Monsters of Slavic Mythology

The peoples of Russia and various eastern European countries imagined a host of monsters. Many of them have familiar appearances, often resembling other mythical creatures found throughout European and Asian folklore, but there is something unique about the monsters of Slavic mythology that makes them standout in a frightening way. From mischievous nature spirits, to undead abominations, to multi-headed dragons, this program will detail some of the most famous and vile monsters of Slavic mythology!

MYTHOLOGY HAS BEEN TOLD AND RETOLD IN MANY FORMS ACROSS TIME, STORIES AND ACCOUNTS MAY VARY.

MUSIC:
"The Heathen"
"Wild Hunt"
"The Arrival" by Slavic Affairs
"Slava, Moy Brat"
"Seredina Zimy" by Adrian von Ziegler

CLIPS:
Stock footage of sunrises and forest

OPENING:

ARTISTS FEATURED:
Marta Emilia
Przemek Swiszcz
Hristo Chukov
Gonzalo Kenny
Mihailo Matic
Melody Lea Lamb
Jerzy Duda Gracz
Matchack art
Matt Fielding
Alexander Ar
Inkyami art
Olga Demidova
Makota
Andrzej Masianis
Zaki Saati
Grzegorz Mankowski
Toly Kivshar
Verben Er
Wezyk art
Lukasz Dudasz
Asfodelo art
Marcin Karolews
Paulina Sajniak
Dashinvaine art
Rampart Press

REFERENCES:

If we used your artwork please let us know so we can give proper credit!

[MrXander]

You know it was a fun place to live in when folk tales and children stories from that region will give you nightmares..

[straightjacket]

Japanese, North American, African and Mexican people: "Our country's lore is so in depth!"
Slavic people: "hold my vodka!"

[HungryManticore]

Great video!

If I may add my two cents:
A male strzyga is called strzygoń
The word "bieda" in Polish language means "poverty", so the demon was literally a personification of poverty

[lustinlis]

I am Bulgarian who really loved to read about mythology around the world and i must say our Balkan/Slavic Mythology feels like the origin of many Western stories.

[mooninkd]

Really appreciate you covering creatures of Slavic myth! However, referring to the Leschiy and Vodianoy as monsters isn't exactly correct. They are "place spirits" - spirits tied to a specific location. And while they are absolutely considered dangerous and must be approached with wariness and caution, but are seen as absolutely necessary to those environments. They are not monsters - merely dangerous protectors.

[purplehaze]

In Slavic mythology, people born with two souls are believed to always possess a second heart and second pair of teeth. Meaning that listing them alongside two souls with "or" isn't quite accurate, as they're mutually inclusive.

[miramari]

Slav here:
Strzyga: Two hearts, two souls and two rows of teeth are all mutually inclusive. Other signs like being born with teeth, excessive hairyness or other physical anomalies were regionaly added.
Leszy and Dobrochoczy: those are two different forrest creatures and here they are mixed together. Leszy was far more dangerous, but not malicious. He was protecting his domain from people who want to harm forrest and mainly animals living there, but was also known for saving those who asked for help (or paid for it). There are legends that if child was casted out by their guardians Leshy would lead child to safety. Also Leszy not only could speak but also was able to mimic sounds. His ability to shapeshift were so good that people who asked for help when lost in the forest met him in form of young forester weren't able distinguish him from real human - until he did not vanish into thin air at the tree border. But some could notice that under his cap antlers where hidden. He can also take form of any large animal living in the forest but also could change into wind.
Dobrochoczy on the other hand was base for Tolkien's Ent. Called shepherd of the forest creature that looked like tree trunk with eyes and beard made of moss and could change into any tree. It protected plants more than animals within his domain. He was also much more good natured and more prone to helping people.

Wodnik: There are a lot of different local subspecies of it but commonly known are two "castes" of them, Lords - Wodniki and Servants - Utopce. Utopiec was animated corpse of man drowned by Wodnik. And not only they can roam land freely - they were known for "sunbathing" in moonshine near bridges and piers. But no matter how far they roamed away from watter they were always soaking wet. They were afraid of sharp, pointy objects like needles. And not only in the night they were dangerous! There was belief that one can safely bathe in lakes and rivers only between 20th of June to 15th of September!
Bieda: was also known as Licho. Only way to get rid of her was to find item and give it to someone who you doesn't like. It was because if you just thrown away it will come back to you! Some accounts even mentions families so desperate to get rid of Licho they will burn they own homes and move away!
Dragons: Wawel is pronounced "vavel" as W in Polish is always pronounced as V in English. Ł in Polish is pronounced like English W instead
You also missed my favourites: Południca and Cicha.
Południca (noon maiden) was roaming fields at noon and hunt those who were outside the shadow. She was looking like undead, tall woman with sickle who was mercilesly decapitating her victims.
Cicha (quiet one) was more insidious. She took form of little girl with black hair and eyes, very pale skin and unhealthy look. She was wearing poppy wreath made of dried flowers and had short, black stick (wand) in her hand. She was called "quiet one" as she never spoke. She was living nearby cemeteries, feeding on recently passed away. She took a liking especially into meat of children. If there was not enough food for her or she craved her treat she wandered away from her usual place into closeness of human homeseads. There she would show up to children and without word she will touch them with stick. Within few days child will fell sick and die. And then, few days after burial when decomposition already started, Cicha will have her feast. There was no way to protect oneself from her other than avoiding being touched and running away

[ML-HS]

A little note - when mentioning Slavic mythology do add southern Europe. Slavic mythology is not only Russia and eastern Europe. Creatures mentioned inhebit both in Bosnia and Serbia for example. If I may suggest it would be intresting to hear a bit on Slavic afterlife and Kaline bridge. According to the some rescources it's in Russia, but for, example in Serbia, you can't find it. But many heroes went to search it to attain glory.

[boyankos]

Great video. One correction: drekavac is pronounced drekavaTS, not drekavaK. My friend's mother claims that she saw drekavac when she was a child, after sneaking under the tree from which the cry was heard and illuminating the creature with a torchlight. She described it as a cat-like creature, larger than a domestic cat and with more fur. My theory is that the drekavac is the European wildcat, and cries are cat's mating calls, which sound much like a child's cry.

[ShinyGolduck]

Thank you for finally covering legends and myth from Slavic lands, I hope for part 2 due to there being many more monsters, creatures, gods...etc.

[bypyros]

I wish someone popularized Spanish mythology. No one knows about it, even in Spain, and there are some pretty cool creatures.
I've got a long list of them.

[gobihoukou]

NIce work, I enjoyed it. Just something I would add about Vodyanoy. The second name you mentioned - Vodník, is how we call him in western slavic countries, and this version typically isnt naked, but wears green tailcoat with tophat in green or red color. When on ground, he usually walks either barefoot or in high, red boots. Just like Vodyanoy, he ocasionaly drowns people - and here is bit that was not mentioned in video - he stores the souls of his victims in pottery cups. Brave hero can dare to sneak into his lair and try to free those souls by releasing them from said cups, but of course risk of joining them instead is ussually enough to dicourage such attempts.

[crowsandpossums]

i deeply appreciate the mention of cracow’s wawel dragon, i’m a proud citizen of that city and i find it comforting that even abroad we’re know for him

[bozicvladimir_srb]

Slav here: You made a mistake talking about dragons. We have 2 types of dragons: 1. Zmaj (serbian variation) and 2. Ala or Aždaja... Zmaj is a noble beast, always good... Ala or Aždaja on the other hand, are evil dragons... ;)

[yolman]

Favorite episode of the year so far. Do more European folklore please. Excellent job as usual

[robbabcock_]

Wonderful video! Slavic mythology is highly fascinating stuff.

[Indarussiantv]

Man thank you for making a video of Slavic mythology! Its so underrepresented and underrated outside of eastern Europe, but its just as influential, complex and varried like any other set of myths. Being Russian I always reveled in folk tales and myth from my country and sister countries, so much content and mystery and I'm glad people are starting to recognize it from around the world, definitely earned a sub from me!

[merlapittman]

Excellent video, as always. I'd be very happy to see more of these Slavic myths

[SilverWolfMage]

YAS! So. Much. YAS! Slavic myth AND dragons at the end! Two of my favorites combined!

For me personally: When first observing some of the photos of the Strzyga, I almost thought it was the Slavic version of a harpy. Just got shivers after I typed that.

The Bieda seemed most disturbing to me, appearance wise at least. Yet I'm still fascinated by it, in the sense of learning in general. "She nourishes herself on human happiness-" reminds me a bit of the dementors from Harry Potter.

Wonderful video! I look forward to another chance sometime, of more Slavic myth videos! Thank you for your hard work, and helping us to learn about myth's from all over the world.

[xavieravila]

The Bieda is giving Beldam vibes from the graphic novel/movie Coraline.