Sharatz carrying Marko over rocky water in Gilbert James’s illustration for Petrovitch’s Serbian hero tales
The piebald Sharatz carries Marko over rocky water in a heroic scene from Petrovitch’s selected Serbian tales.
Overview
Sharatz, modern Šarac, is Marko’s piebald companion. Petrovitch preserves several acquisition accounts: a Vila gives him; Marko nurses an apparently diseased foal; or a service reward permits choosing a foal that resists the hero’s attempted movement. These are alternatives rather than consecutive stages. The horse receives bread and wine from his rider’s vessels and guards him when he sleeps.
In combat he kneels to evade an opponent’s lance, rears against other chargers and leaps distances measured in lance lengths. Sparks, broken earth and blue flame from the nostrils amplify the heroic portrait. He overtakes the flying Raviyoyla in the named mountain encounter. Another tradition places Marko sleeping in a cave until his sword emerges from rock, with Sharatz still eating the remaining hay. That waiting account is not harmonised with another ending elsewhere in the collection.
Origins & earliest records
Woislav M. Petrovitch, Hero Tales and Legends of the Serbians, Chapter IV: The Horse Sharatz, pp. 61–65; Veela encounter pp. 103–104. The inspected English volume lists first publication August 1914 and reprints through December 1921. Local source chains and alternative narratives remain attributed.
Records & interpretation
Relevant complete primary section and connected encounter read, with printed locators retained. Descriptive titles used for unnamed subjects. Comparison with classical mythology and claims about whole populations remain the author’s dated interpretations.
In the literature
“his nostrils exhaled a quivering blue flame”
Chapter IV, The Horse Sharatz, p.63; narrated capacity · Woislav M. Petrovitch
The overview gives flame from the nostrils, sparks and powerful leaps; the specific pursuit repeats leaps three lance-lengths high and four forward before catching Raviyoyla. It gives no explicit wings. Careful guarding, kneeling to avoid a weapon and sharing bread/wine are attributed narrative behaviours, not ordinary equine physiology.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Hero Tales and Legends of the Serbians, Chapter IV: The Horse Sharatz, pp. 61–65; Veela encounter pp. 103–104
The Horse Sharatz preserves alternative acquisition accounts and the cave-waiting tradition; the named Veela encounter describes his pursuit of Raviyoyla.
- 02
Hero Tales and Legends of the Serbians
Woislav M. Petrovitch, Hero Tales and Legends of the Serbians, London: George G. Harrap; selected December1921 reprint, first August1914 publication explicitly printed. Complete selected Pavilion, Prince Marko and the Veela, and Death of Prince Marko episodes, plus full Veele and Horse Sharatz introductory accounts independently read. Selected original English prose, no modern translation.
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Located primary passages
Specific passages supporting details in this entry, grouped by their published witness.
Hero Tales and Legends of the Serbians
Woislav M. Petrovitch, Hero Tales and Legends of the Serbians, London: George G. Harrap; selected December1921 reprint, first August1914 publication explicitly printed. Complete selected Pavilion, Prince Marko and the Veela, and Death of Prince Marko episodes, plus full Veele and Horse Sharatz introductory accounts independently read. Selected original English prose, no modern translation.
- The compiler separately reports a veela’s gift, purchase and care of an apparently diseased foal, and three years’ service rewarded by a chosen foal that resisted Marko’s strength. These are alternative acquisition accounts, not consecutive stages. Sharatz is glossed piebald, with endearments Sharo/Sharin and an attributed160-year companionship.
Chapter IV, The Horse Sharatz, pp.61–63; distinct acquisition versions
- The overview gives flame from the nostrils, sparks and powerful leaps; the specific pursuit repeats leaps three lance-lengths high and four forward before catching Raviyoyla. It gives no explicit wings. Careful guarding, kneeling to avoid a weapon and sharing bread/wine are attributed narrative behaviours, not ordinary equine physiology.
Chapter IV, The Horse Sharatz / Prince Marko and the Veela, pp.62–63 / 103–104; capacities
- One introductory account leaves Marko sleeping in a cave and Sharatz still eating hay. The separately rendered death episode instead has the horse stumble and weep before Marko, warned of death, beheads and honourably buries it to prevent enemy possession. These opposing endings are explicit traditions, not a resurrection connecting both.
Chapter IV, introductory death traditions pp.64–65 versus The Death of Prince Marko pp.115–118
Original Serbian witness not independently inspected; compiler comparisons and variant endings attributed. No sacred formulas excerpted.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary textPetrovitch primary section: Chapter IV: The Horse Sharatz, pp. 61–64; Veela encounter pp. 103–104Research access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationSharatz carrying Marko over rocky water in Gilbert James’s illustration for Petrovitch’s Serbian hero tales
The piebald Sharatz carries Marko over rocky water in a heroic scene from Petrovitch’s selected Serbian tales.
