Ora (mythology)

Ora
Grouping	Legendary creature
Similar entities	Zana, Vitore, Moirai, Fatia, Mira, Norns
Folklore	Albanian
Country	Albania, Kosovo
Region	Northern Albania, Kosovo
Habitat	Forests and mountains, residing in streams, lakes, and caves

The Ora (Albanian: orë, definite form: ora, pl.: orë/t) is an Albanian mythological figure that every human possesses from birth, associated with human destiny and fate.^[1]^[2] The essential function of the ora is to maintain the order of the universe and to enforce its laws.^[3]

The ora is regarded as a kind of personal goddess belonging to only one individual.^[4] The ora organize the aspect of all humankind by attending the birth of every human and weaving his future.^[5] The ora that belongs to the house is often imagined as a serpent.^[6]

The Northern Albanian Ora, along with the Zana, can be found within the folk beliefs and oral epics of the Gheg Albanians. Folk beliefs of the Southern Tosk Albanians reveal similar Albanian mythological figures of fate and destiny, the Mira and Fatia.^[7]

^ Lurker 2005, p. 143.
^ Elsie 2001, p. 194.
^ Doja 2005, p. 459.
^ Doja 2005, p. 457.
^ Doja 2005, pp. 456, 459.
^ Doja 2005, p. 458.
^ Doja 2005, p. 456.

[FOOTNOTELurker2005143-1] Lurker 2005, p. 143.

[FOOTNOTEElsie2001194-2] Elsie 2001, p. 194.

[FOOTNOTEDoja2005459-3] Doja 2005, p. 459.

[FOOTNOTEDoja2005457-4] Doja 2005, p. 457.

[FOOTNOTEDoja2005456,_459-5] Doja 2005, pp. 456, 459.

[FOOTNOTEDoja2005458-6] Doja 2005, p. 458.

[FOOTNOTEDoja2005456-7] Doja 2005, p. 456.

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