Zmei (Russian)

The Russian masculine form zmei/zmey (, ) and feminine form zmeya (, ) means "serpent", which is the old word for dragon in most Indo-European languages; 'dragon/drake' (from , drákōn, "big serpent"), wyvern (from , "viper"; French: guivre), worm (from , "slithering legless animal"; lindworm; , , Old Finnish: , "serpent/dragon"), etc. Another form is zmiy (, ), borrowed from , . == Nomenclature ==

Despite meaning serpent, when referring to dragons, the term zmei always implicitly refers to the flying kind all over Russia. The "flying serpent" (; ) and the "fiery serpent" (; ) are given separate entries, as pan-Slavic concepts in the "Slavic Antiquities: Ethnolinguistic Dictionary" published in Russian. In addition, there is also a Russian term for a kite, , not to be confused with all of the above. Yet these two naturally share close similarities, for instance, they both assume serpent/dragon shape when airborne but human form on the ground, both are "mythological lovers" of women, and associated with meteorological phenomena, so the demarcation is not so clear. Other commentators refer to the former as "fiery flying serpent", so the distinction is not strictly observed. == General traits and appearance ==

The creature's appearance is not described in older Russian epic ballads, but in more recent sources, the zmei is described as being covered with either green scales, and having iron claws. Chudo-Iudo In the variant "Ivan Bykovich (Ivan Buikovich)" (# 137), an equivalent sets of these multi-headed creatures appear, but are not called zmei, but a Chudo-Iudo (Chudo-Yudo). These are humanlike creatures, each one is riding a horse. Even when decapitated, if the head is picked up it grows back on once a line is drawn on it with the dragon's fiery finger. As is pointed out below, a zmei can take human-form, and in the variant "Storm-bogatyr, Ivan the Cow's Son" (#136), the multi-headed Chudo-Iudo are described as using the word zmei also. Shapeshifting Akin to many dragons, like the Germanic dragon and Asian dragon, the zmei can shapeshift, and may turn into a handsome youth. In that form he enthralls the sister or wife of Ivan Tsarevich in different versions of (Afanasyev #204, #205), as described below. In one of these (#204) the zmei also transforms into kitchen implements to avoid detection: he becomes a broom, a sort of mop (помело pomelo) and . But Ivan's obedient animals are able to detect the presence of an intruder in these implements. The zmei assumes the form of a golden goat in another tale ("The Crystal Mountain", Afanasyev #162). == In fairy tales ==

. The zmei occurs in the literature of Russia and Ukraine in numerous wondertales ('''') such as those in Alexander Afanasyev's compilation Narodnye russkie skazki, and in the 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 epic ballad "Dobrynya and the Zmei" can be male or female. It may happen to be Zmei Gorynishche () ("Dragon, the Son of a Mountain"). This name is a variant form of "Zmei Gorynych" found in fairy tales. Or it may be she-dragon without a name, as in the epic ballad collected from Karelian Russia. 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. Anthropomorphism Sometimes there are "Sons of Zmei" (Zmeyevich being their patronymic surname) who are recognized as monsters with human qualities, or vice versa. The half-human quality is borne out by the zmei-bogatyr (serpent-hero) given him, 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. Tugarin also has flying wings like a dragon, but some songs rationalize these as paper wings, a device attached to the horse. Tugarin is referred to as a pagan and he has been given overlays of a Tatar tyrant around the folkloric dragon. Some support the conjecture that Tugarin's name derives from "Tugar-Khan", or Tugor-Khan, of the Turkic Polovets, but this etymology has been discounted by later commentators. Milk of Wild Beasts The zmei also transforms into a handsome youth to seduce women (folktale , #204, 205). 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. In another version, Zmei Zmeyevich ("Serpent, Son of Serpent") and Ivan's adulterous wife play out a similar plot. 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. In some tales, this Zmei Zmeyevich is a tsar. == Other folktale literature ==

Eruslan Lazarevich There is also the three-headed zmei defeated by Eruslan Lazarevich, hero of the story material found in popular print (lubki). Saint George It was a zmei, and not a drakon () that was defeated by Saint George, or St. Egorii, as he was popularly known in Russia. The saint appears as "Egorii the brave" (, with the epithet "chrabryii") in religious verses. The scene is also often depicted in Russian icons. == See also ==