Tradition: Belarusian Mythology
Alternative Names: Lickun, Slime
Category: Frog
The Myth
Lizun is a frightening supernatural creature said to live in wells and gardens in the northeastern Vitebsk region of Belarus and the neighbouring areas of Russia’s Pskov region. It is described as a long-tongued, slime-covered being that lurks in dark wells, waiting for unsuspecting children. Some accounts describe it as a pale, slippery mass resembling a finger, while others imagine a terrifying creature with an enormous tongue. Its tongue is said to be capable of licking children until they bleed, leaving them helpless and terrified.
Lizun is especially associated with warnings used to frighten naughty children and keep them away from dangerous wells and water sources. Adults would threaten that the creature was waiting in the well and would drag children into the water if they approached too closely. In some stories, Lizun sits beside a well with a tongue resembling a grater, ready to seize anyone who comes within reach. Other versions describe it simply as a slime that waits in hidden places, threatening to lick anyone who ventures too near.
The creature’s long, deadly tongue is central to its terrifying reputation. Children were warned that once Lizun had licked them until their skin bled, no doctor could cure them. These frightening tales made the creature an effective guardian of forbidden places, ensuring that children stayed away from wells, gardens, and other locations where they might get into danger.
Sources
“Лизун (Lizun).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). https://www.bestiary.us/lizun