| Al | |
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| One
of a group of demonic spirits of Persian mythology that
was half-human and half-beast, with fiery eyes, tusks
like that of a boar, iron nails, brass claws, and shaggy
hair. These spirits are generally confined to bogs but
can often be found in unswept areas of the house. They
are thought to bring disease and miscarriage, stealing
away a pregnant woman's child to devour it. Protection
against an Al would be to surround a pregnant woman with
iron weapons and keep her alive after childbirth. In Afghanistan, the Al are spirits that eat corpses, often taking the shape of women with floating hair and long nails. |