Dzerassae

Dzerassæ (Ossetian: Дзерассæ) is a figure in Ossetian mythology best known as the daughter of the water deity Donbettyr^[1] and the mother of several Nart saga heroes.^[2] She was the wife of Akhsartag.^[2] With him, she was the mother of the twin heroes Uryzmaeg and Haemyts.^[2] She was also the mother of Syrdon [ru], with Gaetaeg [ru].^[3][4] After her death, the archangel Uastyrdzhi revived her and they became lovers in her tomb. Her daughter, the Nart Satanaya, was born thereafter.^[5]

She was usually depicted with golden hair, and was able to change her shape into a deer or a fish.^[6] Anthropologist Kevin Tuite has noted that this makes her similar to the Svan goddess Dali, who was also golden-haired and could change into animals.^[6]

The Dzerassa Planitia on Venus is named for Dzerassae.^[7]