Leszi

The Leshy (also Leshi; rus, леший, p=ˈlʲeʂɨj; literally, " efrom the forest", pl, borowy, leśnik, leśniczy, lasowik, leszy) is a tutelary deity of the forests in pagan Slavic mythology. As the spirit rules over the forest and hunting, he may be related to the Slavic god Porewit.

There is also a deity, named ''Svyatibor'' (''Svyatobor'', ''Svyatibog''), who is mentioned in the beliefs of the Eastern and Western Slavs as the god of forests and the lord of the leshies. His functions were identical to those of the god Veles.

The Leshy is masculine and humanoid in shape, is able to assume any likeness and can change in size and height. In some accounts, Leshy is described as having a wife (''Leshachikha'', ''Leszachka'', ''Lesovikha'' and also, sometimes, the '' Kikimora'' of the swamp) and children (''leshonki'', ''leszonky''). He is known by some to have a propensity to lead travelers astray and abduct children (which he shares with Chort, the "Black One"), which would lead some to believe he is an evil entity. He is, however, also known to have a more neutral disposition towards humans, dependent on the attitudes and behaviours of an individual person, or local population, towards the forest. Leshy could take children who were cursed by their relatives (in particular, parents) away to the forest people. Some would therefore describe him as more of a temperamental being, like a fairy.Ivanits, Linda J. (1989) ''Russian Folk Belief''. Routledge. p. 68

Names and etymology

The Leshy is known by a variety of names and spellings including the following:Levkievskaya, Elena E. (2011) ''Мифы русского народа yths of the Russian People'. AST, Astrel, VKT. Chapter "Leshy".

Main name variations:
* Borovoi (russian: Боровой, pl, Borowy) " eof the pine barrens"
* Gayevoi (russian: Гаевой, pl, Gajowy) " eof the grove"
* Leshak (russian: Лешак, sh-Latn-Cyrl, Lešak, Лешак)
* Leshy (Russian: Леший, be, Лешы, pl, Leszy, sh-Latn-Cyrl, Lešij, Лешиј)
* Lesnik (russian: Лесник, pl, Leśnik, bg, Лесник, sh-Latn-Cyrl, Lesnik, Лесник)
* Lesovik (russian: Лесовик, be, Лесавік, uk, Лісовик, sh-Latn-Cyrl, Lesovik, Лесовик)
* Lesovoi (russian: Лесовой, sh-Latn-Cyrl, Lesovoj, Лесовој)
* Lesun (russian: Лесун, be, Лясун)
* Mežainis, ( Latvian: "forester")
* Miškinis ( Lithuanian: "forest-man")
* Miško velnias ( Lithuanian: "Forest devil")
* Vir'ava ( myv, Вирьава) "forest mother"

Euphemistic titles:
* He (russian: он) also used for the devil, based on superstition prohibiting invocation of evil
* He himself (russian: он сам) like "he"
* Les chestnoi (russian: Лес честной) "honorable one of the forest"
* Les pravedniy (russian: Лес праведный) "righteous one of the forest"
* Lesnoi dedushka/ded or Dedushka-lesovoi (russian: Лесной дедушка/дед, Дедушка-лесовой, be, Лясны дзед, pl, Leśny dziad) "forest grandfather"
* Lesnoi dukh (russian: Лесной дух, ) "forest spirit"
* Lesnoi dyadya (russian: Лесной дядя) "forest uncle"
* Lesnoi khozyain (russian: Лесной хозяин) "forest master"
* Lesnoi zhitel' (russian: Лесной житель) "forest dweller" or "woodsman"
* Lesny muzhik , "forest man"

In popular culture

* Leshy is used as a prototype for the main character of Vladimir Vysotsky's song "Lukomorye", where Leshy is depicted as an alcoholic that spends all his money on drinking and is abusive to his wife.
* Leshy was the inspiration for an antagonist of the video game ''Inscryption'', who is also named Leshy.

See also

* Äbädä (Tatarstan)
* Basajaun (Basque Country)
* Berstuk (Wend people of Germany)
* Boruta (Slavic region)
* Grand Bois (loa) (Haiti)
* Hidebehind (Americas)
* Jinn (Arabian, Islamic)
* Vörsa (Komi Republic)
* List of nature deities (Slavic mythology)
* Ochopintre (Republic of Georgia)
* Shatans (Belarus, Russian Federation)
* Shishiga (Russia)
* Silvanus (Ancient Rome and Gaul)
* Woodwose (medieval Europe)
* Yum Caax (Mayan)

References

External links

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{{Slavic mythology

Russian folklore characters
Mythological tricksters
Shapeshifting
Slavic gods
Slavic tutelary deities
Forest spirits
Slavic folklore characters