Supernatural forces and mythological element in Bulgarian and Italian mythological ideas: comparison and analogies of selected images

Velev, Ventzislav. Supernatural forces and mythological element in Bulgarian and Italian mithological ideas: comparison and analogies of selected images. – In. Modern dimensions in the European educational and research area. Vol. 12 - Proceedings with Papers of the Eighteenth International Traveling Seminar of ULSIT “Modern Dimensions in the European Educational and Research Area. Bulgarian-Sicilian Cultural Communication” - 2nd – 7th June 2024. University of Messina - Sicily, Italy. Academic Publisher “Za bukvite – O pismeneh”. Sofia, 2024, pp. 27-32. ISSN 2367-7988 The mythological conceptions of different cultures, apart from their specificities, often have their similarities, which are sometimes even more than the differences. Mythology is rich in supernatural beings that reflect the beliefs and cultural characteristics of a people. In this context, Bulgarian and Italian mythology offer interesting analogies and similarities in their supernatural entities that intertwine with the customs, beliefs, and folklore of their societies. A first glance reveals that Bulgarian and Italian mythologies have rich traditions of supernatural forces and mythological elements that have shaped their cultures and narratives over the centuries. And as noted, although each mythology has its own unique characteristics, there are also similarities and shared motifs between them. In the present material, based on various studies, an attempt will be made for a brief comparison and general analysis of the similarities and differences of some of the most common characters existing in the Bulgarian and Italian folk representations, which are not only preserved, but still alive today.