Vodyanoy
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Wodjanoj, Vodyanoy (literally watery, Russian: водяной), or vodník (plural vodníci) in Slavic mythology is a male water spirit.
In some tales he is a master shape-shifter who is said to live in a whirlpool, or in an underwater palace made from the treasures of sunken ships, the sunken ships themselves and crystals. In Czech tales vodníci live in pond or river; there are no mentions of dwelling.
He is said to appear as an old man with a greenish beard covered in muck, sometimes covered in scales. Local drownings are said to be the work of the vodyanoy. Those he drowned he would drag down to his underwater dwelling to serve him as slaves. In Czech tales drowned victims die and vodník stores their souls in porcelain cups which they consider valuable; except for fish (or perhaps fish spirits) they do not have servants.
He would either marry Rusalkas, or have them as servants.
Fishermen ask Wodjanoj for help by placing a pinch of tobacco in the water and saying "Here's your tobacco, Lord Wodjanoj, now give me a fish". Wodjanoj can be appeased by giving him the first fish or pouring butter into the water.
Millers, beekeepers, and fisherman were protected by the Wodjanoj.
David Wiltshire's novel Child of Vodyanoi (adapted into the TV series The Nightmare Man) used the water spirit as a metaphor for a miniature Russian submarine.
See also:
- GAZ-3937 "Vodnik"
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