Russian Mythology

Bies

by

Tradition: Bosnian mythology, Croatian Mythology, Russian Mythology, Ukranian Mythology, Polish Mythology
Alternative Names: Bies, Bes, Bijes, Bisy, Chort, Czort
Category: Demon

The Myth

Bies is an evil spirit or demon in Slavic mythology. The word bies is associated with an evil supernatural being and, following the Christianization of Slavic peoples, became closely identified with the Devil and with the demon known as Chort or Czort.

In Christian-influenced tradition, Bies came to represent the Devil or other demonic beings. The plural biesy was used in Russian translations of the New Testament for the devils that possessed the swine in the Gospel of Mark. Related Slavic words also developed meanings associated with madness and uncontrolled behavior. In Slovenian, Croatian, and Serbian, the related forms bes and bijes mean “rage” or “fury.”

A separate being called bès is found among the Jah Hut people of Malaysia. These bès are dangerous spirits inhabiting the jungle. They can attack people and cause illness through spirit possession.

The Jah Hut can attempt to tame and contain a bès by carving a small wooden figure called a sepili, representing the particular spirit causing trouble. If the spirit approves of the figure, it may enter it, allowing the people to trap the spirit inside through a special ritual. The sepili must then be taken far away from the village because the bès may become angry when it eventually escapes. Traditionally, the figures were buried deep in the jungle.

Sources

“Bies.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed September 10, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bies

Notsnitsa

by

Tradition: Russian Mythology, Slovak Mythology
Alternative Names: Nocnitsa, Nochnitsa, Načnica, Nocnica, Płaczka, Nichnytsia, Kriksy, Plaksy, Night Hag, Night Maiden
Category: Demon

The Myth

Notsnitsa is a nocturnal demon that torments people, especially children, while they sleep. She is associated with nightmares and is sometimes described as a shadow-like female spirit.

Notsnitsa is said to sit on a sleeping person’s chest and drain their life energy. Because of this, she is sometimes regarded as a kind of vampire. She may return to the same person repeatedly during the night.

In some traditions, Notsnitsa attacks people who sleep on their backs with their hands resting on their chests, a sleeping position associated with the dead.

Notsnitsa was especially feared for attacking children. In Russian and Slovak folklore, various protections were used to keep her away. A stone with a hole through its center could be placed as protection, while some mothers placed a knife in a child’s cradle or drew a circle around the cradle with a knife.

She is sometimes described as having a terrible screeching voice and as being made of shadow.

Sources

“Nocnitsa.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed September 9, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocnitsa

Habernitsa

by

Tradition: Russian Mythology, Polish Mythology
Alternative Names: Chabernica, Habernitsa, Cornflower Wraith, Lady Cornflower, Cornflower Witch
Category: Demon

The Myth

Habernitsa is a noon demon who appears as a young, slender woman dressed in azure, with cornflowers woven into her hair. She wanders along the boundaries of fields at midday.

She becomes angry with people who trample the grain or work with sharp tools in the fields at noon. Those she considers deserving of punishment are put to sleep by her whisper.

Once they have fallen asleep, Habernitsa causes them terrible pain and injuries. She can inflict headaches, paralysis, and severe pain in the lower back. In some cases, she attacks more violently, breaking the victim’s arms, legs, or neck.

To avoid Habernitsa’s wrath, field workers must stop working and take a break at midday, at the time of the Angelus.

Sources

“Cornflower Wraith (Habernitsa).” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed September 9, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornflower_Wraith

Kulyashi

by

Tradition: Russian Mythology
Alternative Names: Kulyashi, Kuleshata, Kuleshi
Category: Demon

The Myth

Kulyashi are small water demons from the folklore of the Vologda region of Russia. They live in the water and are said to emerge during Epiphany.

People were afraid of accidentally scooping up a Kulyash when drawing water, and a saying recorded in Vladimir Dal’s dictionary warned that the Kulyashi came out of the water at Epiphany. Because of them, people were careful when going onto or drawing from the water during this time.

In the Russian North, these little water beings were also known as Kuleshi or Kuleshata. They appeared during Svyatki, the Christmas festive period, where they caused trouble and mischief for people. When the festive season came to an end, the creatures disappeared again.

Kulyashi were therefore imagined as small, troublesome supernatural beings that appeared for a short period, disturbed people, and then vanished. They were regarded as a kind of water-dwelling counterpart to the better-known Shulikuny.

Sources

“Куляши (Kulyashi).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/Kulyashi

Gofitterrak

by

Tradition: Sami mythology, Finnish Mythology, Russian Mythology
Alternative Names: Gofitterak, Gofitterak
Category: Deer

The Myth

Gofitterrak are wealthy spirits who are masters of wild reindeer herds in Sami mythology. They inhabit the tundra and are associated with the pastures where reindeer graze. They are described as spirits who can be invisible like themselves, yet reveal their presence through the ringing of bells.

Among the mountains, particularly in the kegors—areas covered with lichen where deer graze—and in places covered with grass, the Gofitterrak live with their own herds of deer, cows, and sheep. They sometimes hang bells on their flocks, and by the ringing of these bells the Lapps learn of the spirits’ visible and invisible presence in the pastures.

The herds of the Gofitterrak can be mastered. To do this, a person must have the courage to approach the spirit’s flock while looking only upward and never turning back or looking to either side. The person must then throw a piece of iron into the middle of the flock.

The spirit who tends the herd fears iron and flees when it is thrown. The flock, however, becomes the property of the person who threw the iron away.

Sources

“Гофитэрраки (Gofiterraki).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed September 6, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/gofiterraki

Sazagan

by

Tradition: Nogai mythology, Russian Mythology, Turkish Mythology
Alternative Names: Sazagan
Category: Deer, Snake, Deity

The Myth

Sazagan is a heavenly being in Nogai mythology, taking the form of a huge fiery serpent with the head of a deer and antlers. Sazagan is associated with lightning, rain, and fertility and is regarded as a powerful being connected with the forces of the sky and weather.

When lightning flashes in the sky, the Nogai traditionally say that “Sazagan is playing, dancing.” Sazagan is regarded as an embodiment of fertility, associated with the generative power of heavenly water: rain, downpours, and lightning. The being has a dual nature, however, bringing both benefit and destruction. Rain fertilizes the earth and provides a source of natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes.

When Sazagan rages in the sky, he is said to shake an uproot trees and blow off roofs. Anyone who witnesses Sazagan dancing during thunderstorms may become infected with causeless laughter.

According to the beliefs of the Kuban Nogai, Sazagan is a personified creature that appears in spring and brings a harvest to the land. Among the Karanogai, it was believed that Sazagan could emerge from the mouth of the giant Topekoz. When this happened, the Karanogai would slaughter a black sheep, wash their faces with the animal’s blood, and light a fire using branches on the freshly flayed hide. They would then wash their hands with milk, pray, and recite words asking Sazagan and Tengri to bring an end to the storm.

When rain continued for too long and thunder rumbled through the sky, people also appealed to Sazagan to stop the storm and prevent the world from being flooded.

The origin of the name Sazagan is uncertain. The first part, “saz,” is associated with melody or music. According to an ancient Nogai myth, Sazagan created viscous clay, saz-balshyk (“singing clay”), with a lightning strike, from which humanity was created. Another legend says that Sazagan playfully created the human form, while Tengri breathed into it and gave it a flying soul.

The second part of the name, “agan,” may derive from the words “yagan” or “yagady,” meaning “it is igniting.” The name Sazagan has therefore been interpreted as meaning something like “igniting the earth” or “igniting melody.”

The name also survived in a popular expression: when teasing someone about their skill or temperament in lovemaking, people may say “sazagandy oynaty,” meaning that someone has “danced Sazagan.”

Sources

“Sazagan.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed September 6, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/sazagan

Luot-hozik

by

Tradition: Sami mythology, Russian Mythology
Alternative Names: Luot-hozik
Category: Deer

The Myth

Luot-hozik is a female spirit and patron of reindeer herds who appears in the form of a hairy woman living in the tundra. She protects reindeer and watches over the herds that live in the northern wilderness.

According to Sami mythology, numerous spirits inhabited the land, water, and underworld. Among them were spirits considered masters of wild reindeer herds, while the Mistresses of the Reindeer, Luot-hozik, stood among the protectors of domesticated reindeer. Luot-hozik was believed to live in the tundra, walking on long legs like a human and sometimes appearing as a hairy woman.

The Sami believed that Luot-hozik protected their reindeer and prayed to her for their well-being. She was especially concerned with the herds belonging to the Lapps, or Sami people. She could be particularly displeased when reindeer were released into the wild during the summer, because this exposed them to wolves and other dangers. The Lapps therefore believed that she would protect their animals if they treated her with respect.

When reindeer were driven into the wild, prayers were offered to Luot-hozik. One such prayer asked her to take care of the reindeer and protect them from wolves and other dangers. If the reindeer had been found by autumn, the people thanked her for taking care of their herd.

Luot-hozik was also believed to protect the reindeer from people who tried to steal them. Reindeer were highly valuable possessions among the Sami, and her protection therefore extended not only to the animals themselves but also to the herds belonging to their human owners.

Besides Luot-hozik, other female spirits were believed to protect reindeer from wolves. However, Luot-hozik could not protect the animals from evil people.

Sources

“Луот-кожик (Luot-Khozhik).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed September 5, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/luot-khozik

Kalir

by

Tradition: Evenki Mythology, Russian Mythology
Alternative Names: Kalir
Category: Deer

The Myth

Kalir is a mythical creature from Evenki folklore with the body of a gigantic male wild deer. It has elk antlers on its head and a fish’s tail.

Kalir acts as a spirit assistant to the shaman, serving as a supernatural helper within Evenki shamanic tradition.

Sources

“Калир (Kalir).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed September 5, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/kalir

Tarand

by

Tradition: Scythian Mythology, Russian Mythology, Ukranian Mythology
Alternative Names: Tarandos, Tarandus, Parandrus, Parandros, Aeternae, Analopos, Antalope, Antholops, Aptaleon, Aptolos, Pantolops
Category: Deer

The Myth

The Tarand is a rare and extraordinary beast said to resemble a large deer or moose. It is described as being about the size of an ox, with a head resembling that of a deer and large, branched antlers. It has cloven hooves, long hair like that of a bear, and an exceptionally tough hide that was said to be strong enough to make shields and breastplates.

Its most remarkable ability is its power to change the color of both its skin and hair. The Tarand can take on the color of whatever surrounds it, becoming the same color as trees, shrubs, plants, flowers, grass, rocks, or the ground. This ability makes it extremely difficult to detect and capture.

The creature was said to inhabit Scythia, particularly among the Scythians called the Geloni. When frightened, it would retreat into its surroundings and take on their colors. When it returned to its natural coloration, it was said to resemble an ass.

Aristotle described the Tarand as an exceptionally rare animal whose hair changed color according to the place in which it stood. He compared its ability to the color-changing skin of the chameleon and polypus, but considered the Tarand remarkable because the transformation affected its hair as well. He described it as being as large as an ox, with the head of a deer.

Pliny the Elder gave a more detailed account. He described the Tarand as an ox-sized creature with a large stag-like head and branched horns, cloven hooves, and deep hair like that of a bear. Its hide was so tough that the Scythians supposedly used it to make protective armor. When the animal hid, its body and hair could imitate the colors of the surrounding trees, plants, flowers, and landscape.

Aelian likewise described the Tarand as a creature from Scythia whose back and size resembled those of a bull. The animal could transform itself completely, hair included, into an astonishing variety of colors. The Scythians were said to cover their shields with its hide and consider it an effective protection against spears.

The Tarand later entered medieval bestiary tradition under forms such as Parandrus. It continued to be described as an animal capable of changing its entire appearance according to its surroundings.

The creature also appeared in later European literature. In François Rabelais’s Pantagruel, the Tarand is described as a bull-sized animal with a stag’s head, branched horns, cloven feet, long bear-like hair, and skin almost as hard as steel armor. Rabelais emphasized that not only the creature’s skin but also its hair could change color according to the objects around it. He even described it changing colors voluntarily according to its fear and emotions.

The Tarand was also said to be unusually tractable when domesticated, despite its rarity and strange abilities. Through these ancient and medieval accounts, it became one of the most remarkable legendary animals associated with the far north and the mysterious natural world beyond the Mediterranean.

Sources

“Tarand (animal).” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed September 5, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarand_(animal)

Vodyanaya Korova

by

Tradition: Russian Mythology
Alternative Names: Water Cow, Vodianaya Korova
Category: Cow

The Myth

The Vodyanaya Korova is a mythical water cow from the folklore of the Russian North. It is described as an enormous, heavy, well-fed and exceptionally large cow, usually brown in color, though black, mottled, red-and-white, and black-and-white cows are also found in different traditions. Its coat is smooth and glossy, and it is usually completely hornless. The cow is exceptionally fertile and always produces abundant milk, making it a creature strongly associated with life, fertility, and abundance.

The water cows live beneath the waters of rivers, lakes, and sometimes the sea. On warm summer nights they emerge from the depths and come ashore onto islands, riverbanks, or flooded meadows, where they graze. One tradition tells of a small, perfectly round and apparently bottomless lake with an island in its center. During the summer, four mysterious cows emerge from the water onto this island to graze. In other accounts, an entire herd appears.

Whenever a person approaches the grazing cows, however, the strange creatures immediately flee back into the water. The lake itself may suddenly become violently agitated, and a whistle or other sound can rise from its depths. At this signal the cows rush into the water and disappear beneath the surface. Sometimes a mysterious water spirit is said to drive the herd back into the lake, just as a farmer would drive ordinary cattle into a stable when danger approaches.

The waters from which the cows emerge are not ordinary bodies of water. They are sometimes described as bottomless, representing the primordial waters from which the world itself emerged. The island in the center of the lake represents the first piece of land rising from those waters. The water cow that steps onto it is therefore more than an enchanted animal: it is connected with the creation of the earth itself.

In these traditions, the cow’s grazing actually causes the land to develop. The first patches of earth are still unstable, sometimes imagined as small pieces of land floating upon the water. The cows walk across them, sinking into the soft earth almost up to their muzzles without drowning. As they graze, the land becomes covered with green vegetation. The cow therefore simultaneously represents the earth and the force that brings the earth into being.

The Vodyanaya Korova is also associated with extraordinary abundance. A person who succeeds in capturing one may discover that it never seems to diminish or disappear. Such a cow can become larger, fatter, and more productive than any ordinary animal, producing enormous quantities of milk. One tradition tells of cows giving two buckets of milk at a time. A peasant who acquired such a creature could become wealthy from its inexhaustible productivity.

The cow’s hide itself possesses supernatural power. Every hair of the magical animal is said to contain the potential to become an animal of its corresponding kind. In one story, after a peasant slaughtered a water cow, its mysterious hide disappeared. An unknown being associated with the round lake had taken it back into the depths, returning the magical hide to the waters from which the creature had originated.

Other traditions describe the herd being accompanied by a supernatural milkmaid. She appears whenever the cows come out of the water and disappears with them when they return to the depths. She possesses a golden milking vessel that does not sink in the water. Whenever a person attempts to seize it, however, the vessel immediately disappears beneath the surface. Whoever could obtain the magical vessel was believed to have a chance of capturing the water cows themselves.

The Vodyanaya Korova is therefore not simply a strange cow living in a lake. In the oldest layer of the tradition, it is connected with the primordial waters and the creation of the earth. Each time the mysterious herd emerges and grazes upon the land, the ancient act of creation is symbolically repeated. When a human approaches and the cows flee back beneath the water, the process ends and the world returns to its beginning, ready to be renewed again.

Sources

Krinichnaya, N. A. “Водяная корова в севернорусской мифологии” (The Water Cow in Northern Russian Mythology). Русская речь (Russian Speech), no. 5 (2014), pp. 101–109.