Authors

Discussion

The paper aims to present cultural transfers and semantic transformations of the topos of the immured woman. Taking as a starting point texts of the songs that describe human sacrifice (in Serbian the “The Building of Skadar” and „Damn Jerina“; and in Croatian the legend of Ružicagrad and the legend about Veronika of Desinice), we will analyze how these cultures recycle the topos and how they provide it with new meanings. The image of women's figures presented in Serbian and Croatian versions differs significantly, stretching from compliant victims to defiant fairies and blustering rebels. This wide range of women characters reflects the changes of function of this popular Balkan folk tale.