Zmey Gorynych

In Russian folklore (skazki) and epic poetry (byliny), the Zmei (Russian: змей; plural: zmei) is a prominent draconic or serpentine figure. While frequently depicted as a multi-headed dragon, the zmei occasionally appears as an anthropomorphic character possessing dragon-like traits. The name is often associated with the element of fire or mountains, as seen in the common patronymic Gorynych, derived from the Russian word for mountain (gora).

The zmei serves as a primary antagonist to the bogatyri, the legendary knight-errants of Slavic myth. Two of the most significant figures in this tradition are:

Zmei Gorynych: Typically described as having three or more heads, this dragon is the famous adversary of the hero Dobrynya Nikitich. Their conflict often centers on the dragon’s abduction of royal women or its control over territory.

Zmey Tugarin (Tugarin Zmeyevich): A more humanoid variant of the zmei, Tugarin is often depicted as a gluttonous, winged villain who rides a horse. He is the principal rival of the bogatyr Alyosha Popovich.

These narratives function as foundational myths in the East Slavic tradition, representing the struggle between the protective forces of the Kievan Rus' and the chaotic, predatory threats of the wilderness or invading steppe cultures.