Besa (Albanian culture)

Besa (pledge of honor)^[1] is an Albanian cultural precept, usually translated as "faith" or "oath", that means "to keep the promise" and "word of honor", regarded as something sacred and inviolable.^[2]^[3] The Albanian word is an Indo-European cognate and shares similarities with the Classical Latin word fides. In Late Antiquity and the Medieval period, fides took on the Christian meaning of 'faith' or '(religious) belief,' a sense that persists in modern Romance languages and was later borrowed into Albanian as feja. Originally, however, fides had an ethical and juridical meaning and was personified as the Roman goddess Fides. Besa is of prime importance as a cornerstone of personal and social conduct in the Albanian traditional customary law (Kanun), which has directed all the aspects of Albanian tribal society.

The Albanian adjective besnik, derived from besa, means "faithful", "trustworthy", i.e. one who keeps his word. Besnik for men and Besa for women continue to be popular names among Albanians.

^ Cite error: The named reference Gawrych19 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Elsie, Robert (2001). A Dictionary of Albanian Religion, Mythology and Folk Culture. London: Hurst & Company. p. 35. ISBN 1-85065-570-7.
^ Kushova, Alma (July 21, 2004). "Besa". Open Democracy. Retrieved 2009-11-08.

[Gawrych19-1] Cite error: The named reference Gawrych19 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[2] Elsie, Robert (2001). A Dictionary of Albanian Religion, Mythology and Folk Culture. London: Hurst & Company. p. 35. ISBN 1-85065-570-7.

[wordorigin-3] Kushova, Alma (July 21, 2004). "Besa". Open Democracy. Retrieved 2009-11-08.

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