Special Sub-Topic: Some Folks from Russian Folklore Click Here To Play: Some Folks from Russian Folklore

According to most surviving sources, this diety was the most powerful figure in pre-Christian Russian mythology.

Perun. Perun was the embodiment of thunder and war. Some evidence suggests that Svagrog, the keeper of fire, was actually head of the Russian pantheon, but this is not reflected in the "Primary Chronicle".

Perhaps the most popular recurring character in Russian folklore, this ogress lived in a hut perched atop two giant bird legs.

Baba Yaga. She was depicted as having huge breasts and flying about in a giant mortar and pestle. She also was very obsessive about counting spoons. "Dvo Everie" is the Russian term for "dual faith"--belief in both Christianity and folk figures. Raisa was Mikhail Gorbachev's wife and erstwhile object of Opus the Penguin's affection in the comic strip "Bloom County".

This fabulous creature embodied the magical world in Russian folklore. Though supposedly uncatchable, Russian heroes seem to have little trouble capturing this remarkable avian when the story calls for it.

Firebird. The Roc, Chimera, and Thunderbird are from Arabic, Greek, and Navajo folklore. The Firebird was later the subject of a composition by Igor Stravinsky.

A Russian cognate of the vampire, as reported by folklorist Felix Oinas.

Eretik. The Vukodlak, Strigoi, and Langsuyar are vampiric creatures from Serbia, Romania, and Malaysia. As the name suggests, the Eretik was thought to be a religious dissenter in life. Usually it was a sorceror in life as well.

Among the more poetic of the stock figures in Russian folklore, this is a mournful spirit of a girl who died before being baptized. Though usually depicted as a beautiful, naked young woman with long flowing hair, she is rarely depicted as a temptress.

Rusalka. The Varcolac is a Romanian monster who devours the sun and moon, thus causing eclipses. Grendela is a figure from my own twisted imagination.

This mischievous forest spirit's favorite trick was to make wayward peasants get lost.

Leshii. According to Oinas, this spirit shares many characteristics of forest bandits. The other terms are Russian, Croatian, and German words for "thank you".

Perhaps the most feared creature in Russian folklore, this water spirit's avowed purpose was to drown people. However, the occasional fisherman would offer it tobacco in exchange for fish.

Vodianoi. The Polevoi and Poludnitsa are more obscure forest spirits. The Bolotnyi is a swamp spirit.

This house spirit, though mischievous also, is a guardian of the family when treated with respect.

Domovoi. The Domovoi's family often refers to him as "grandfather". The other terms are derivations of some of my Eastern European friends' names.

This is the most common Russian term for sorceror.

Koldun. The Koldun had a love-hate relationship with the peasantry. It did many magical favors, but was also feared for its ability to "spoil" weddings and harvests.

This Christian figure had twelve Fridays per year reserved for its veneration. Failure to properly respect this saint carried dire repercussions!

St. Paraskeva. "Paraskeva" means "Friday" in Greek. Cassian is one of the most unusual figures in Russian folk belief. His characteristic harshness and lack of compassion often seem more diabolical than saintly. George and Nicholas both figure in their share of Russian tales, but they are usually their familiar benevolent selves.