Аннотация:Dragons are found in legends of peoples all over the world. In Russian folklore, dragons live on the border with the other world, often among the mountains, in a flame or under water. Usually they are winged many-headed serpents (with 3, 6, 9, and even with 12 heads).
There are four types of dragons in Russian ancient myths and legendary epic: (1) Zmey Gorynych (mountain serpent) who has three heads, is green, walks on two back paws, has small front paws, and spits fire; (2) Tugarin Zmeyevich with Turcic name, probably symbolizing the Mongols and other steppe peoples; (3) Chudo-Yudo, a monstrous, multi-headed dragon who is a manifestation of the giantess itself; (4) dragon in Christianity symbolizing Satan (as in the legend of St George killing the dragon).
Different from the Eastern beliefs, Russian dragons are the symbol of evil, the embodiment of brutal enslaving force. In ancient times dragons primarily symbolized the menacing dark clouds in the sky which closed the way for sun's rays and thereby deprived the living world of the main source of life. Later dragons were associated with snake-like lightening departing from «celestial mountains», which reinforced this image.
Some prehistoric structures, notably the Serpent's Wall near Kiev, the ancient capital of Russia, have been associated with dragons as symbols of foreign peoples. The legendary heroes, Russian bogatyrs (knights) usually fought against dragons and killed them. Among the famous bogatyrs are Dobrynya Nikitich, Nikita Kozhemyaka, and Alyosha Popovich.