In fairy tales
The zmei occurs in the literature of Russia and Ukraine in numerous wondertales (skazki[d]) such as those in Alexander Afanasyev's compilation Narodnye russkie skazki,[16] and in the byliny (epic ballads), and rendered as "serpent" or "dragon". They may also appear as a character with "Zmei" or "Zmeyevich" (Zmeevich, etc.) in their proper name, and these may exhibit more human-like qualities, such as courting women.
As fabulous beast
The zmei slain by the bogatyr Dobrynya Nikitich in the bylina "Dobrynya and the Zmei" can be male or female. It may happen to be Zmei Gorynishche[e] ("Dragon, the Son of a Mountain").[17][18] This name is a variant form of "Zmei Gorynych" found in fairy tales.[19] Or it may be she-dragon without a name, as in the byliny collected from Karelian Russia.[20] The "Puchai River" was its haunt, but in the caves of the "Saracen Mountains" it raised its pups and kept hostages. It was capable of flight, and abducted a princess from Kiev by flying there.[20]
Zmei Gorynych
Zmei Gorynych (Russian: Змей Горыныч) has decidedly dragon-like characteristics, such as having multiple heads (from 3 to upwards of 12[21]), spitting fire, and being associated with a body of water.[f][17]
However, "Zmei Gorynych" is not consistently beast-like, and he may appear in the guise of a human thoroughout in some works (See §Milk of Wild Beasts, §Dobrynya and Marinka) below.[22]
Anthropomorphism
Sometimes there are "Sons of Zmei" (Zmeyevich being their patronymic surname) who are recognized as monsters with human qualities, or vice versa.[23]
Tugarin Zmeyevich
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Further information: Tugarin |
Tugarin Zmeyevich is one such with anthropomorphic characteristics.[23] The half-human quality is borne out by the sobriquet zmei-bogatyr (serpent-hero) given him,[24][25] and from him being able to ride a horse like a human being in the folktale "Alyosha Popovich". Tugarin thus faces off against the bogatyr Alyosha, and is slain.[25]
Tugarin is a great glutton, which is suggestive of a dragon; however Tugar still retains human form, even in the scene where he displays the extraordinary feat of devouring a whole swan, moving it from cheek to cheek, and spitting out the bones.[26] Tugarin also has flying wings like a dragon,[27][28] but some songs rationalize these as paper wings, a device attached to the horse.[29]
Tugarin is referred to as a pagan[27] and he has been given overlays of a Tatar tyrant around the folkloric dragon.[28] Some support the conjecture that Tugarin's name derives from "Tugar-Khan", or Tugor-Khan, of the Turkic Polovets,[30][g] but this etymology has been discounted by later commentators.[33][34]
Milk of Wild Beasts
The zmei also transforms into a handsome youth to seduce women (folktale "The Milk of Wild Beasts", #204, 205).[15] In one version, Zmei Gorynych seduces the sister of Ivan Tsarevich. She feigns illnesses and asks Ivan to perform the precarious task of retrieving the milk of the wolf, bear, and lioness. This plan fails. Later however, when Ivan is separated from his trusty pack of animals, zmei reveals his true nature and poises to devour him with his gaping mouth.[13][h] In another version, Zmei Zmeyevich ("Serpent, Son of Serpent") and Ivan's adulterous wife play out a similar plot.[35]
Other examples
Zmei Gorynych or Tugarin Zmeyevich, in "Dobrynya and Marinka", play fleeting roles as the lover of Marinka the sorceress, and are instantly killed.[36][37][38]
