Accabadora — Angel of Death
I recently went on a trip to Sardinia, Italy’s second largest island, known for its rural and wild landscapes. Being interested in mythology, I asked my Sardinian aunt to tell me of any local folk tales or stories. I was then told of the Accabadora; a unique tale as it did not follow any folktale patterns I had heard before.
Brief research online shows that there are different variations of the story, but the following is the version I heard:
Long ago, when a family member had an incurable disease (and was presumably suffering), the family would call for the Accabadora and leave the house in the night with the door open. The Accabadora was an elderly woman who would enter the house and euthanise the sick person by hitting them over the head with a hammer or stick. Though a morbid task, some considered it useful, and the woman was likened to an angel. My aunt then explained that the etymology of ‘Accabadora’ stating the word ‘Accab-’ in Sardinian meant ‘to finish’.
Other versions of the story include placing a yoke under the head of the sick, the Accabadora’s role in midwivery, or removing personal objects from the room of the sick.
Interestingly, though my aunt and family believed the Accabadoras and their practice were a real historical event, it seems many historians are doubtful due to a lack of evidence. But even with a lack of historical validity, myths and folktales can still provide an insight into the culture and values of people long gone. Though the Accabadoras themselves may not have been real, this tale may be an indication that euthansia wasn’t taboo in historic Sardinia, perhaps due to death being a more common occurence.
However, due to the ever-changing nature of stories, one must use caution before drawing any strong conclusions from a single folktale. But in cases where there are other tales of a similar nature, there is more weight to any theories linking the tales. On this note, I found a well-written essay that linked the Accabadora to an ancient goddess, existing before the Indo-European migration, called the Great Mother. The author notes their similarities as both are sacred feminine figures associated with the boundary between life and death. For full details on this idea, the original essay, titled “Between Life and Death in Sardinia: S’accabadora”, can be found at this link: https://www.rasa.nu/uploads/1/2/1/9/121936601/ad_astra_june_2021-final_rev2.pdf
Considering Sardinia is somewhat isolated from the rest of the Mediterranean, it does seem possible that a tale relating to an ancient goddess may have survived despite the many changes in culture and religion in surrounding areas.
Though there’s a lot more that could be said about the Accabdora, many of the primary sources are in Italian, making research difficult. If there’s enough interest in this article, I’ll create another longer and more detailed essay on the topic, with full references to primary sources.
If you have heard similar stories, or any feedback on this article, I’d love to hear about it in the comments!