Chur (Russian:Чур) is aSlavic pseudo-deity speculated in 19th century to exist inSlavic mythology.
Leonard Arthur Magnus wrote that this god was reconstructed into the Slavic pantheon as a God of Boundaries, although some researchers, such asIvan Sakharov, deny the existence of any positive knowledge about Chur.[1] In particular,Vasily Klyuchevsky assumed the existence of such a household deity, judging from the traces remained in the language, and compared Chur with ancient Roman deityTerminus.[2]
TheBrockhaus and Efron Lesser Encyclopedic Dictionary gave the following definition: "Chur, in Slavic mythology, a deity of boundary marks, who patronized acquisition and profit. Symbol:чурки (churki) andчурбаны (churbany),[a] that is, boundary marks."[3]
In Russian language "chur" is preserved in a number of expressions. Magnus wrote that an expression "chur menya ot nego" (let's have no more of him" was used to stop an unpleasant conversation.[1] In modern Russian the exclamation "Chur menya!" is used as a spell against something unpleasant; the verb "churatsya" means "to shun", "Чур, моё!" is akin to "Finders keepers!", etc.
Max Vasmer in hisEtymological Dictionary reports doubts expressed by otherSlavists (Stanisław Rożniecki [sv] andAleksander Brückner) and marks as doubtful various etymological origins and associations.[4]
InThe Petty Demon byFyodor Sologub: A woman told Peredonov (the protagosist) that someone could have put spell on vodka. Peredonv, in panic, splashed vodka out and shouted: "Chur me, chur, chur, chur! A conspiracy against the conspirator, let the evil tongue dry up, let the black eye burst. It'skarachun for him, andchur-perechur for me" [Чур меня, чур, чур, чур! Заговор на заговорщика, злому языку сохнуть, чёрному глазу лопнуть. Ему карачун, меня чур-перечур].