Epics and legends have long been an integral part of Russian distinctive culture. The people sang in them the strength, justice and masculinity of the heroes, intelligence, dexterity and other qualities of man.
Many legends had a historical basis and were described in ancient chronicles. The warriors were glorified for the feats that were carried out, the protection of the inhabitants of Russia from raids by enemy troops and other good deeds.
You can read the list of ten famous heroes of Russian epics by reading our article.
10. Mikula Selyaninovich
The Novgorod cycle of epics glorifies a hero named Mikula Selyaninovich. Legend has it that he was a simple peasant by birth. His strength was increased by the mother of cheese Earth. His name was a derivative folk form of the modern name of Nikolai.
Wonderful power was possessed not only by the hero himself, but also by his horse. According to the legends, the Russian hero had two daughters,
Vasilisa and Nastasya, who were also endowed with miraculous power. Their names also often appear in Russian epics.
The image of Mikula Selyaninovich is often associated with the Christian saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.
9. Stavr Godinovich
The Chernigov boyar was the husband of the famous Vasilisa Mikulishny (the eldest daughter of Mikula Selyaninovich).
The plot of the famous epic with these characters tells the audience that Stavr at the feast at Prince Vladimir (Red Sun) began to boast about his beautiful wife, for which he was sent to prison.
Hearing about this, Vasilisa dresses up in men's clothes, gathers a squad and goes to the prince, who appears to be the son of King Lyakhovitsky and wooed for the princess’s daughter.
She successfully passes all the tests set for her, a wedding feast will be held, at which Stavra is led to play the harp. Vasilisa manages to get him off the banquet.
Then she changes her clothes again, together with her husband they go to the prince, who admits that Stavr did not just honor his wife at his feast.
8. Vasily Buslaev
The hero was a character in Novgorod epics. He possessed an indestructible youthful spirit and strength. From a young age, the hero had his own opinion, this is evidenced by his discord with the Novgorod community.
To prove his superiority, he recruits a squad of the same good fellows and riots in the city, the hero of the hero rescues the Novgorodians, only she can reason with him.
In adulthood, the hero realizes his mistakes of youth and wants to pray for them, goes to Jerusalem. But the trip does not change the character of Basil, on the way back he forgets all the vows and dies, trying once again to prove his boldness.
7. Sadko
The hero of the Novgorod epics is not a hero, he is a rich merchant, in literature is considered the personification of the wealth of Novgorod.
The plot of the most famous version of the epic narrates that Sadko managed to get rich with the help of the sea king from Lake Ilmen, before that he was a poor hussler.
Having become rich, the merchant equips the ships and goes overseas to conduct trade. But the sea is not favorable to him, a storm broke out, during which he decided to sacrifice Sadko to the sea king.
At the bottom of the sea, the merchant plays the harp, because of which the king arranges a dance, as a result of which many people die, as the sea begins to worry again, helps St. Mikola Mozhaisky to return to the land of Sadko, he teaches him how to behave with the king.
6. Nikita Kozhemyak
The hero is one of the favorite heroes of the East Slavic epic. In epics, Nikita Kozhemyak defended the Russian people from the Pechenegs.
The first mention of the hero dates back to 992, found in the "Tale of Bygone Years." Nikita received the nickname Kozhemyak thanks to his unprecedented strength, he easily torn bull skins.
The plot of the most common epic about the hero tells that he defeats the serpent who stole the daughter of the Prince of Kiev.
5. Volga Svyatoslavich
Volga Svyatoslavich was not a simple hero, he had magical abilities. He knew how to understand the language of animals, birds and fish, changed his appearance.
The hero is one of the oldest images of Russian folklore. Some literary scholars believe that the prototype of the epic hero was Prince Vseslav Polotsky.
Several stories of epics enjoyed popularity in Russia, in which Volga Svyatoslavich was the central character.
One of them tells about the birth of a hero, the other about his campaign in the Indian kingdom, the third about the meeting of Volga with Mikula Selyaninovich.
4. Svyatogor
One of the largest and most powerful heroes of the Eastern Slavic Russian epics was Svyatogor. He was a giant. According to ancient legends, he draws strength from the Mother - the Raw Earth, when he rides his horse, the earth trembles, the forests sway, and the rivers overflow.
The hero carries his service near the distant holy mountains. One of the legends says that before his death Svyatogor transferred part of his strength to Ilya Muromets.
3. Alyosha Popovich
Alyosha Popovich was the youngest hero of the famous and beloved by all the three strongmen of Russia.
Unlike his comrades-in-arms, Alyosha does not possess superpower, but he is a savvy artist and agile, as well as brave. But he is frivolous and boastful, for which he is often condemned by senior comrades.
His image appears in more than 50 stories of ancient epics. The most famous is the epic "Alyosha Popovich and Tugarin."
2. Dobrynya Nikitich
Dobrynya Nikitich was of noble origin, in Russia he took second place in popularity, among the heroes of folklore, after Ilya Muromets. His wife was Nastasya Mikulishna, the hero himself was in the service of the Kiev prince.
Historians and literary critics believe that the prototype of the hero’s image was voivode Dobrynya, who was the uncle of the prince of Kiev and was the brother of his mother.
According to the stories of epics, Dobrynya Nikitich was an educated man, he sang well and played the harp, had a good disposition. The name of the hero was mentioned in 53 plots of Russian legends, in 6 epics he was the central character.
1. Ilya Muromets
The most famous and strongest hero of Russian epics. According to the plot of one of the legends, Ilya was a cripple up to 33 years old, and after using the magicians he managed not only to get up, but also gained remarkable strength.
In Russia, the image of the hero was popular, since the hero always protected the people and Russian land from the conquerors. He embodied the common national ideal of a warrior-hero.
The name of Ilya Muromets was first heard in 1574 in a letter. The hero is mentioned in 53 plots of the Old Russian epic, in 15 of them he is the central figure. Some scholars identify the name of the hero with St. Elijah Pechersky Chebotok.