Give examples of brave heroes from fairy tales. Characters from fairy tales, films and cartoons, invented and existing only in Russia
A folk tale is a message from our ancestors, passed down from time immemorial. Through magical stories, sacred information about morality and spirituality, traditions and culture is conveyed to us. The heroes of Russian folk tales are very colorful. They live in a world full of wonders and dangers. In him there's a battle going on light and dark forces, as a result of which goodness and justice always win.
Ivan the Fool
The main character of Russian fairy tales is a seeker. He goes to hard way to get a magic item or a bride, to deal with the monster. In this case, the character may initially occupy a low social position. Typically this is peasant son, most youngest child in family.
By the way, the word “fool” in ancient times did not have a negative meaning. Since the 14th century, it has served as a talismanic name, often given to the youngest son. He did not receive any inheritance from his parents. Older brothers in fairy tales are successful and practical. Ivan spends time on the stove, since he is not interested in living conditions. He does not seek money or fame, and patiently endures the ridicule of others.
However, it is Ivan the Fool who is ultimately lucky. He is unpredictable, capable of solving non-standard riddles, and defeats the enemy with cunning. The hero is characterized by mercy and kindness. He helps out those in trouble, releases the pike, for which he is awarded magical help. Having overcome all obstacles, Ivan the Fool marries the king's daughter, becomes rich. Behind unsightly clothes hides the image of a sage serving good and wary of falsehood.
Bogatyr
This hero was borrowed from epics. He is handsome, brave, noble. It often grows “by leaps and bounds.” Possesses enormous power, is able to saddle a heroic horse. There are many stories where a character fights a monster, dies, and then is resurrected.
The names of the heroes of Russian fairy tales can be different. We meet Ilya Muromets, Bova Korolevich, Alyosha Popovich, Nikita Kozhemyaka and other characters. Ivan Tsarevich can also be classified in this category. He enters into battle with the Serpent Gorynych or Koshchei, saddles Sivka-Burka, protects the weak, and rescues the princess.
It is significant that the hero sometimes makes mistakes (responds rudely to the grandmother he meets, burns the skin of a frog). Subsequently, he has to repent of this, ask for forgiveness, and correct the situation. By the end of the tale, he gains wisdom, finds the princess and receives half the kingdom as a reward for his exploits.
Wonder Bride
By the end of the story, an intelligent and beautiful girl becomes the wife of a fairy-tale hero. In Russians folk tales we meet Vasilisa the Wise, Marya Morevna, Elena the Beautiful. They embody the popular idea of a woman standing guard over her family.
The heroines are distinguished by their resourcefulness and intelligence. Thanks to their help, the hero solves ingenious riddles and defeats the enemy. Often beautiful princess subject to the forces of nature, she is able to turn into an animal (swan, frog), and create real miracles. The heroine uses powerful forces for the benefit of her lover.
There is also an image of a meek stepdaughter in fairy tales, who achieves success thanks to her hard work and kindness. General qualities for all positive female images are fidelity, purity of aspirations and readiness to help.
Which hero of Russian fairy tales is the most beloved and popular among children and adults? The first place rightfully belongs to Baba Yaga. This is a very controversial character with a terrifying appearance, a hooked nose and a bone leg. In ancient times, “Baba” was the name given to the mother, the eldest woman in the family. "Yaga" may be related to the Old Russian words "yagat" ("to shout loudly, swear") or "yagaya" ("sick, angry").
Lives old witch in the forest, on the border of ours and other world. Her hut on chicken legs is surrounded by a fence made of human bones. Grandma flies on a mortar, makes friends with evil spirits, kidnaps children and keeps them from uninvited guests many magical items. According to scientists, it is associated with the kingdom of the dead. This is indicated by the loose hair that was unbraided for women before burial, the bone leg, and also the house. The Slavs made wooden huts for the dead, which they placed on stumps in the forest.
In Rus' they always respected their ancestors and turned to them for advice. That’s why good fellows come to Baba Yaga, and she tests them. To those who pass the test, the witch gives a hint, points the way to Koshchei, gives a magic ball, as well as a towel, comb and other wonders. Baba Yaga doesn’t eat children either, but she puts them in the oven and spends them ancient rite"overbaking". In Rus' it was believed that in this way a child could be healed of an illness.
Koschey
The name of this fairy-tale hero of Russian fairy tales could come from the Turkic “koschey”, which translates as “slave”. The character was chained and kept prisoner for three hundred years. He himself also likes to kidnap beautiful girls and hide them in prison. According to another version, the name comes from the Slavic “kostit” (to scold, to harm) or “bone”. Koschey is often depicted as a skinny old man, more like a skeleton.
He is a very powerful sorcerer, lives far from other people and owns countless treasures. The death of the hero is in a needle, which is securely hidden in objects and animals nested inside each other like a nesting doll. The prototype of Koshchei may be the winter deity Karachun, who was born from a golden egg. It covered the earth with ice and brought death with it, forcing our ancestors to move to warmer areas. In other myths, Koshchei was the name of the son of Chernobog. The latter could control time and command the army the afterlife.
This is one of the most ancient images. The hero of Russian fairy tales differs from foreign dragons by having several heads. Usually their number is a multiple of three. The creature can fly, breathes fire and abducts people. It lives in caves, where it hides captives and treasures. Often appears in front of a positive hero after emerging from the water. The nickname “Gorynych” is associated either with the character’s habitat (mountain) or with the verb “to burn.”
The image of the terrible Serpent is borrowed from ancient myths about the dragon who guards the entrance to underground kingdom. To become a man, a teenager had to defeat him, i.e. accomplish a feat and then enter world of the dead and come back as an adult. According to another version, Zmey Gorynych - collective image steppe nomads who attacked Rus' in huge hordes. At the same time, they used fire shells that burned wooden cities.
Forces of nature
In ancient times, people personified the Sun, Wind, Moon, Thunder, Rain and other phenomena on which their lives depended. They often became heroes of Russian fairy tales, married princesses, and helped good heroes. There are also anthropomorphic rulers of certain elements: Moroz Ivanovich, goblin, water one. They can play the role of both positive and negative characters.
Nature is depicted as spiritual. The well-being of people largely depends on her actions. Thus, Morozko rewards the meek, hardworking daughter of an old man, whom her stepmother ordered to abandon in the forest, with gold and a fur coat. At the same time, her selfish stepsister dies from his spell. The Slavs worshiped the forces of nature and at the same time were wary of them, tried to appease them with the help of sacrifices, and made requests.
Grateful animals
In fairy tales we meet talking wolf, magic horse and cow, goldfish, a wish-fulfilling pike. And also a bear, hare, hedgehog, raven, eagle, etc. They all understand human speech and have unusual abilities. The hero helps them out of trouble, gives them life, and in return they help defeat the enemy.
Traces of totemism are clearly visible here. The Slavs believed that each genus descended from a specific animal. After death, the soul of a person moves into the beast and vice versa. For example, in the fairy tale "Burenushka" the soul of a deceased mother is reborn in the form of a cow to help her orphaned daughter. Such an animal could not be killed, because it became a relative and protected from harm. Sometimes the heroes of a fairy tale can themselves turn into an animal or a bird.
Firebird
Many positive heroes of fairy tales try to take possession of it. The wonderful bird dazzles the eyes like golden sun, and lives behind a stone wall in rich lands. Freely floating in the sky, she is a symbol heavenly body which gives good luck, abundance, creative power. This is a representative of another world, who often turns into a kidnapper. The firebird steals rejuvenating apples, bestowing beauty and immortality.
Only those who are pure in soul, believe in the dream and are closely connected with their deceased ancestors can catch it. Usually this younger son, who had to care for his old parents and spent a lot of time near the family hearth.
Thus, the heroes of Russian fairy tales teach us to respect our ancestors, listen to our hearts, overcome fear, pursue our dreams despite mistakes, and always help those asking for help. And then the divine radiance of the magical firebird will fall on a person, transforming him and bestowing happiness.
Son, spoiled prince and even Gray wolf. One of the most popular positive fairy tale images is a hero who has remarkable physical strength, stamina, courage and good nature. Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich are heroes who were not afraid of the three-headed Serpent Gorynych, Nightingale - and combine a brilliant mind, ingenuity and cunning.
Often in Russian fairy tales there are also kind animals - a horse, a wolf or a dog, which symbolize intelligence, cunning, devotion and fidelity.
Another well-known fairy-tale hero is the collective image of a simple Russian guy, Ivan. Ivan Tsarevich is always noble, brave and kind. He shows unprecedented heroism and reigns from evil forces. Ivanushka the Fool is another favorite positive Russian folk - most often it is the son in the family, but the most talented and unique. He knows how to understand animals, and they willingly help Ivanushka fight evil.
The kindest fairy tale hero
Answer yourself the question “which hero is the best?” It is possible only by specifying the purpose of good deeds. So, undoubtedly, Ivanushka can be called the kindest, who bravely goes against the dark forces, without thinking about his own well-being. True Good, first of all, is determined by selflessness, since the hero who commits noble deeds for the sake of profit, he turns into a simple mercenary.
Traditionally, good heroes in fairy tales help the world restore the natural balance of good and evil, preventing the antagonist from realizing his insidious plans.
Therefore the real good deed can only be accomplished when the hero is guided solely by the breadth of his soul. Such characters are Morozko, Grandfather Frost, Vasilisa the Beautiful, Cinderella's fairy godmother and other heroes who do good for the sake of good, without expecting any reward in return.
Thus, the title of the kindest fairy-tale hero can be awarded to each of these characters, since in the fight against evil it is not so much skill that is important as intention, and the intention of each of them is undoubtedly the most noble.
Without exaggeration, Ilya Muromets can be called the most famous of Russian epic heroes. Even that Russian who has never read epics or their prose retellings knows about this Russian hero at least from cartoons.
Researchers of Russian folklore know 53 epic heroic plots, and in 15 of them Ilya Muromets is the main character. All these epics belong to the Kyiv cycle associated with Vladimir the Red Sun - an idealized image of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich.
Deeds of an epic hero
The beginning of the epic “biography” of Ilya Muromets is associated with a very typical epic hero the motive of belated maturity: for 33 years the hero sits on the stove, being unable to move either his arms or legs, but one day, three elders - “walking calicoes” - appear to him. In Soviet-era publications, the clarification of who these people were was “cut out” from the epics, but tradition hints that these are Jesus Christ and the two apostles. The elders ask Ilya to bring them water - and the paralyzed man gets to his feet. Thus, even the hero’s healing turns out to be associated with the readiness to perform a good deed, albeit insignificant.
Having found heroic strength, Ilya sets off to perform heroic deeds. It is noteworthy that neither Ilya Muromets nor other Russian heroes ever perform feats just for the sake of personal glory, as the heroes of Western chivalric novels sometimes do. The deeds of Russian knights are always socially significant. This is the most famous feat Ilya Muromets - victory over the Nightingale the Robber, who killed travelers with his robber whistle. “You are full of tears and fathers and mothers, you are full of widows and young wives,” says the hero, killing the villain.
Another feat of the hero was the victory over Idolishch, who seized power in Constantinople. Idol is a collective image of nomadic enemies - the Pechenegs or Polovtsians. These were pagan peoples, and it is no coincidence that Idolishch threatens to “smoke God's churches" Defeating this enemy, Ilya Muromets acts as a defender of the Christian faith.
The hero always appears as a defender common people. In “Ilya Muromets and Kalin the Tsar,” Ilya refuses to go into battle, offended by the injustice of Prince Vladimir, and only when the prince’s daughter asks the hero to do this for the sake of poor widows and small children, does he agree to fight.
Possible historical prototypes
No matter how fabulous the plots of the epics about Ilya Muromets may seem, historians say: this is a real person. His relics rest in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, but initially the tomb was located in the chapel of St. Sophia of Kyiv - the main temple Kievan Rus. Usually only princes were buried in this cathedral; even boyars were not given such an honor, therefore, the merits of Ilya Muromets were exceptional. Researchers suggest that the hero died in 1203 during a raid by Cuman troops on Kyiv.
Another version is offered by historian A. Medyntseva, who tried to explain why the epic tradition connected the image of Ilya Muromets with Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich, who lived much earlier. Without denying the connection epic hero with the real-life Ilya Muromets, she points out that another source of the image could be the same person who served as the prototype for Dobrynya Nikitich. It was the uncle of Prince Vladimir
Fairy tales shape the thinking, fantasy and worldview of many generations. Fairy tales not only entertained us as children, but the actions of the heroes of Russian fairy tales taught us to distinguish between good and evil, to be brave and to act justly.
At the same time, fairy tales reflect different beliefs, views and ideas of the people at different times. During its development, the fairy tale changed significantly, and its functions also changed. If it was initially used for a magical incantatory purpose (to summon good luck in a hunt, to protect oneself from enemies or to ensure victory in battle), then over time, having lost its ritual meaning, the tale acquired an aesthetic, educational or entertaining character.
Remained conditional fairy tale characters. They are types, not individuals, and therefore are described in general outline, are often idealized, exalted, and exaggerated. The main images here are always antagonistic: one embodies the good, the beautiful; the other is evil forces. Hence their characteristics - actions, actions, intentions, language. According to their functions, the heroes of Russian fairy tales are conventionally divided into do-gooders, evil-doers and the disadvantaged.
Most large group fabulous folk epic make up magical fantasy tales. An explanation of many motives and characteristics of fairy-tale heroes can only be found in comparison with ancient rituals, elements of the socio-religious way of life of the Proto-Slavs and ancient Eurasians. Let's try to analyze some of the most famous characters Russian fairy tales.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Baba Yaga
Baba Yaga is a character from Slavic mythology and folklore. Usually an ugly old woman, endowed with magical power And magic items. Often a witch, sorceress. More often - negative character(luring children and good fellows to her hut on chicken legs to eat), but sometimes acts as the hero’s assistant. According to folklore specialist Vladimir Propp, three types of Baba Yaga can be distinguished in fairy tales: the giver (gives the main character a fairy-tale horse), the kidnapper of children and the warrior (she fights with the main character “to the death”).
In modern ideas, Baba Yaga is the mistress of the forest and guardian of the borders of the “other world” ( Far Far Away kingdom). That's why she has a bone leg - to stand in the world of the dead. In many fairy tales, Baba Yaga heats the bathhouse and vaporizes the hero, performing the ritual of ablution. Then he feeds him, that is, he performs a funeral feast with him. And you female image Baba Yagas are associated, according to researchers, with matriarchal ideas about the structure of the social world.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Water
IN Slavic mythology- a spirit that lives in water, the owner of water, the embodiment of the element of water as a negative and dangerous principle. He appears before us in the form of an obese old man, goggle-eyed, with a fish tail. He has a huge beard and mustache, sometimes fish-like features, webbed paws and a horn on his head. Lives in whirlpools and whirlpools, but especially loves water mills. Therefore, the millers cajoled them in every possible way, and also buried a live black rooster or other security attributes under the log where the door to the mill would be. Vodyanoy is often associated with the king of the sea.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Firebird
A fairytale bird is usually the target of a search for a fairy tale hero. The feathers of the firebird glow and amaze with beauty. Lives in the Garden of Eden, in a golden cage. He eats golden apples, heals the sick with his singing and restores sight to the blind. At a deep mythological level, he is the personification of fire, light and sun. Therefore, every year in the fall the Firebird dies and is reborn in the spring. At the cross-cultural level, it has an analogue - the Phoenix bird, reborn from the ashes.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Dragon
Fire-breathing dragon with several heads, personification evil beginning in fairy tales and epics. He usually lives in the mountains, near a fiery river and guards the “Kalinov Bridge”, through which one enters the kingdom of the dead. The number of heads of the Serpent-Gorynych is usually three (3, 6, 9 or 12). In fairy tales the snake is usually associated fire element. The Serpent-Gorynych kidnaps girls (often princesses) to feast on them. After that main characters comes to him for a duel, first killing his viper cubs.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Ivan the Fool
A very popular image in mythology, which, when solving problems, is guided by its own, non-standard solutions, often contradictory common sense, but bringing success. The designation “fool” is interpreted in different ways. Some researchers consider this a talisman against the evil eye. According to another version, Ivan is called a fool, since usually in fairy tales he is the third son, who is not entitled to a share of the parental inheritance (hence the ability to think outside the box, find a way out difficult situations). Etymologically, the image of Ivan the Fool is connected with the image of the priest, because he can sing and play the different instruments, and also speaks in riddles. At the end of the fairy tales, Ivan the Fool receives wealth and a princess as his wife.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Cat Baiyun
A huge man-eating cat with in a magical voice. On the one hand, he charms and lulls travelers with his tales, on the other, his tales can heal. The word “bayun” itself means “talker, storyteller.” In fairy tales cat Baiyun sits on a high pillar far away in the thirtieth kingdom or in a lifeless forest where there are no animals. In one of the fairy tales, he lives with Baba Yaga.
Catching the Cat Bayun is usually a test for the main character, who catches him wearing an iron cap and iron gloves. But the caught Cat Bayun then serves royal court, heals the sick with his stories.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Kolobok
A fairy-tale character in the form of spherical wheat bread, who runs away from grandparents, from various animals, but in the end is eaten by a fox. This character clearly represents a reverent attitude Slavic people to the bread and it sacred meaning. Namely, the round shape of the Kolobok, which also rolls, which refers us to the cult of the sun.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Koschey (Kashchei) the Immortal
An evil sorcerer whose death is hidden in several nested magical animals and objects. “On the sea, on the ocean, there is an island, on that island there is an oak tree, under the oak tree there is a chest buried, in the chest there is a hare, in the hare there is a duck, in the duck there is an egg, in the egg there is the death of Koshchei.” Often kidnaps the main character's fiancee. In appearance - a thin (Koschei - from the word “bone”) tall old man or a living skeleton. Sometimes on a talking and flying horse. A powerful sorcerer, which also allows us to call priests his prototypes.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Goblin
The master spirit of the forest in Slavic mythology. Its appearance can be different, even the opposite breeds in different fairy tales- sometimes he is small, sometimes a giant, sometimes an anthropomorphic creature, sometimes he has an animal appearance. In any case, its nature is otherworldly. People's attitude towards him is also ambivalent. On the one hand, they are afraid of him, he can make a person get lost, sometimes he plays pranks, and he can punish for inappropriate behavior in his domain. At the same time, it is the Leshy who protects the forest, on which human life largely depends.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Miracle Yudo
A character in folk tales and epics, and even pre-Slavic mythology. Positive or negative character the character is not clearly designated, nor is his gender - in different eras he was both feminine and masculine and in between. Miracle Yudo is a character so ancient that researchers find it difficult to link him to any phenomenon.
It could be a sea animal, a mythical serpent, a dragon. And in author's fairy tale Peter Ershov “The Little Humpbacked Horse” (1834) there is Miracle Yudo Whale Fish - island fish.
Elena Evgenievna Zyzina
Interactive game “Kind and evil heroes Russian folk tales"
Interactive game« Good and evil heroes of Russian folk tales»
Target: with examples fairy tales form an idea about good and evil, to uncover good and evil deeds. Make it clear that everyone is given freedom choice: create good or evil. Continue to learn how to make a coherent story, develop coherent speech skills.
One of the main topics Russian folk tales had a theme of good and evil. IN In fairy tales there are good and evil heroes. Heroes of Russian fairy tales are often magical powers, which in ancient times served as the subject of people's faith in mystical reality. Every fairy tale hero has its own unique type - one starts intrigues, the other brilliantly defeats the villain and lives happily ever after.
Appears in this game fairy tale hero, and the guys must answer whether he is good or evil. You can also clarify what actions he committed hero. Good heroes go to the kingdom Of good, evil ones - to the kingdom of Evil.
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A fairy tale enters a child’s life from the very beginning. early age, accompanies throughout preschool childhood and remains with him for life.
Photo report "Day of Russia and Russian folk tales" Today, June 13, in junior and middle groups The holiday "Day of Russia and Russians" took place.
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Quest game for senior preschool age “In the footsteps of Russian folk tales” Quest - a game for older children preschool age“In the footsteps of Russian folk tales” Educational area: speech development. Integration:.
Fairy tales play a significant role in a person’s life. This is one of the first things he hears after birth; she also accompanies him in the next stages of growing up. Not only children, but also adults love fairy tales. Their deep philosophical meaning gives you the opportunity to look at ordinary things differently; understand the principles of good and evil; learn to believe in miracles and not forget about your own role.
Moral values are transmitted through typical characters, each of which has its own folk prototype.
Hare
Runaway bunny, gray bunny, scythe - as they name the animal in Russian folk tales. He is endowed with a cowardly, but at the same time friendly character. Fairytale hare possesses cunning, dexterity and resourcefulness. A striking example- the fairy tale “The Fox and the Hare”, where a small animal turns from a cowardly animal into a savvy hero who managed to deceive even the evil wolf and help his friends.
In nature, hares do have cautious habits that help them avoid the teeth of predators. Our ancestors also knew this feature of the animal.
Fox
Cunning, resourceful, smart, insidious, vindictive...What traits are not given to a fox in fairy tales? She deceives animals, seeks profit everywhere, and is not afraid of people. The fox makes friends with the strong, but only for its own benefit.
The image of the animal embodies cunning. People's prototype can be considered dishonest, thieving, but at the same time smart person. The fox is feared, despised and respected at the same time. This is evidenced by the appeal to her in fairy tales as Fox Patrikeevna, Little Fox-Sister.
Wolf
The wolf in Russian fairy tales embodies anger. He preys on weaker animals; doesn't always act cunningly. Other characters take advantage of the wolf's shortsightedness. In the fairy tale “Little Fox Sister and the Gray Wolf,” a formidable predator was deceived by a red-haired cheat, and in “The Three Little Pigs”
He was tricked by harmless pigs.
Our ancestors also associated the wolf with death. Indeed, in nature, this predator is considered a kind of forest orderly who hunts weak and sick animals. And the human prototype of a wolf can be considered one who is too angry, greedy and vindictive.
Bear
The fairytale bear is the owner of the forest. He is strong, rude, clumsy and not entirely smart. It is believed that the common people wanted to show the landowners in the image of a bear. Therefore, in fairy tales this animal is often deceived by weaker animals with which ordinary people are associated.
At the same time, in fairy tales you can find another image of a bear: kind, calm, honest and freedom-loving. It is enough to remember how the bear helped the lost girl Masha in the work of the same name.
Man (peasant)
The image of a man in fairy tales has different meaning. In some works he appears as a personification working people: somewhat simple-minded, works all the time, does not put up with the injustice of rich bosses. On the other hand, traits such as wisdom and cunning were embodied in the man. He is hardworking, not rich, but much more cunning and resourceful than the landowners and generals.
Baba Yaga
A hut on chicken legs, a black cat, a mortar and a broom are the main attributes of any fairytale Baba Yaga. This old woman is both evil (her threats are worth it) and kind (she helps in difficult situations). She is wise, strong-willed, purposeful. She can be an advisor, or she can be a threat.
The image of Baba Yaga in Russian fairy tales is one of the most controversial and controversial. She personifies matriarchal traits. Among our ancestors, Baba Yaga was closely connected with the clan.
Koschei the Deathless
In fairy tales, his image can be seen in three forms: a sorcerer with special powers, the king of the underworld, and an old man who may be the husband of the Snake or a friend of Baba Yaga. Has unusual abilities: turns heroes into animals and birds. You can defeat him only through certain rituals (using a magic horse, a club, burning). Despite his name, he is not at all immortal, because his death is at the tip of a needle (or, as an option, in an egg), which are securely hidden.
The folk prototype of Koshchei is a powerful, evil, cunning and vile person endowed with magical properties.
Ivan the Fool
Despite the ambiguous name, Ivan is not at all the personification of stupidity, even if he is called a fool in the work. In fairy tales, he is the youngest of the sons, who often does nothing, is lazy, but achieves a lot in life, thanks to cunning and luck. This positive hero, embodying the characteristics of something people would like to have. Some kind of dream, where without special effort, by chance, everything works out: to become rich and to marry a princess. Our ancestors, in the image of Ivan the Fool, wanted to show a successful person.
Ivan Tsarevich
Unlike Ivan the Fool, who gets everything simply and effortlessly, Ivan Tsarevich, in order to achieve his goal, must overcome many obstacles, showing his strength, intelligence and skills. He becomes a prince not only by the fact of birth, which he is not even aware of, but by merit. Like Ivan the Fool, he is most often the youngest of the brothers, only of royal blood.
Kikimora
Kikimora in fairy tales can appear in the form of an ugly creature of indeterminate age (this is a girl, an old woman, and even a man). Is the personification of evil spirits. She tries to hide from people, but lives near residential buildings or in a swamp. Her job is to cause mischief and frighten.
The mythological meaning of kikimora among our ancestors is a person who died in an unrighteous way. Therefore, his soul finds no peace.
Water
The merman is the master of water. This is half old man, half fish. Lives near mills, in pools and wormwood. Scares people and drags them to the bottom; breaks mills and drowns cattle. But a merman can be deceived and defeated by cunning.
