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Polkan
{{Expand Russian, Полкан (фольклор), date=April 2010 Polkan or Palkan (Russian: Полка́н or Палкан, from the Italian ''Pulicane'') is a half-human, half-horse (in some variants, half-dog) creature from Russian folktales which possesses enormous power and speed. In folk etymology his name is understood as ''полуконь'' (''polukon'' - ''half-horse''). He appears first as the enemy of the hero Bova Korolevich, but after a battle becomes his loyal friend and ally. Polkan is originally based on Pulicane, a half-dog character from Andrea da Barberino's poem "I Reali di Francia", which was once popular in the Slavonic world in prosaic translations. In the 19th century ''Polkan'' became a popular name for a guard dog. See also * Bova Korolevich *Centaur A centaur ( ; grc, κένταυρος, kéntauros; ), or occasionally hippocentaur, is a creature from Greek mythology with the upper body of a human and the lower body and legs of a horse. C ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Centaur
A centaur ( ; grc, κένταυρος, kéntauros; ), or occasionally hippocentaur, is a creature from Greek mythology with the upper body of a human and the lower body and legs of a horse. Centaurs are thought of in many Greek myths as being as wild as untamed horses, and were said to have inhabited the region of Magnesia and Mount Pelion in Thessaly, the Foloi oak forest in Elis, and the Malean peninsula in southern Laconia. Centaurs are subsequently featured in Roman mythology, and were familiar figures in the medieval bestiary. They remain a staple of modern fantastic literature. Etymology The Greek word ''kentauros'' is generally regarded as being of obscure origin. The etymology from ''ken'' + ''tauros'', 'piercing bull', was a euhemerist suggestion in Palaephatus' rationalizing text on Greek mythology, ''On Incredible Tales'' (Περὶ ἀπίστων), which included mounted archers from a village called ''Nephele'' eliminating a herd of bulls that were the scourge ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
