Jelim (Çamëria giants)
Jelim / Jelimi
Elsie Jelim: Saranda/Çamëria giants; descent tradition
Description
Southern Albanian giants of the Saranda–Çamëria zone. Elsie 2001 s.v. Jelim: Alb. jelim, def. jelimi; known to the Saranda region. The Çams believed themselves descended from a race of ancient jelims. Name trail debated via Greek Hellēn with Slavic transmission — folk etymology, not ethnic identity. He is not the same as the one-eyed Katallan.
Features
- giant race known to Saranda region (Elsie)
- Çam descent-from-jelims tradition (Elsie)
Lead story
In the south they still speak of jelims — giants of the Saranda country. Çam memory keeps a harder claim: that the people themselves descend from that ancient race. He is not the same as the one-eyed Katallan of the forge songs.
Aliases
Jelim · Jelimi · Jelimet
Region
Southern Albania — Saranda / Çamëria (Cams); descent tradition
Relations
- Katallan (cyclops / one-eyed giant)not the cyclops
- Div (loan ogre)not the loan ogre
- Gog (podgy clumsy giant)not the tumulus giant
- Deli Marku (stride giant)not the same as
Linked stories
- Jelim — Çamëria giant descentRecorded
Elsie Jelim: Saranda giants; Çams claim descent from ancient jelims. Not Katallan, Gog, or Div.
- Deli Marku — Krraba stepRecorded
One step from Kruja to Krraba Pass; footprint left in the stone.