Alyosha Popovich, the son of the Rostov priest Levontius, is the youngest of the three famous Russian heroes. As is often the case with younger characters, he is the sharpest-tongued, dexterous, daring and crafty, and this is primarily his strength.
The Russian warrior-traveler, hero Alyosha Popovich became famous for his exploits for the benefit of the fatherland and the prince. The ruler did not ask his heroes for anything, and this is fundamentally important for the epics: their heroes themselves offered their services to the state and chose their enemies themselves. Moreover, in the story of Alyosha Popovich and Tugarin the Snake, the hero not only acts independently, but also allows himself to make fun of the Kyiv prince. All this makes the character of this hero three-dimensional and humane.
Alyosha’s fight with Tugarin the Snake became the most striking and memorable feat. In it, he fully demonstrated his characteristic love of life, ingenuity, cunning and even audacity. The duel with the serpent is an archetypal plot present in the epics of many nations. Tugarin demonstrates his involvement in the element of fire when he threatens to smother the hero with smoke and shower him with sparks. According to researchers, in Rus' this wandering story was rethought over time based on the results of very real battles with nomads. This brings Tugarin from the epic closer to the collective image of the Polovtsian khan. The main thing is that he is fundamentally different from the Russians: he does not observe etiquette, does not pray to God and looks like a dog.
Wit and daring are Alyosha Popovich's main weapon in this story. Watching how Tugarin settled down at the prince’s table, the hero sarcastically teases him from behind the stove, which provokes a duel. So it turns out that Tugarin, in addition to his remarkable strength, has a secret weapon - a flying horse with paper wings. The hero’s faith turns out to be stronger: with his prayer he causes rain, from which his wings get wet, and the outcome of the battle is decided by the ingenuity and dexterity of Alyosha Popovich. It is important that the intervention of divine higher powers not only does not reduce the dignity of the winner: on the contrary, the significance of his feat is emphasized in folk art.
In the voluminous mosaic, the confrontation between the heroes is presented at the level of color: the restrained range of Alyosha Popovich’s costume is contrasted with the flashy colors of his opponent’s clothing, expressed primarily by the combination of deep blue lapis lazuli pants and the amazingly bright rhodonite quilted armor. It’s worth taking a closer look at the wings of Tugarin the Snake: the finest carving turns them into almost fluttering paper membranes.
From the collection of folk songs by Kirsha Danilov
Alyosha’s prayers reach Christ.
The Lord God gives a cloud with hail of rain,
Tugarin soaked his paper wings,
Tugarin falls like a dog on the damp ground.
Ekim Ivanovich came,
I told Alyosha Popovich,
What Tugarin saw on the damp ground.
And soon Alyosha is getting cut,
I sat on a good horse,
I took one sword sharply
And he went to see Tugarin Zmeevich.
And Tugarin Zmeevich saw Alyosha Popovich,
“Hey you are, Alyosha Popovich young!
Do you want me to burn you with fire?
If you want, Alyosha, I’ll stop you with my horse
Will I stab you with a spear, Alyosha?”
Alyosha Popovich young told him:
“Go you, Tugarin Zmeevich young!
You fought with me about a great bet -
Fight and fight one on one,
And behind you there is no power of estimate
On me, Alyosha Popovich."
Tugarin will look back at himself,
Alyosha jumped up,
He cut off his head
And the head fell on the damp ground like a beer cauldron.
November 10th, 2013
After a very long break, I’m returning to still Next in line we have this topic from esvidel : “It’s also interesting. I read about Ilya Muromets. What about Alyosha Popovich and Dobrynya Nikitich?
I told you in detail about Ilya Muromets here - remember: And now what do we know about other heroes:
The epic Alyosha Popovich is found in chronicles under the name of Alexander Popovich. Alexander Popovich was one of the outstanding “khorobrov” of the Rostov land. The Tver Chronicle, compiled on the basis of the Rostov chronicles in 1224, tells the following about Alexander Popovich. “There was someone from Rostov, Alexander, called Popovich, and he had a servant named Torop; Alexander served the Grand Duke Vsevolod Yuryevich...” When Vsevolod Yuryevich's eldest son Konstantin received Rostov as an inheritance, Alexander Popovich went into the service of Konstantin and served him faithfully, as faithfully as he had served his father.
A struggle arose between Constantine and his younger brother Yuri over the succession to the throne. Alexander Popovich also took an active part in this struggle. When Yuri went to Constantine with an army, Constantine retreated to Kostroma and burned it. Yuri's army stopped on the Ishna River near Rostov. Then Alexander Popovich came out against Yuri with his troops and killed many of Yuri’s servants, parts of which, the chronicler says, are still visible on the Ishna River.
In the victorious battle of Constantine with the same Yuri on the Uza River, the brave Alexander Popovich and his servant Torop again take part; Alexander's comrade was Timonya Golden Belt, the epic Dobrynya. Yuri Yuryat's hero was killed in the battle. In the Battle of Lipetsk, which took place between Yuri, in alliance with his brother Yaroslav, on the one hand, and Konstantin, in alliance with Mstislav Mstislavovich the Udal, on the other hand, Alexander Popovich again appears: Yuri was defeated; Another of his brave men, the boyar Ratibor, fell in the battle. Constantine took the throne in Vladimir and died two years later. Then Alexander Popovich, fearing revenge from Yuri for the murder of Yuryata and Ratibor and many others, decided to leave the Rostov-Suzdal land. He gathered a council of his “brave” in one city near a thundering well on the Uza River. At the council, it was decided, instead of serving different princes and beating each other, to go to the service of the great Kyiv prince Mstislav Romanovich the Brave. Mstislav was very glad that such a glorious brave as Alexander Popovich and his comrades entered his service, and boasted that now he could cope with any enemy. Subsequent events showed Mstislav that he was wrong: in the battle with the Tatars on Kalka (1223), he was defeated, and Alexander Popovich and the other seventy “brave” also fell.
In the Nikon Chronicle, Alexander Popovich is already presented as a contemporary of Saint Vladimir. Under the year 1000 the following is told: “Volodar came from the Polovtsy to Kyiv, forgetting the good deeds of his master, the prince. Vladimir, taught by a demon. Vladimir then went to Pereyaslavtsy on the Danube: and there was great confusion in Kyiv. And Alexander Popovich went out at night to meet them, and killed Volodar and his brother and killed many other Polovtsians, and killed others in the field of persecution. And when Volodymer heard it, he rejoiced greatly, and put a hryvnia of gold on (him) and made (him) a nobleman in his chamber.” The event described here is supposed to be dated by the Nikon Chronicle to the year 1000, which is erroneous: in fact, it may date back to 1110, when Vladimir Monomakh was in Pereyaslavets on the Danube; in the absence of Vladimir, Volodar of Przemysl could actually lead the Polovtsians to Kyiv.
Apparently, the note in the Nikon Chronicle represents an echo of the ancient epic about the liberation of Kyiv from enemies by Alexander Popovich. A modern epic on the same plot resembles a chronicle legend. Vasily the Beautiful (corresponding to the epic-chronicle Volodar) besieged Kyiv: he wants to take possession of the capital, burn the holy churches, execute Prince Vladimir, take Princess Eupraxia as his wife. Alyosha invites his squad to attack the enemies and liberate Kyiv: “Our service,” said Alyosha, “will not be forgotten, but great glory will go about us about our heroic service...”. Alyosha and his squad attack the great army of Vasily the Beautiful and defeat it. A great force scattered across the wide field, through those broom bushes, and cleared the straight road. When Alyosha traveled to Kyiv, he was awarded villages and country roads, cities with suburbs for his feat; The princely treasury was not closed to him either.
Under 1001, the Nikon Chronicle again reports about Alexander Popovich: “Alexander Popovich and Jan Usmoshvets, having killed the Pecheneg hero, beaten many Pechenegs and their prince Rodman, and brought his three sons to Kyiv to Volodymer. Volodimer made the celebration bright and distributed a lot of alms in churches and monasteries, and the poor, and the poor, and in the streets of the sick and crippled (crippled) great cadi (tubs) and barrels of honey and kvass, and digestions, and supplying wine and meat, and fish, and all kinds of vegetables that anyone requires and eats.” This note may be an echo of the epic about Alyosha’s fight with Tugarin. As for the description of Vladimir’s feast, it also resembles an epic description, for example, after Kalin’s defeat: “Oh, how the sun is here, Vladimir the prince, in joy at the great one, took away the table for the brave for the brave fellows, an honorable feast; Oh, how they began to drink, eat, do good things, troubles will no longer begin over themselves... He published strict decrees throughout the city of Kiev, he dissolved all the taverns, so that all the people would drink and green wine: whoever does not drink green wine, would drink and beer drunk, and whoever doesn’t drink beer should drink standing mead, so that everyone can have fun.”
All these data paint Alyosha Popovich as a mighty warrior warrior who came from the Rostov-Suzdal region to serve the Kiev prince at the beginning of the 12th century, and the process of cyclization of songs about Kiev heroes forced Alyosha’s deeds to coincide with the era of Saint Vladimir. Approximately until the XVII-XVIII centuries. Alyosha Popovich performs with positive traits. Over time, under the influence, probably, probably, of the nickname (Popovich), priestly traits begin to be attributed to Alyosha, and this in turn attracted a number of legends to Alyosha’s name, which depict the unsympathetic features of the clergy. As a result of this, Alyosha acquired the following qualities: he is insidious, cunning, a deceiver, and indulges in love affairs.
Alyosha Popovich and Tugarin Zmeevich
The name Tugarin refers to a historical figure - the Polovtsian Khan Tugorkan (as the name Idolishch refers to the Polovtsian Khan Bonyak). Our chronicles tell the following about Tugorkan. In 1094, “Svyatopolk created peace with the Polovtsy and gave himself a wife, the daughter of Tugorkan.” In 1096, “Kurya fought with the Polovtsi near Pereyaslavl and Ustye later, on the 24th day of May... That same month Tugorkan, father-in-law Svyatopolch, came to Pereyaslavl, on the 30th month of May... and the Lord did great salvation on that day: the month of July on the 19th day The foreigners fled, and their prince killed Tugorkan, and his son, and the other princes; defeat our enemies a lot; At dawn they found Tugorkan dead, and they took Svyatopolk, like a father-in-law and an enemy, and brought him to Kiev, buried him in Berestovye.”
It is very likely that family or hostile relations between Svyatopolk, the great prince of Kyiv, and the Polovtsian khan Tugorkan served as the historical seed from which epics about the mutual relations of Vladimir, Eupraxia and Tugarin developed; the death of Tugorkan, in turn, served as the basis for the poetic depiction of Alyosha and Tugarin.
It is generally accepted that the image of Alyosha Popovich was taken from a real person. His prototype was a boyar from Rostov, whose name was Alexander (Olesha) Popovich, who is sometimes called Alexander of Rostov. Alexander Popovich was a famous warrior of his time. In duels and in internecine battles between princes, he defeated many good fighters. He died serving the Kyiv prince Mstislav the Old in the battle of Kalka in 1223. By the way, Mstislav the Old himself also died in that battle. This was one of the rare battles when the Russians and Cumans fought together against the Mongols. Unfortunately, our troops were defeated then and many warriors, heroes and princes with their squads died.
According to various sources, Alyosha Popovich was the son of the Rostov priest Leonty (Levonty). But the information varies. One thing is certain: Alyosha’s father was a priest. But the versions of Alyosha’s birthplace do not agree. According to one version, he was from the town of Piryatin, which is located in the Poltava region. Another option considers the village of Selishche (now abandoned), which is located in the Rostov district of the Yaroslavl region.
But there is another version of the origin of Alyosha Popovich. It is believed here that epics about Alyosha Popovich existed before, before the birth of Alexander Popovich (Rostovsky). And since Alexander was a famous warrior of his time, his image was superimposed on the image of the epic hero.
- The famous Ukrainian writer Taras Shevchenko wrote “The Thought of Alyosha Popovich” when he came to the city of Pyryatyn.
- The Altai version of the epic “Alyosha Popovich and Tugarin Zmeevich” differs from other versions. In it, Alyosha Popovich appears along with his servant, and the title of the epic sounds like “ Alyosha Popovich and Ekim Ivanovich«.
- In the epic "Dobrynya Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich" Alyosha Popovich wooed Dobrynya Nikitich's wife, Nastasya Nikulishna, but the wedding did not take place - Dobrynya returned from absence (though the absence lasted as much as 12 years).
- There is a version of the epic "Alyosha Popovich and the sister of the Petrovich brothers (Zbrodovich)", where Alyosha Popovich's head was cut off.
- In 2009, the Ukrainian authorities decided to erect a monument to Alyosha Popovich in the city of Piryatov.
Nikitich, this is an epic hero. Unlike Alyosha Popovich and Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich is always, or almost always, in the service of Prince Vladimir. He is the commander of the princely squad. As a result, he accomplishes most of his feats precisely thanks to his service with Prince Vladimir. The nature Nikitich brave, but at the same time has diplomatic skills. As a result, he is, as it were, the prince’s personal guarantor, fulfilling not only his official duties, but also the delicate instructions of Prince Vladimir. In terms of its significance in the epic epic of the Russian people, Dobrynya Nikitich can be called the second most famous and popular hero. In first place is Ilya Muromets.
Origin of the image of Dobrynya
The epic Dobrynya, when compared with the chronicle Dobrynya, Vladimir's uncle, seems to have nothing in common with him. While the chronicle Dobrynya has almost a leading role before Vladimir’s accession to the throne of Kiev and for a long time after that, the epic Dobrynya occupies a secondary role at Vladimir’s court. Moreover, the epic Dobrynya complains to his mother about his fate: he regrets that his mother did not give birth to him as a flammable pebble, that she did not throw this pebble to the bottom of the blue sea, where he would lie calmly and would be spared the need to drive across an open field .
This discrepancy can be explained by the fact that under the name Dobrynya in epics, not only Dobrynya, Vladimir’s uncle, is sung, but also a number of other Dobrynyas, who were mixed with the first. Thus, in the Tver Chronicle, next to Alexander Popovich (Alyosha Popovich bylin), his comrade Dobrynya (Timonya) Zlatopyas is mentioned; and the Nikon Chronicle mentions Alexander Popovich, his servant Torop and Dobrynya Razanich Golden Belt.
Some epics about Dobrynya, indeed, take him out of Ryazan; his father is trade guest Nikitushka Romanovich. In any case, in the epics about Dobrynya there are some features that may have a connection with Vladimir’s historical uncle: getting a bride for Vladimir is an undoubted echo of the story with Rogneda.
Dobrynya and Marina
The name of the Snake's mistress Marina is of later origin, namely Marina Mnishek, the famous wife of False Dmitry I (early 17th century), who was equated by popular rumor with sorceresses. The name Marina apparently replaced an older name, probably Polovtsian, from the epic.
The presented epic is curious because of the everyday relations of antiquity that it reflects. Dobrynya hits (according to some epics - by accident) dear foreigner Marina (steppe girl); Marina takes revenge on Dobrynya by resorting to that type of suggestion, which in ancient times was called sorcery, and forcing Dobrynya to fall in love with her. Then Dobrynya is freed from hypnosis and kills Marina. Such relationships could arise very often.
Dobrynya and the Serpent
In the struggle of Dobrynya with the Serpent-Gorynishche and his little serpents, clashes, peace treaties and violations between the Russians and the steppes are depicted. The name "Snake" personifies the enemy, enemy force; the nickname “Gorynishch” indicates the connection between the homeland or capital of the steppe inhabitants and the mountainous country.
The processing of the epic about Dobrynya's struggle with the Serpent should have been influenced by spiritual verses about St. Egoria and Fedor Tiron.
Dobrynya participates in getting Vladimir a bride
This epic was apparently based on an event noted in the chronicle in 980, namely Vladimir’s matchmaking of Rogvold of Polotsk’s daughter Rogneda. In the Laurentian list of the chronicle, under 1128, this event is described as follows: “About these Vseslavichs (Polotsk) there is a story, as the leading (i.e., knowledgeable singers) said before: as Rogovoloda holding and reigning the Polotsk land, and Volodymyr existing Novgorod is a childish creature, and also a filthy one, and he has Dobrynya as a governor and a brave man, and a dressed-up husband: and send an ambassador to Rogovolod and ask him for his daughter for Volodymyr. He said to his daughter: “What do you want for Volodymyr?”
She said: “I don’t want Rozuti Robichich, but I want Yaropolk”; Rogovolod came from overseas, his volost called Poltesk. Hearing Volodimer, he became angry about that speech, saying: “I don’t want to marry Robichich”; Dobrynya shook hands and was filled with rage, and ate the warriors of the idol Poltesk and the victorious Rogovolod. Rogovolod ran into the city, and approached the city and took the city, and Yash himself, and his wife and his daughter; and Dobrynya reproached him and his daughters, he named her rabichitsa, and ordered Volodymer to be with her in front of her father and mother. Then kill her father, and kill her wife, and call her name Gorislava.”
Between the epic and this chronicle legend, despite their differences, there is a significant similarity: firstly, the action takes place in a land located in the west, according to the chronicle in the Polotsk region, according to the epic in the land of Lithuania; secondly, the bride’s matchmaking is refused; the bride is obtained by violence, and the main role is played by Dobrynya, who, according to the chronicle, defeated Rogvolod and took possession of Polotsk, and according to the epic, killed every single Tatar.
Dobrynya and the Polenitsa woman
Dobrynya’s meeting with a heroic woman (like the similar meeting of Ilya Muromets with Baba Goryninka) is apparently an echo of ancient Russian relations with the Caucasus. Polenitsa Nastasya Nikulichna is a foreigner. This is evident from her words, reminiscent of Svyatogor’s words to Ilya: “I thought Russian mosquitoes bite, even Russian heroes pinch.” In Caucasian legends about the Narts, the latter have to deal not only with male giants, called emegens, but also with female giants. The Emeghens, men and women, are gifted with gigantic stature and enormous physical strength; they are cannibals and live in caves. Apparently, the images of emegens are echoes of a very ancient life of the era of the hunting period and matriarchy, when some women did not differ from men in their lifestyle.
Most historians are inclined to believe that the epic hero Dobrynya Nikitich had a real prototype. This is the uncle of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Vladimir Svyatoslavovich (known as Vladimir Yasno Solnyshko) Dobrynya. Dobrynya was the brother of the prince’s mother (Malusha) and was in the service of the governor of the prince’s squad. The exact dates of the life of Voivode Dobrynya are unknown, but these events took place at the turn of the millennium. Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich of Kiev ruled until 1015 AD and is best known for the fact that under him the baptism of Rus' took place. According to historical data, Dobrynya had the following qualities: “smart, educated, dexterous, quick on his feet, an excellent shooter, swims, plays tavlei, sings, plays the harp” (Kireev. II, 49).
There is another version of historians. Dobrynya was the nephew of Prince Vladimir. But this is a less common version. Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that the prototype of Dobrynya Nikitich is Uncle Prince Dobrynya. This, by the way, explains that the prince entrusted Dobrynya with personal and delicate assignments. According to the same historical information, Dobrynya was the son of Malk Lyubechanin Msisha-Lyuta (Mstislav Lyuty) Sveneldich. And Dobrynya’s son, Konstantin Dobrynich, was the mayor of Novgorod for some time.
Let me remind you of some other versions from the ancient history of Rus': or here, but there is such a version, a hundred was The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy was made -We have known them since childhood, we want to be like them, because they are real superheroes - epic knights. They perform inhuman feats, but they, Russian heroes, also had their own real prototypes.
Alesha Popovich
Alyosha Popovich is the youngest of the trio of epic heroes. He looks the least warlike, his appearance is not menacing, rather bored. This is understandable - he is bored without fighting, without the adventures to which he was prone, since he defeated his enemies not by force, but by ingenuity and cunning. He is the most atypical of all the heroes, not very virtuous, boastful, greedy for the weaker sex.
Traditionally, Alyosha Popovich is correlated with the Rostov boyar Alexander Popovich, about whom there is more than one mention in the Nikon Chronicle. He took part in the Battle of Lipetsk and died in 1223 in the Battle of the Kalka River.
However, just as you cannot remove words from a song, you cannot remove a feat from an epic. Alyosha Popovich became famous for two main feats - his victory over Tugarin's snake and over the filthy Idolishch. The version of the comparison of the epic hero with Alexander Popovich does not explain any of these achievements, since victories over the filthy Idolishch and over Tugarnin the serpent were won two centuries before the Battle of Kalka.
Another version of who was the prototype of Alyosha Popovich was told by art critic Anatoly Markovich Chlenov. He believes that it is more correct to compare Alyosha Popovich with the boyar’s son and comrade-in-arms of Vladimir Monomakh, Olberg Ratiborovich.
According to the Tale of Bygone Years, it was he who killed the Polovtsian Khan Itlar, who came to negotiate in Pereyaslavl in 1095, by order of the prince, shooting him with a bow through a hole in the roof. Boris Rybakov, in particular, wrote that the name Idolishche, in all likelihood, is a distortion of Itlar through the form “Itlarishche the filthy.” It is characteristic that in the entire epic tradition it is the murder of the filthy Idol that is the only example of the murder of an enemy in the palace, and not in the “open field”.
The second feat of Alyosha Popovich is the victory over Tugarin's snake. Philologists found the prototype of the “snake” back in the 19th century; at the beginning of the 20th century, the version was voiced by Vsevolod Fedorovich Miller. “Tugaryn serpent” is the Polovtsian khan Tugorkan from the Shurakanid dynasty. Sharukan among the Polovtsians meant “snake”.
So everything comes together. According to Boris Rybakov, the name Olberg over time was transformed into the Christian Olesha, and the comparison of Alyosha Popovich with the historical governor Alexander Popovich, according to Dmitry Likhachev, is later.
Nikitich
In Vasnetsov’s painting, Dobrynya is depicted as a mature warrior with a thick beard, while in all the epics Dobrynya is a good fellow. There is an opinion that Vasnetsov painted partly himself in Dobrynya’s appearance. The thick beard seems to hint.
The name “Dobrynya” means “heroic kindness.” The epic Dobrynya also has the nickname “young”, he is strong, and is the protector of “unfortunate wives, widows and orphans.” In addition, he is creative - he plays the harp and sings, he is passionate - he does not avoid playing tavlei. Dobrynya is intelligent in his speeches and knows the subtleties of etiquette. It is clear that he is not a commoner. At the very least - a prince-commander.
The epic Dobrynya is compared by philologists (Khoroshev, Kireevsky) with the chronicle Dobrynya, the uncle of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich. Historically, Nikitich is not a middle name; the real Dobrynya’s middle name is quite Hollywood - Malkovich. And there were Malkovichs from the village of Nizkinichi. It is believed that “Nikitich” is precisely the “Nizkinich” transformed by the people.
The chronicle Dobrynya played a big role in the history of Rus'. According to the Tale of Bygone Years, it was he who advised the Novgorod ambassadors to invite Prince Vladimir to their place, and he also facilitated the marriage of his nephew to the Polovtsian Rogneda. For his deeds, Dobrynya, after the death of his brother Vladimir Yaropolk, became a Novgorod mayor and participated in the baptism of Novgorod.
If you believe the Joachim Chronicle, baptism was painful, “They baptized with the sword, and Dobrynya with fire,” the houses of the obstinate pagans had to be burned. Excavations, by the way, confirm the great fire of Novgorod in 989.
Ilya Muromets
Ilya Muromets is the eldest of the “younger heroes”. Everything in it is ours. At first he sat on the stove, then he was miraculously healed, then he served for the prince, quarreled with him from time to time, and after military affairs he became a monk.
The prototype of our main knight is Saint Elijah of the Pechersk, whose relics rest in the nearby caves of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Ilya Muromets had a nickname; he was also called “Chobotok”. Chobotok is a boot. How Ilya Muromets received this nickname can be read in the surviving document of the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery: “There is also one giant or hero, called Chobotka, they say that he was once attacked by many enemies while he was putting on his boot, and so In his haste, he was unable to grab any other weapon, so he began to defend himself with another boot, which he had not yet put on, and with it he defeated everyone, which is why he received such a nickname.”
The fact that Ilya Pechersky is Ilya Muromets is confirmed by the book “Teraturgima” published in 1638. In it, the monk from the monastery Afanasy Kalnofoisky says that Saint Elijah, who is also called Chibitko, rests in the caves. The earthly life of the hero "Teraturgimus" dates back to the 12th century.
New evidence of the identity of the historical Elijah of Pechersk and Ilya of Muromets appeared in 1988, when the Interdepartmental Commission of the Ministry of Health of the Ukrainian SSR was sent to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The height of Elijah of Pechersk during his lifetime was 177 cm, which was impressive for Ancient Rus'. The epic's indication of the immobility of St. Elijah, up to 30 years of age, corresponds to data on a long-term spinal disease. According to scientists, the ascetic was a warrior, this was evidenced by calluses on the ribs that had healed after fractures. In addition, many other battle wounds were found on the body, one of which was apparently fatal.
The epic image of heroes is a feature of the Russian epic. The exploits of Alyosha Popovich and Dobrynya Nikitich are described in many legends and reflect a whole layer of the worldview of the period of Kievan Rus. In this article we will figure out who the heroes are, and also find out what some of these knights are famous for.
Epic heroes
The epics mention words such as “hero” and “knight”. Let's look at their origin.
Researchers have not yet come to a common agreement, so there are several versions. Bogatyr has similar-sounding analogues in the proto-Aryan language (“lucky”) and in Mongolian (“bagadur” - “daredevil, brave horseman”).
Vityaz presumably comes from the verb “to beat”, that is, it means “warrior”. According to the second version, this is the word “Viking” modified in the Slavic manner.
Researchers divide bogatyrs into two classifications.
The first identifies the elders, juniors and heroes of Kievan Rus. The first include knights, personifying forces hostile to man. These are Svyatogor, Mikula Selyaninovich, Polkan, Ivan Kolyvanovich, Samson and some others.
The younger ones already have a human appearance, without the ability to change shape, unlike the older ones. These include Nightingale, Churila, Duke.
The basis of the epics about the Kyiv heroes are the exploits of Alyosha Popovich and Dobrynya Nikitich. Also mentioned are Ilya Muromets, Mikhailo Potok, Ivan Gostiny Son and others.
The second classification is based on periods - pre-Tatar period, Tatar and Moscow. In it, these same knights are arranged in a slightly different order.
Who is Dobrynya Nikitich?
The life and exploits of Dobrynya Nikitich are described in many epics. He dates back to the period of Kievan Rus and is depicted as a serving knight under Prince Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko.
It is believed that he took Mikula Selyaninovich’s daughter Nastasya as his wife.
It is noteworthy that among all the heroes of this era, he is in the closest relationship with the princely family. He carries out not only military assignments, but also diplomatic missions, and also collects and delivers tribute.
In addition, Dobrynya often performs tasks that other knights refuse.
In terms of popularity, he is in second place, after Ilya Muromets, and is often depicted as his companion.
Judging by the legends, Dobrynya early discovered that he had a “heroic strength”. Next we will get acquainted with his merits, but the three feats of Dobrynya Nikitich stand out the most. Fight with the Serpent, battle with Danube Ivanovich and help in getting a bride for Prince Vladimir.
Origin of the image
Researchers of Russian epics are inclined to believe that this image is collective. However, many argue that it is based on several prototypes of real historical figures.
The main argument in favor of the high-ranking of this hero is “vezhestvo,” which is mentioned more than once in songs. Our ancestors used this word to denote courtesy, the ability to find a common language, and the gift of diplomacy.
Judging by the epics, his father is the Ryazan governor Nikita. However, researchers of the Slavic epic believe that the prototype of Dobrynya was the prince’s uncle, the brother of his mother Malusha. This governor had the same name as
One of the facts that can prove the plausibility of the version is the following: the chronicles indicate the forced baptism of Novgorodians; in some epics this moment correlates with the time when Dobrynya Nikitich lived.
Fight with Zmey Gorynych
The first feat of Dobrynya Nikitich has a plot similar to many legends of the ancient world. The battle with the dragon, the serpent, the primary evil takes place in the myths of different peoples.
So, what do we know from epics?
Feeling the awakening power, Dobrynya began to “walk along the pole.” One day he told his mother that he wanted to go to the Pochaina River. According to legend, it had an unusual property. There were two streams in it that moved in opposite directions and cut everyone who tried to swim across.
There the hero meets the Serpent Gorynych. A battle ensues, and after the knight’s victory, the monster promises never to attack Russian land or plunder villages again. But according to the classic canons of the genre, the Serpent immediately breaks this word. He kidnaps the daughter of the Kyiv prince Vladimir, Krasno Solnyshko.
Having received magical things from his mother (chain mail, a treasure sword, a mighty war horse), the hero finds the serpent’s lair. There he is confronted by younger dragonets, whom he easily defeats.
The battle with Gorynych dragged on for three days. When the knight's strength was already leaving him, he heard a voice from heaven that said that he needed to hold out for another three hours. Having survived the battle, Dobrynya defeated the monster, but almost drowned in its blood. He was saved because the earth opened up and absorbed everything.
Fight with Danube Ivanovich
This epic shows the confrontation between Kyiv and neighboring tribes. The Danube is a tragic image in the Russian epic. This hero once served the Lithuanian prince, but, having fallen out of favor, he left for Rus'. The legend about wooing a bride for Vladimir also says that the Danube also takes away her sister Nastasya, for whom he once had feelings.
But at the wedding, the heroes began to compete in archery, and Danube accidentally killed Nastasya. When he finds out that she was pregnant, he rushes to his saber. Legend has it that from his blood was formed
The epic about the battle of this Lithuanian with Dobrynya tells about the events that occurred before the matchmaking. The plot is as follows. The Kiev hero was riding across a field and saw a velvet tent with an inscription on it that anyone who approached it would die.
Dobrynya became angry, drank wine from the tent and destroyed it. He himself fell asleep in this place. The returning Danube decided to punish the offender. He woke up the knight, and they fought for several days. First they chopped up all the weapons, then they fought hand-to-hand.
According to one version, they were reconciled by the passing Ilya Muromets, according to another, they went to Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko for trial. The prince, after listening to both, acquitted Dobrynya and put Danube in the cellar for threatening his knight.
Who is Alyosha Popovich?
The next most popular epic hero is Alyosha, the son of the popovich. His father is considered to be the priest from Rostov Levontii, although sometimes he is called Fedor.
The story of Alyosha Popovich is mentioned in two epics, where he is the main character. In the rest, he is a minor participant or is mentioned in passing.
Apart from the two tales about his exploits, basically this knight is a contradictory and often negative character. Many researchers draw parallels between him and Volga Svyatoslavich.
Thus, the characterization of Alyosha Popovich, which emerges from the legends, does not quite correspond to the image of the “hero of the Russian land.”
The only epic in which this lame warrior, not distinguished by great strength, is shown in a positive role is the legend of his battle with Tugarin. We'll talk about it further.
Alyosha and Tugarin
An epic similar in content is about the battle of this knight with the Skim-beast. In fact, it reproduces exactly all the main points of the legend about the victory over Tugarin.
The plot of the legend is as follows. Alyosha comes with his skillful and agile servant Ekim to Kyiv to visit Vladimir. Here at the feast he meets Tugarin, who “lays his head on the princess’s chest.” Seeing the gluttony and greed of the snake, Alyosha begins to ridicule him. First, he compares the warrior to his father’s dog, which choked on a bone out of greed and died, and later to a cow.
The offended Tugarin throws a knife at him, but Ekim catches it in mid-flight. Next, Alyosha challenges the enemy to battle “in an open field.”
Judging by the epic, he wins with God's help and using cunning.
At first, Tugarin flew on “paper wings,” but Alyosha prayed in the temple and it began to rain. After the snake fell, the knight drove up to him and said: “Why did you bring such a big powerhouse with you?”
When Tugarin turned around to see what the hero meant, the latter cut off his head. This scene shows the character of Alyosha Popovich: the warrior often achieved his goal not by force, but by cunning. In some ways, his image is similar to the image of Odysseus in Homer.
What do the researchers say?
If we consider the exploits of Alyosha Popovich, a brief summary of which can be found in many collections of epics, we will see some features of the image.
On the one hand, researchers are inclined to believe that the historical prototype of the hero was Rostovite Alexander Popovich. A boyar who was in the service of Prince Vsevolod, and later - of his son Konstantin.
After Yuri sits on the throne in 1281, Alexander goes to Kyiv to Mstislav and dies in the Battle of Kalka.
Studying the exploits of Alyosha Popovich (summary or full text of the epics), one can see his arrogant and contemptuous attitude towards Prince Vladimir and the Kyiv nobility.
He often calls them “pimps,” and these tales often depict extramarital affairs of heroes with boyars, princes, and voivodes’ wives.
This suggests that the exploits of Alyosha Popovich and Dobrynya Nikitich were described in different periods of time. When they are found in one epic, this only indicates the later origin of the legend.
The image of heroes in culture
The characteristics of Alyosha Popovich, Dobrynya Nikitich, Ilya Muromets and many other heroes inspire many writers, artists, composers and directors.
For example, Alyosha is depicted in the paintings of Vasnetsov, Vereshchagin, Vasiliev. He is mentioned in the ballad of Tolstoy A.K.
Modern cartoon creators also use this epic image.
Speaking about Dobrynya Nikitich, to everything mentioned above it is worth adding that an island in the Nordenskiöld archipelago, a mountain in the Kuril ridge and several ships are named in his honor.
Name: Alyosha Popovich
A country: Kievan Rus
Creator: Slavic epics
Activity: hero
Family status: married
Alyosha Popovich: character story
The character of the Russian epic epic, as a junior, is one of the famous three heroes along with and. Represents a collective image of a Russian hero.
History of creation
Perhaps the hero Alyosha Popovich had a real prototype - a boyar from Rostov named Alexander, also Popovich. Chronicles describe this man as a famous warrior who served first with the Grand Duke of Vladimir Vsevolod the Big Nest, then with Konstantin Vsevolodovich, his son. This Alexander acted on the side of the latter against Yuri, his brother, who wanted to seize the Vladimir princely throne.
A series of fights are described where Alexander Popovich defeated the strongest warriors of Yuri Vsevolodovich. As a result, Yuri nevertheless becomes the Prince of Vladimir, after Konstantin dies, and the prototype of Alyosha is forced to leave for Kyiv, where he goes to serve the Grand Duke Mstislav, nicknamed the Old. In 1223, Alexander Popovich died along with the new prince in the Battle of Kalka.
Some scientists, however, argue that the situation is exactly the opposite, and it was the epics about Alyosha Popovich that influenced how the chronicles talk about the actually existing boyar Alexander. The image of Alyosha Popovich himself was formed on the basis of ideas about a certain ancient mythological hero. Scientists see archaic features and connections with the chthonic element in the descriptions of the hero.
Biography
Alyosha's father is Leonty Rostovsky, pop. As the main character, Alyosha Popovich is present in two epics - “Alyosha Popovich and Tugarin” and “Alyosha Popovich and the Zbrodovich’s sister.” The hero appears in fifty other texts, but is by no means always presented as a positive character. For example, in the epic “Dobrynya at his wife’s wedding,” Alyosha’s role is frankly negative.
In epics, the hero’s shortcomings, his lameness, weakness, etc. are often pointed out. Alyosha's strengths are cunning and resourcefulness, pressure and daring. The hero knows how to play the harp. At the same time, Alyosha does not behave honestly, even towards “his own people”. The hero Dobrynya Nikitich is the hero's sworn brother, however, Alyosha encroaches on his wife Nastasya. Having decided to take this woman as his wife, the hero spreads a false rumor that Dobrynya has died.
Alyosha has an ambiguous and contradictory character. The hero is prone to evil jokes, Alyosha is characterized by boastfulness, arrogance, evasiveness and slyness. The hero is often reproached by his own fellow heroes, who treat him with condemnation. Alyosha’s main occupation, as well as the possible historical prototype of the hero, was military service with the prince.
A number of legends are associated with the image of Alyosha. When a hero is born, thunder roars. As a baby, Alyosha asks to be wrapped in chain mail, and not in swaddling clothes, and immediately demands that his mother bless the hero, because he can’t wait to walk around the world. Having barely been born, the hero already knows how to ride a horse and wield a saber and spear, shows dexterity and cunning, and is prone to all sorts of tricks and jokes.
The epic “Alyosha Popovich and the Zbrodovich Sister” tells how Alyosha finds his wife Elena (Alyonushka) and is exposed to danger from her brothers. In one version of this plot, the hero's head is even cut off.
The duel with the evil hero Tugarin is the most archaic plot of those where Alyosha Popovich is mentioned. This fight takes place either in Kyiv, or on the way there. Tugarin bombards the hero with threats - he threatens that he will swallow him alive, burn him with fire, suffocate him with smoke, etc. Often the fight scene takes place near the water, and Alyosha, after defeating Tugarin, chops up the corpse and scatters it across an open field. The victory over Tugarin became Alyosha's main feat.
Cartoons
Nowadays, Alyosha Popovich is known mainly from the series of animated films “Three Heroes” from the Melnitsa studio. The hero is present in four of them:
- “Alyosha Popovich and Tugarin the Serpent” (2004);
- “Three Heroes and the Shamakhan Queen” (2010);
- “Three heroes on distant shores” (2012);
- “Three Heroes and the Sea King” (2017).
In the cartoon “Alyosha Popovich and Tugarin the Serpent,” viewers learn about the hero’s childhood. He was born into the family of a Rostov priest and grew up to be a strong but unlucky guy - he constantly created trouble. The hero gets a chance to show himself when a horde of nomads attacks the city. The adversaries demand tribute in gold, and Alyosha, together with old Tikhon, comes up with a “brilliant” plan: put the collected gold in a huge pile under the mountain, and when the enemies enter the cave to take the tribute, block the entrance with a stone and wall up the villains there.
The heroes did not take into account the laws of physics: the thrown stone rolled down the gentle slope of the mountain and fell on the city, causing unprecedented destruction, and the enemies disappeared along with the gold. After this, Alyosha’s “rating” in the eyes of his compatriots plummets, and the hero goes in search of the missing gold. Behind him are old Tikhon, the loving maiden Lyubava on a donkey and a bent grandmother. Along the way, the heroes meet a talking horse - Julius's horse, and then an old one, who accidentally sends them on the wrong trail. The heroes quarrel, make peace, save Julius from the talking tree, defeat the army of nomads and Tugarin the Snake, and then the greed of the Prince of Kyiv, and return to their native Rostov with the gold.
In the cartoon “Three Heroes and the Shamakhan Queen” by Alyosha Popovich, his comrades begin to find out which of them is the best hero in Rus', and they quarrel. Meanwhile, the Shamakhan queen has bewitched the prince of Kyiv and wants to force him to marry herself. Alyosha Popovich receives a letter written by the horse Julius, who asks to get him and the prince out of the domain.
The three of them go on a mission, but when they get there, they do not immediately storm the gate, but go to rest. Alyosha, who climbed into the palace alone at night, is bewitched. The hero stuns his own comrades and drags them to prison. The heroes overcome obstacles set up by their enemies, fight monsters and even end up in China, and evil ultimately defeats itself.
In the cartoon “Three Heroes on the Distant Shores,” the dishonest merchant Kolyvan seizes power in Kyiv, and the prince and his horse Julius go underground. The conspiracy against the official government succeeds thanks to Baba Yaga, who lures the heroes into an enchanted barrel and throws them into the ocean, depriving Rus' of its main defenders.
The place of the heroes is taken by magical “clones” who blindly obey Baba Yaga, while the real Alyosha, Ilya and Dobrynya find themselves on a tropical island in the middle of the ocean, where they manage to both relax and defeat the local monster at their leisure. Meanwhile, arbitrariness reigns in the principality, the disgraced prince organizes a partisan movement, and the wives of the heroes - Lyubava, Alyonushka and Nastasya Filippovna - come together to deal with the usurpers...
In the latest cartoon, “Three Heroes and the Sea King,” Alyosha Popovich and his companions go to China to get a dragon tooth. In all parts of the series, Alyosha was voiced by an actor.
Film adaptations
In addition to the famous series of cartoons from the Melnitsa studio, you can also watch a number of films where Alyosha Popovich is present. The first - the film fairy tale "Ilya Muromets" - was released during the Soviet era. This film became the first Soviet film released for the wide screen. The film was based on epic plots and fairy tales, and the role of Alyosha Popovich was played by an actor.
Much later, in 2010, the film “Adventures in the Thirtieth Kingdom” was released with Alexei Shutov in the role of Alyosha. There, modern children, fans of computer games, go to the seashore and find themselves in a fairy tale. The film received mostly negative reviews from viewers and a low rating.
The film “Real Fairy Tale”, released a year later, was already rated much higher. This is an alternative fairy tale story where fairy tale characters moved into the modern world and live among people. . The painting was intended for the palace of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich in St. Petersburg (now it is the House of Scientists on Palace Embankment).
In the second half of the twentieth century, a young artist began to develop the epic-mythological theme, who has a painting “Alyosha Popovich and the Beautiful Maiden.” There is no clear description of the hero’s appearance, so artists mainly relied on their creative imagination.
In the 19th century, the hero “leaked” into literature; Nikolai Radishchev and Nikolai Radishchev wrote poems and ballads about him.
Quotes
“I'm afraid of a serious relationship?! Ha ha! Yes, I don’t smile at myself in the mirror because I’m so serious!”
“Are you hungry, shaggy one? Try the heroic silushka!”
“Is it a heroic thing to do a woman’s housework?!”
“Lyubava: - Don’t disturb the composition!...
Alyonushka: - Finally, have a conscience! You are disrupting our competition “Image of Heroes in Folk Art”!
Alyosha: - If only the adversaries would fly in, or something, they would taste the heroic strength!
Dobrynya: What adversaries now, they killed everyone...
Ilya: Yes... we were in a hurry.”