Tradition / Region: Moldova Mythology
Alternative names: Sugur Mugur
Category: Giant, Hero
The Myth
Sugur-Mugur was a legendary supernatural warrior from Moldovan folklore, feared for his immense strength and remembered as one of the greatest heroes imprisoned beneath the earth. Even after years of captivity, blacksmiths and travelers still spoke his name with awe.
He had once been so powerful that only horses wearing enormous magical horseshoes could carry him. Smiths said that no man besides Sugur-Mugur had ever ridden with iron, steel, or diamond horseshoes weighing twenty-five pounds each.
For twenty years the Black King kept him imprisoned deep underground in a dungeon sealed with gigantic chains. He survived there on only a crust of bread and a glass of water each day until a young hero named Peter finally freed him. When Sugur-Mugur emerged from the prison, he looked like a living skeleton, weak from starvation and age.
Yet his strength returned rapidly. After days of eating and drinking from magical supplies, Sugur-Mugur released terrifying cries that shook mountains, darkened rivers, toppled forests, and made the earth itself tremble. By the third great shout, hills collapsed and the world seemed to tilt beneath him.
Sugur-Mugur rode a monstrous black horse named Black-Devil, fed on burning coals until it became powerful enough to fly over impossible landscapes. Together with Peter, he crossed deadly stone and flint mountains that destroyed ordinary horseshoes, forcing blacksmiths to forge gigantic shoes of iron, steel, and finally diamond.
Despite his fearsome power, Sugur-Mugur became Peter’s loyal protector. He guided him to the radiant maiden Ilyana Kosinzyana, helped him infiltrate her magical castle, and defended the young couple during their long journey home. Each night while they slept, Sugur-Mugur remained awake watching for danger.
Three prophetic birds warned him repeatedly about traps prepared by the Forest Witch: poisoned wine, cursed flowers hiding wolf fangs and bear teeth, and finally an attack by twelve dragons. Sugur-Mugur secretly prevented every disaster, but each time he revealed part of the prophecy he was slowly transformed into stone.
At last he fought the Forest Witch and her dragons alone during a storm of thunder and fire. His sword shattered while battling the witch, yet he killed her with the broken hilt after slaying all twelve dragons. Only afterward did he reveal the final prophecy and become completely petrified.
Peter and Ilyana later restored Sugur-Mugur to life using the blood of a magical red goat that had once given supernatural strength. When he awoke from stone, Sugur-Mugur simply said:
“What a long sleep I have had.”
He remained remembered as a giant protector and wandering hero whose strength could shake the earth itself, yet who used that power to defend others from witches, dragons, and death.
Sources
Botezatu, G. (1986). Moldavian folk-tales (2nd rev. & enl. ed.). Kishinev: Literatura Artistikă.