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Encyclopedia > Slavic dragon
Dobrynya Nikitich slaying Zmey Gorynych, by Ivan Bilibin
Dobrynya Nikitich slaying Zmey Gorynych, by Ivan Bilibin
Dobrynya Nikitch rescues Princess Zabava from Zmey Gorynych, by Ivan Bilibin
Dobrynya Nikitch rescues Princess Zabava from Zmey Gorynych, by Ivan Bilibin

In Slavic mythology, European dragons have their peculiarities. A dragon is called zmey in Russian and Bulgarian, zmiy in Old Church Slavonic, and zmaj in Serbian and Croatian. Most of these words are masculine forms of the Slavic word for "snake". In Romania, there is a similar figure, derived from the Slavic dragon and named zmeu. In Polish and Belarussian culture there is the word smok. Image File history File links Ivan Bilibin. ... Image File history File links Ivan Bilibin. ... Bogatyrs (1898) by Viktor Vasnetsov Alongside Alyosha Popovich and Ilya Muromets, is a bogatyr (i. ... Ivan Ya. ... Image File history File links Dobryna. ... Image File history File links Dobryna. ... Ivan Ya. ... Problems The Pagan ideas have went into the wind, Poland is now a very large Catholic Populous. ... Saint George versus the dragon, Gustave Moreau, c. ... // Chinese dragon, colour engraving on wood, Chinese school, 19th Century The dragon is a mythical creature typically depicted as a large and powerful serpent or other reptile, with magical or spiritual qualities. ... Old Church Slavonic (Old Bulgarian, Old Macedonian, and Old Slavic) is the first literary Slavic language, developed from the Slavic dialect of Thessaloniki (Solun) by the 9th century Byzantine missionaries, Saints Cyril and Methodius. ... The Zmeu (plural: zmei, feminin: zmeoaică/zmeoaice) is a fantastic creature of Romanian folklore and Romanian mythology. ...


East Slavic

In Russia and Ukraine, a particular dragon-like creature, Zmey Gorynych, has three heads, is green, walks on two back paws, has small front paws, and spits fire. According to one bylina, Zmey Gorynych was killed by Dobrynya Nikitich. Heracles and the Lernaean Hydra by Gustave Moreau: The Hydra is perhaps the best known mythological multi-headed animal, also popularised in many fantasy settings. ... Bylina (Russian: были́на, also Byliny and Stariny) is a traditional epic, heroic narrative poetry of early East Slavs of Kievan Rus, the tradition continued in Russia and Ukraine. ... Bogatyrs (1898) by Viktor Vasnetsov Alongside Alyosha Popovich and Ilya Muromets, is a bogatyr (i. ...


Other Russian dragons (such as Tugarin Zmeyevich) have Turkic names, probably symbolizing the Mongols and other steppe peoples. Accordingly, St George (symbolizing Christianity) killing the Dragon (symbolizing Satan) is represented on the coat of arms of Moscow. Some prehistoric structures, notably the Serpent's Wall near Kiev, have been associated with dragons as symbols of foreign peoples. Tugarin Zmeyevich (Russian: ) is a mythical creature in Russian bylinas and fairy tales, which impersonates evil and harmfulness and appears in the form of a bogatyr of a dragon-like nature. ... The Turkic languages constitute a language family of some thirty languages, spoken across a vast area from Eastern Europe to Siberia and Western China with an estimated 140 million native speakers and tens of millions of second-language speakers. ... Mongols (Mongolian: Монгол Mongol) are an ethnic group that originated in what is now Mongolia, Russia, and China or more specifically on the Central Asian plateau north of the Gobi desert and south of Siberia. ... A steppe in Western Kazakhstan in early spring In physical geography, a steppe (Russian: - step, Ukrainian: - step, Kazakh: - dala), pronounced in English as step, is a plain without trees (apart from those near rivers and lakes); it is similar to a prairie, although a prairie is generally considered as being... For alternate uses, see Saint George (disambiguation) Saint George on horseback rides alongside a wounded dragon being led by a princess, late 19th century engraving. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Gustave Dorés depiction of Satan from John Miltons Paradise Lost Satan, from the Hebrew word for accuser (Standard Hebrew: , Satan Tiberian Hebrew ; Koine Greek: , Satanás; Aramaic: , ; Arabic: , , Geez: Sāyṭān, Slavic Сатана), is a term with its origins in the Abrahamic faiths which is traditionally applied... Modern emblem of Moscow The Coat of Arms of Moscow depicts a horseman with a spear in his hand slaying a dragon. ... Serpents Wall (Ukrainian: ) is a landmark in the north of Ukraine, near the city of Kiev. ... Location Map of Ukraine with Kiev highlighted. ...


South Slavic

In Slovenia a dragon is called zmaj, although an archaic word of unclear origins, pozoj, is sometimes used as well. Dragons in Slovenia are generally negative in nature, and usually appear in relation with St. George. Other, presumably pre-christian folk tales relate stories of dragons defeated similarly as the Polish Wawel Dragon, i.e. by tricking them into devouring lime. However, the dragon is not always harmful to man. The best example of this is the Ljubljana dragon, who benevolently protects the city of Ljubljana and is pictured in the city's coat of arms. For alternate uses, see Saint George (disambiguation) Saint George on horseback rides alongside a wounded dragon being led by a princess, late 19th century engraving. ... Smok Wawelski, also known as The Dragon of Wawel Hill or simply The Wawel Dragon, is a famous dragon in Polish folklore. ...   (IPA: ) is the capital and largest city in Slovenia. ...


In Croatia, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro a dragon is called zmaj, zmej or lamja. It is a multi-headed dragon (with 3, 7 or 9 heads) who breathes fire. Also in Serbia and Bosnia it is also called aždaja or ala, the latter corresponding to Bulgarian hala (see Azhi Dahaka and Zilant). Most probably from Bulgarian, the word for 'dragon' (zmeu, with E and not with A as in Serbian, Croatian and Slovenian) was borrowed among the Romanians. Motto: none Anthem(s): Intermeco Capital Sarajevo Largest city Sarajevo Official language(s) Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian Government Republic  - Presidency members Haris Silajdžić1 (Bosniak) NebojÅ¡a Radmanović (Serb) Željko KomÅ¡ić (Croat)  - Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adnan Terzić Independence From Yugoslavia   - Recognized 6 April 1992  Area  - Total... Motto: none Anthem: Bože pravde (English: God of Justice) Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Serbian, cyrillic script1 Government Republic  - Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica  - President Boris Tadić Establishment    - Formation 814   - First Serbian Uprising 1804   - Internationally recognized July 13, 1878   - Kingdom of SCS created December 1, 1918   - SCG dissolved June... Anthem: Oj, svijetla majska zoro Capital (and largest city) Podgorica Montenegrin of the Ijekavian dialect1 Government Republic  - President Filip Vujanović  - Prime Minister Željko Å turanović Independence From Serbia and Montenegro   - Declared June 3, 2006   - Recognised June 8, 2006  Area  - Total 14,026 km² (159th) 5,414 sq mi   - Water (%) 1. ... Motto: none Anthem: Bože pravde (English: God of Justice) Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Serbian, cyrillic script1 Government Republic  - Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica  - President Boris Tadić Establishment    - Formation 814   - First Serbian Uprising 1804   - Internationally recognized July 13, 1878   - Kingdom of SCS created December 1, 1918   - SCG dissolved June... Motto: none Anthem(s): Intermeco Capital Sarajevo Largest city Sarajevo Official language(s) Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian Government Republic  - Presidency members Haris Silajdžić1 (Bosniak) NebojÅ¡a Radmanović (Serb) Željko KomÅ¡ić (Croat)  - Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adnan Terzić Independence From Yugoslavia   - Recognized 6 April 1992  Area  - Total... Zahak, Zahhak, Zahak-e Tāzi or (Arab Zahak) also knwon as Bivar-Asp, which means [he who has] 10,000 horses in the Pahlavi (middle Persian) language, and Avestan Āži-Dahāk) is a mythical figure of ancient Persia (Iran). ... Coat of arms of Kazan guberniya (1730). ... The Zmeu (plural: zmei, feminin: zmeoaică/zmeoaice) is a fantastic creature of Romanian folklore and Romanian mythology. ...


See also


  Results from FactBites:
 
European dragon: Information From Answers.com (2095 words)
The dragon of the modern period is typically depicted as a huge fire-breathing, scaly and horned dinosaur-like creature, with leathery wings, with four legs and a long muscular tail.
The female dragon represents harsh weather and is the destroyer of crops, the hater of mankind, and is locked in a never ending battle with her brother.
The legend of Saint George and the dragon is well-known in Italy.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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