Bies /ˈbjɛs/orbes (Russian: бес [ˈbʲɛs]) is an evil spirit or demoninSlavic mythology. Under the influence of Christianity the word often became synonymous with chort.
After the acceptance of Christianity the bies (same as chort or czort) became identified with the devil, corresponding to the being referred to in Ancient Greek, as either daimon (δαίμων), daimónionorpneuma (πνεῦμα). For example, biesy (Russian plural of bies) is used in the standard Russian translation of Mark 5:12, where we have the devils entering the swine in KJV.[1][2][non-primary source needed] Compare to Ukrainian bisyorbisytysia and Polish zbiesić się (to go mad). In Slovenian (bes), Croatian (bijes) and Serbian (bes) the word means "rage", "fury".[3][4]
In the mythology of Jah Hut people, one of the Orang Asli tribes living in Malaysia, there are beings called bès. This word generally refers to dangerous spirits living in the jungle and often attacking people, causing illnesses by spirit possession etc. It is possible to tame them by carving "sepili" - small wooden sculptures depicting the bès one has troubles with. If the bès likes its look, they may move into the sculpture in which moment they can be trapped inside by a special ritual. After it's done, people must make sure to get the sepili as far away from their village as possible to avoid bès' anger once they break free. Traditionally, they bury the sepili deep in the jungle.[5] Nowadays, many native artists also sell their sepili as souvenirs to tourists.
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