The name rusalka comes from slavic mythology a rusalka is a water nymph, or. Rusalka, in slavic mythology, lakedwelling soul of a child who died unbaptized or of a virgin who was drowned whether accidentally or purposely. In slavic folklore, the rusalka is a female entity, often malicious toward humankind and frequently associated with water. Perun was the same aszeus the god of sky and thunder in greek mythology and thor the hammerwielding god associated with thunder, lightning, oak trees and strength in norse mythology. Slavs of different areas have assigned different personalities to the rusalki. In short, rusalki are beautiful young women who dwell in bodies of water and enjoy enticing men.
Both are beautiful, sexually liberated and occasionally dangerous. The museum is located in a threestorey building behind. The ancient slavs believed in bereginya the great goddess that produced all things, according to halyna lozko. According to most traditions, the rusalki were fishwomen, who. First use of the word rusalka comes from 16th century, when they replaced fairies. The 10 creepiest monsters of slavic mythology i love. Veles ruler of the underworld serpent or dragon protector of cattle. There are many obvious links between the rusalki and the mermaids of celtic myths. Six creepy spirits and creatures of slavic mythology you. Rusalka, plural rusalki, in slavic mythology, lakedwelling soul of a child who died unbaptized or of a virgin who was drowned whether accidentally or purposely. The decemberists rusalka, rusalka wild rushes lyrics. Rusalka plural rusalki in slavic mythology is ghost female mermaid that dwells at the bottom of river. Rusalka is an evil and cunning mermaid from slavic mythology and legends. Appearing entirely female, the rusalka was originally a term used by slavic pagans for fertility wights a term for a spirit, ghost, or other supernatural being that passed water to their crops and fields to nourish them.
But, unlike fairies, they usually cause harm to people, rather than helping them. Shadows of darkness, which draws upon slavic mythology, features a rusalka. It is a creature born from human parents, but has two hearts. Rusalka or pusalka is a water nymph, a female spirit in slavic mythology. Slavic mythology the gods of eastern europe and russia. In slavic folklore, the rusalka is a female entity, often malicious toward mankind and frequently. The book is filled with several elements of slavic mythology from the various creatures, which do not have precise dialogues in the western mythology to code of behavior. You can help nonalien creatures wiki by expanding it. A guide to the slavic folklore of rusalka explore more english. It takes a prechristian russian fairy tale, but at core its a dramatization of a stock mythological concept with a focus. Series, videos tagged audio book, audio story, fantasy, fiction, mythology. Rusalka is a water nymph, coming from slavic mythology and culture.
Paladin characters have the option to avenge her murder and let her move on to the afterlife. There are many different variations of how one becomes a rusalka. It should come as no surprise that antonin dvoraks opera rusalka is based on slavic folklore not only of the titular entity, but several mythical beings that stalk. Russian and slavic folklore adaptations provo library.
However, to many scholars bereginya is a spirit and not a goddess. This aquatic demon compels the squalls to obedience. The rusalka is a creature with origins in slavic mythology, legend and folklore. Rusalka is a waterdwelling nymph who appears in the shape of a beautiful woman. Intro introduction to slavic mythology pantheon the slavic pantheon explore browse our entries on slavic mythology find gods search the holy database of all known gods az index list of deity names from slavic mythology. The slavic peoples are no different and their own mermaid myth.
In slavic mythology, a rusalka is an u n q u i e t, d a n g e r o u s being who is no longer alive, associated with the u n c l e a n spirit. The rusalka find young men and lure them into the water, their beautiful looks. If the victim realizes hes in danger, he may try to grapple, but the rusalka. The first rusalka spirits were believed, by authorities, to be fertility spirits, nymphet andor elemental in nature, such as a nymph or a merman, with a positive connection to waters important role in nature. Stories of water nymphs, mermaids and sirens are fascinating, but none of them bear quite the same imprint on my unconscious as the stories of the rusalki slavic water nymphs, plural of rusalka. Rusalki are spirits of young women who died violently before marriage and before their natural time was up. According to vladimir propp, the original rusalka was an appellation used by pagan slavic. I think that i was just reading about a rusalka which is, in slavic mythology, a water spirit that tends to, you know, draw men into their drowning deaths. The rusalka is known to lure men to their deaths by drowning them in lakes and rivers. Thus, they were cursed to live in a lake in the form of a mermaid. The soul of a young woman who had died in or near a river or a lake would come back to haunt that waterway.
The first rusalka spirits were believed, by authorities, to be fertility spirits, nymphet andor elemental in nature, such as a. Rusalka is a water nymph, a female spirit in slavic mythology. The strzyga is a demon related to a vampire in slavic mythology, although it has a particular association with polish folklore. The folklore of the rusalka has been dated back to the eighth century although it was probably a. A rusalka is a water sprite from slavic mythology, usually inhabiting a lake or. In slavic folklore exists a mysterious and intriguing creature. A guide to the slavic folklore of rusalka explore more. The rusalka doesnt want to be dead and so must drain the life from anything or anyone in order to maintain existence until her father can bring her back to life. In short, rusalki are beautiful young women who dwell in. The slavic mythology is full of deities, spirits, demons and alluring creatures. Another group of myths claims that the rusalka are water nymphs who marry the wodanoj. The mythical slavic mermaid in slavic mythology, a rusalka plural. The world gods perun supreme god thunder, lightning, war rules the world of the living symbols. A rusalka is a female ghost, water nymph, succubus or mermaid likedemon in slavic mythology that dwells in waterways.
It is also a word sometimes translated from some slavic. Slavic mythology is the mythological aspect of the polytheistic religion that was practised by the slavs before christianisation. However, the initial slavic lore suggests that not all rusalki occurrences were linked with death from water. There are many legends about this figure sometimes very different from one another which create its eerie allure. In this video, acnite media brings you some interesting facts and scares about a creature legendary folklore of the slavic mythology rusalka. Rusalka is a female spirit in slavic mythology and folklore. Rusalki the slavic spirits of water slavic mythology. It possesses numerous common traits with other religions descended from. Although she was once a lovely, nurturing force, she eventually became a wicked evildoer. Rusalki are spirits of young women who died violently before marriage and before their natural time.
Appearing entirely female, the rusalka was originally a term used by slavic. Russian and slavic mythology contain a rich vein of folktales with their dark and. Rusalka the deadly mermaid beauty in slavic lakes and. The titular rusalka is based on the entity of the same name from slavic mythology, but unlike many modern depictions, the rusalka is not a mermaid it has legs. It is not our intention to scare you and make you look under your bed before sleep, but you should be aware of these. The first museum of slavic mythology has been existed in tomsk since 2007.
A rusalka is a water nymph, an aquatic female nature spirit featured within slavic mythology and folklore, most commonly translated from belarusian, russian and ukrainian as mermaid. A rusalka is a female spirit in slavic mythology and folklore who comes out of the water in the spring to transfer lifegiving moisture to the fields and thus help nurture the crops. Rusalka the deadly mermaid beauty in slavic lakes and legends. Once in the water, they use their long red tendrils of hair to wrap and perhaps strangle the unsuspecting lover. Cherryh uses slavic folklore, with its heavy emphasis on magical power, to tell the story of a different kind of power. This category has the following 6 subcategories, out of 6 total. The concept of rusalki originated from a slavic pagan tradition where the young women were symbols of fertility. Rusalka is one of the most successful czech operas, and represents a cornerstone of the repertoire of czech opera houses. A rusalka is a female water spirit in slavic mythology and folklore. Rusalka the rusalkas are female waterspirits, who occupy a position which corresponds in many respects with that filled by the elves and fairies of western europe.
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