The Al is a demon or evil spirit spoken of in the mythology and folklore of the Caucasus, Iran, Central
Asia, and Armenia. This demon is known by various other names, such as alk in Armenian and Kurdish
dialects; ol, hal, and xal in Tajikistan and Afghanistan; almasti or albasti in Central Asian Turkic speaking
countries, then, halmasti among the Dards. The Al are demons of childbirth, majorly
interfering with human reproduction. There are stories of how the Al demon came to be.
Near Eastern traditions narrated that God created an al as Adam's first consort, but
the earth-born Adam couldn't adapt to the al's fiery nature; so, the al was cast away
and Eve was given to Adam. They say this is the origin of the enmity between the al and
Eve and her daughters.
In Armenian descriptions, The al demons are ugly entities that have clay noses and fiery
eyes, and "appear with sharp fangs, disheveled hair, copper claws, iron teeth, the tusks
of a wild boar and sagging breasts, resembling a crone." They can be male and female.
In Iran, the al is described as "a bony, thin old woman, with a clay nose, red face, and
a straw or reedy basket hanging from its shoulder, in which the liver or lung of the young mother
is placed." While In Central Asia, the al is usually
described as "an obese, ugly and hairy crone or witch with sagging breasts, an always carrying
a bag where she puts her trophies which are usually the organs of pregnant women .
The al demons are said to steal the lung, liver and heart of women in childbirth, pregnant
women, and women who have just given birth. They also destroy embryos in the womb, causing
miscarriage, and can steal babies forty days after childbirth, replacing them with imps.
In ancient armenian tales, they wait near the home of a pregnant woman and will attempt
to steal the child for up to 7 months after childbirth. If this can't be accomplished
they will steal an organ from the mother. Usually it's the heart, lung, or liver which
are amongst their favorites.
Expecting mothers were often surrounded by armed guards. And almost all the time, they
would cut the air and beat nearby streams and brooks to protect the mother and child.
But the peculiar moment in this time is if the mother faints. When this happens, it is
assumed that an Al is nearby or in the birthing room and the child is taken to a flat roof
and offered to the evil spirits to make peace.
Aftert the al steals the organs of a woman, it attempts to escape and cross the first
source of water. Once the demon crosses the first source of water it finds, neither the
woman nor the child can be saved. The al demons have a master who lives in the
abyss. He is chained and molten lead is sprinkled on him up to his neck. The Al sometimes will
take the organs or child to his master as offerings.
They often inhabit the waters, but can also dwell in swamps and any other damp places.
To keep the Al away, and prevent it from reaching water, Apotropaic wards used against other
demons (such as charms, prayers, iron objects, onions, and garlic) are used .