The mythology of the Slavs is colorful and diverse.Ancient Russia included many tribes, and each of them had “their own” mythical creatures unknown to the neighboring nations: all sorts of banniki, ovynniki, anchutki and others. The Ruses endowed the heavenly bodies and natural phenomena, mountains, trees and reservoirs with supernatural powers. Ancient mythical creatures accompanied our ancestors everywhere: at home, in the field, in the stable, on the road, on the hunt ...
Goblin
Goblin seemed a tall shaggy old man.Slavs believed that he keeps the forest and all its inhabitants, protects trees and animals from uninvited guests. Leshy loves to fool around - to confuse the traveler, showing him the cherished mushrooms mushrooms. But if not to piss him off, he will get angry, lure him into the wilderness!
Some researchers believe that the image of Leshego was reborn from the image of the ancient god Veles - the patron of pastures and livestock, steppe and forest animals, the bearer of hunting luck.
Brownie
В каждой избушке непременно жил Домовой - the keeper of the hearth, caring for the welfare and wealth of the whole family, guarding livestock and crops, helping to find the lost. Perhaps Brownies are the most numerous mythical creatures. Pictures with their images, various proverbs and proverbs, fairy tales and songs speak of a nationwide love for the little masters.
Good-natured Brownie was taken to feed,leaving the kitchen at night all sorts of goodies. Especially loves Brownie porridge, seasoned with butter. Everyone tried to live in harmony with the house keepers, not to annoy them. And by the way, it’s easy to annoy: just run the house, don’t care about the order, offend the household and animals. Then blame yourself! Oh, and the same kind grandfather-Brownie will avenge such a disgrace!
Kikimora
In the view of the ancient Slavs, Kikimora isevil mythical creatures living in every home. But, unlike the Brownies, they do not help the owners, but rather: confuse the yarn, spoil the tow, disturb the sleeping babies, torture the cattle, beat the dishes ... It was presented by Kikimora, a gray-haired old woman, with a long nose and a nasty squeaky voice.
Water
Lord of the river and lake depths - Water -may be gracious to a person, for example, will help in fishing. But if he is angry, he will take away the fish, hide fords, dry up the streams. And maybe the bottom of the drag. How to annoy Water? It is very simple: to litter on the banks, to throw unnecessary rubbish into the water, mindlessly devastating the wealth of reservoirs.
Mermaids
Helper Waterman.The ancients believed that these mythical creatures are the souls of children who died unbaptized. According to another version, drowned women become mermaids. In Russia, mermaids were represented by young girls with long lush hair and pale skin. It was believed that at night they go dancing to the shore. By the way, they had no tails. The week before the holiday of God Kupala was called Rusal - at this time the girls left gifts for mermaids on the shore: colorful ribbons, beads, rags.
Zmey Gorynych
One of the most ancient creatures.His former name is Triglav. The task of the Snake was reduced mainly to the kidnapping of young maidens. Many historians believe that the image of the Serpent arose due to the raids of the steppe-dwellers, who were taking captive girls.
Baba Yaga
В старинных сказках Яга выступает почти всегда в the same role: he tormented with riddles and hovers in the main character's bathhouse, supplies him with all sorts of magical things (sword-sword, invisible cap, boots-walkers) or guiding attributes (tangle, for example), and then releases. Beyond the threshold of her hut begins a mystical way, full of trials. All these manipulations are also associated with the ideas of the ancient Slavs about death and the afterlife.
