Aliosha Popovich
Aliosha Popovich (Aljosa Popovic) (11th century c.e.) In Russian legend, bogatyr (epic hero) who appears in the bylini (epic songs) and in folktales. Aliosha was…
Month: October 2019
Alexander Nevsky
Alexander Nevsky (1220–1263) In Russian legend, prince-saint who defended Russia against foreign invaders. The heroic personality Alexander Nevsky, the first prince of Novgorod and (after…
Ala
Ala is in Russian mythology, daughter of Volos, god of beasts and flocks. Serge Prokofiev’s ballet Ala and Lolli (1914–1915) deals with the myth. In…
Afanasiev, Alexander Nikolaievitch
Afanasiev, Alexander Nikolaievitch (Afanasyeu, Afanasyeff) (1826–1871) was a Russian folklorist, compiler of Russian Folktales (1855– 1863), published in eight parts. Afanasiev’s work, which has achieved…
Rákóczi, Ferenc
Rákóczi, Ferenc (1675–1735) In Hungarian legend, prince who led a revolt against Austrian oppression. According to some tales, he did not die but is resting,…
Kossuth, Lajos
Kossuth, Lajos (1802–1894) In Hungarian legend, freedom fighter in the war of independence. He was the minister of finance in the first independent national government…
Istvan
Istvan In this Hungarian folktale, reminiscent of the Russian story of Ivan the Dragon Killer, two brothers must slay two seven-headed dragons. The older brother,…
Garboncias
Garboncias In Hungarian folklore, a supernatural being, born with all of his teeth or with extra fingers. The being exercises magical powers when in a…
Coachman Legends
coachman legends In Hungarian folklore, a series of tales around the figure of a coachman endowed with supernatural knowledge and powers. Often the coachman is…
Telepinus
Telepinus was in Near Eastern mythology (Hittite), the god of agriculture who left the earth in anger, causing it to dry up and all life…