Thanks, Neima, for bringing this into the light. It;s actually an interesting problem.

While I"m compelled to agree that Baba Yaga is not entirely a monster, I cannot also possibly agree that she;s a goddess. It;s way too far fetched a claim.

In Polish, the word baba is a rude word to describe a woman, who is sually rather unoleasnat and crude herself. We say" Co za baba!, which is an equivalent of sorts of "Co za czlowiek! " and this could be literarily translated as "What an a jerk (pardon my words, if it offends you, it;s just a transaltion") and in Plish folklore she is simply known as an evil witch - one who captures and eats childen and who does all sorts of misdeeds. She;s a miscreant, luring people with her wicked magic.

And other cultures know such perosns too. For instance in a Greek legend on the aghter of the sun, there is a wicked wotch which tries to prevent the little girl from coming home

In some fairy tales, however, she can be a good fairy, I think and her interpreation is therefore amibiguous.

But she;s no goddess , for sure, at least not for me.

Any thoughts? Perhaps any evidence to show her as a good fairy? Or do you think she;s a goddess of some sorts (althopugh she can be easily conquered - there;s one Polish tale to show this, which I"m going to post later.)