put them into water, and if she manages, the victim dies. It is said that Al Pab is responsible for the excessive bleeding during the child-birth.

Interestingly, despite being an evil demon, Al Pab is the protector of wild animals and understands the animal language. She punishes hunters who are hunting pregnant wild animals. Al Pab bestowes special patronage to turs. Tur, or more specifically East Caucasian tur, is a mountain-dwelling caprine found only in the eastern half of the Greater Caucasus mountains. In the Lezgian language tur is called "суван яц" [suvan jats] which translates as "mountain ox". Al Pab eats the placenta of turs after they give birth. It should be noted that in general turs are considered by Lezgians to be sacred animals. It is allowed to hunt only male turs, but not female ones. Moreover, the meat of turs is prohibited from selling - one can only give it away for free to other people.