Koschei

Koshchei (Russian: Коще́й, tr. Koshchey, IPA: [kɐˈɕːej]), also Kashchei (Russian: Каще́й, tr. Kashchey, IPA: [kɐˈɕːej]) often given the epithet "the Immortal", or "the Deathless" (Russian: Бессме́ртный), is an archetypal male antagonist in Russian folklore.

Kashchey the Immortal by Viktor Vasnetsov, 1848–1926

The most common feature of tales involving Koschei is a spell which prevents him from being killed. He hides his soul inside nested objects to protect it. For example, the soul (or in the tales, it is usually called "death") may be hidden in a needle that is hidden inside an egg, the egg is in a duck, the duck is in a hare, the hare is in a chest, the chest is buried or chained up on a far island. Usually he takes the role of a malevolent rival figure, who competes for (or entraps) a male hero's love interest.

The origin of the tales is unknown. The archetype may contain elements derived from the 12th-century pagan Cuman-Kipchak (Polovtsian) leader Khan Konchak, who is recorded in The Tale of Igor's Campaign; over time a balanced view of the non-Christian Cuman Khan may have been distorted or caricatured by Christian Slavic writers.

Historicity and folk origins

By at least the 18th century, and likely earlier, Koschei's legend had been appearing in Slavic tales.[1] For a long period, no connection was made with any historical character.[2]

Origin in Khan Konchak

The origin of the tale may be related to the Polovtsian (Cuman) leader Khan Konchak, who dates from the 12th century.[n 1] In The Tale of Igor's Campaign Konchak is referred to as a koshey (slave).[n 2][3] Konchak is thought to have come/returned from Georgia (the Caucasus) to the steppe c. 1126–1130; by c.1172 he is described in Kievan Rus' chronicles as a leader of the Polovtsi, and as taking part in an uprising. There is not enough information to reconstruct further details of Konchak's appearance or nature from historical sources; though unusual features or abnormalities were usually recorded (often as epithets) by chroniclers, none are recorded for Konchak.[4]

The legendary love of gold of Koschei is speculated to be a distorted record of Konchak's role as the keeper of the Kosh's resources.[5]

Koschei's epithet "the immortal" may be a reference to Konchak's longevity. He is last recorded in Russian chronicles during the 1203 capture of Kiev, if the record is correct this gives Konchak an unusually long life – possibly over 100 years – for the time this would have been over six generations.[6]

Koschei's life-protecting spell may be derived from traditional Turkic amulets, which were egg-shaped and often contained arrowheads (cf. the needle in Koschei's egg).[7]

It is thought that many of the negative aspects of Koschei's character are distortions of a more nuanced relationship of Khan Konchak with the Christian Slavs, such as his rescuing of Prince Igor from captivity, or the marriage between Igor's son and Konchak's daughter. Konchak, as a pagan, could have been demonised over time as a stereotypical villain.[8]

Naming and etymology

In the dictionary of V. I. Dal, the name Kashchei is derived from the verb "kastit" – to harm, to dirty: "probably from the word "kastit", but remade into koshchei, from 'bone', meaning a man exhausted by excessive thinness". ("Bone" here is in Russian кость kost'.) Vasmer notes that the word koshchei has two meanings that have different etymologies: "thin, skinny person, walking skeleton" or "miser" – the origin of the word "bone"). Old Russian "youth, boy, captive, slave" from the Turkic košči "slave", in turn from koš "camp".

Koschei, as the name of the hero of a fairy tale and as a designation for a skinny person, Max Vasmer in his dictionary considers the original Slavic word (homonym) and associates with the word bone (common Slavic *kostь), that is, it is an adjective form koštіі (nominative adjective in the nominative case singular), declining according to the type "God".

Numerous variant names and spellings have been given to Koschei; these include Kashchei, Koshchai, Kashshei, Kovshei, Kosh, Kashch, Kashel, Kostei, Kostsei, Kashshui, Kozel, Koz'olok, Korachun, Korchun bessmertnyi, Kot bezsmertnyi, Kot Bezmertnyi, Kostii bezdushnyi; in bylinas he also appears as Koshcheiushko, Koshcheg, Koshcherishcho, Koshchui, Koshel.[9]

The term Koshey appears in Slavic chronicles as early as the 12th century to refer to an officer or official during a military campaign. Similar terms include the Ukrainian Кошовий (Koshovyi) for the head of the 'Kish' (military)[10] (see also Kish otaman). In Old Russian 'Kosh' means a camp, while in Belarusian a similar term means 'to camp' and in Turkic languages a similar term means 'a wanderer'.[11] The use as a personal name is recorded as early as the 15th century on Novogrodian birch bark manuscripts.[12]

In The Tale of Igor's Campaign a similar sounding term is used, recorded being inscribed on coins, deriving from the Turkic for 'captive' or 'slave'. The same term also appears in the Ipatiev Chronicle, meaning 'captive'.[13] A second mention of the term is made in The Tale of Igor's Campaign when Igor is captured by the Polovtsi; this event is recorded as a riddle: "And here Prince Igor exchanged his golden saddle of a prince for the saddle of a Koshey (slave)."[14]

Nikolai Novikov also suggested the etymological origin of koshchii meaning "youth" or "boy" or "captive", "slave", or "servant". The interpretation of "captive" is interesting because Koschei appears initially as a captive in some tales.[12]

In folk tales

Koschei is a common villain in east-Slavic folk tales. Often tales involving him are of the type AT 302 "The Giant Without A Heart" (see Aarne–Thompson classification systems); and he also appears in tales resembling type AT 313 "The Magic Flight".[15]

He usually functions as the antagonist or rival to a hero.[16] Love rivalry and related themes are common.[17]

The typical feature of tales concerning Koschei is his protection against being killed (AT 302) – to do so he has hidden his soul inside an egg, and further nested the egg inside various animals, and then in protective containers and places.[18]

In other tales, Koschei can cast a sleep spell that can be broken by playing an enchanted gusli. Depending on the tale he has different characteristics: he may ride a three- or seven-legged horse; may have tusks or fangs; and may possess a variety of different magic objects (like cloaks and rings) that a hero is sent to obtain; or he may have other magic powers.[19] In one tale he has eyelids so heavy he requires servants to lift them[19] (cf. the Celtic Balor or Ysbaddaden, or Serbian Vy).

The parallel female figure, Baba Yaga, as a rule does not appear in the same tale with Koschei, though exceptions exists where both appear together as a married couple, or as siblings.[15] Sometimes, Baba Yaga, as an old woman figure appears in tales along with Koschei as his mother or aunt.[20]

Koschey revived by Ivan with water, from Marya Morevna (The Red Fairy Book, 1890)

"Marya Morevna"

In a tale also known as "The Death of Koschei the Deathless", Ivan Tsarevitch encounters Koschei chained in his wife's (Marya Morevna's) dungeon. He releases and revives Koschei, but Koschei abducts Marya. Ivan goes to rescue Marya several times, but Koschei's swift horse allows him to easily catch up with the escaping lovers; each time the magical horse informs Koschei that he will be able to carry out several activities first and still be able to catch up. After the third unsuccessful escape, Koschei cuts up Ivan and throws his parts into the sea in a barrel. Ivan is revived with the aid of the water of life. He seeks Baba Yaga for a suitably swift horse. After trials he steals a horse and rescues Marya.[21]

"Tsarevich Petr and the Wizard"

Tsar Bel-Belianin's wife the Tzaritza is abducted by Koschei (the wizard). The Tsar's three sons attempt to rescue her. The first two fail to reach the wizard's palace, but the third, Petr, succeeds. He reaches the Tzaritza, conceals himself, and learns how the wizard hides his life. Initially he lies, but the third time he reveals it is in an egg, in a duck, in a hare, that nests in a hollow log, that floats in a pond, found in a forest on the island of Bouyan. Petr seeks the egg, freeing animals along the way – on coming to Bouyan the freed animals help him catch the wizard's creatures and obtain the egg. He returns to the wizard's domain and kills him by squeezing the egg – every action on the egg is mirrored on the wizard's body.[22]

"The Snake Princess"

In "The Snake Princess" (Russian "Царевна-змея"), Koschei turns a princess who does not want to marry him into a snake.

Ivan Sosnovich

Koschei hears of three beauties in a kingdom. He kills two and wounds a third, puts the kingdom to sleep (petrifies), and abducts the princesses. Ivan Sosnovich (Russian Иван Соснович) learns of Koschei's weakness: an egg in a box hidden under a mountain, so he digs up the whole mountain, finds the egg box and smashes it, and rescues the princess.

He also appears as a miser in Pushkin's Ruslan and Ludmila, though this interpretation does not reflect previous folk tale representations.[12]

Similar folklore figures

The Serbian Baš Čelik (Head of Steel); Hungarian 'Lead-Headed Monk'; and Slovak 'Iron Monk' also all hide their weakness inside a nested series of animals.[12]

Opera and ballet

Film

Television
  • In Little Einsteins, Katschai is a nesting doll who tried to steal the music power from the magical Firebird. Katschai used animal nesting dolls to try to stop the Little Einsteins team from getting to the Firebird which Katschai had locked up at the top of a building in Russia.
  • In the US television series "Grimm", in episode 9 of season 3, Koschei is the main guest character. (see Red Menace (Grimm))

Novels and comics

Games
  • In the fantasy tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, he is the inspiration for the demon lord Kostchtchie, published 1983 in Monster Manual II.
  • Koschei appears as a character in the MMORPG RuneScape, under the name "Koschei the Deathless".
  • In the video game series The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, the Death of Koschei is a key plot item in the second game. In the third game, recurring supporting character Prisoner Seven is revealed to be Koschei the Deathless, and becomes the main antagonist.
  • In the video game Shadowrun: Hong Kong, the supporting character Racter has a drone named 'Koschei', which later in the game can gain an upgrade named "Deathless" that makes the drone unkillable.
  • In the computer game Dominions 4: Thrones of Ascension, Koschei appears as a hero character for Bogarus, a faction inspired by medieval Russia and Slavic mythology.
  • The legend of Koschei the Deathless serves as an inspiration for the narrative of Rise of the Tomb Raider.[24]
  • In the digital card game Mythgard, "Koschei, the Deathless" appears as a mythic minion in the Dreni faction.
  • In the video game Arknights, the duke of Ursus (a fictional country based on Russia) is named Koschei, and is hinted to possess the main antagonist after being killed by them.
  • Koschei is a playable piece in Mantic Games' Hellboy: The Board Game.
  • In the MMORPG Tibia (video game), there is a Lich boss named "Koshei The Deathless" who hides his soul in 4 pieces of an amulet that are scattered around the gameworld.
  • Koschei appears as an NPC in the roguelike action RPG Moon Hunters.

See also

Notes
  1. Konchak is an important antagonist in the Tale of Igor's Campaign
  2. In Leonard A. Magnus's translation: "Shoot, my liege, the heathen Konctik the slave".

References
  1. KazakhTV 2018, 2. Entertaining etymology. 5:10-.
  2. KazakhTV 2018, 1. A dossier of the fairy villain. 2:05–2:20.
  3. KazakhTV 2018, 2. Entertaining etymology. 7:40–8:00.
  4. KazakhTV 2018, 3. Konchuk's personal file 7:58–11:00.
  5. KazakhTV 2018, 3. Konchuk's personal file 11:00–12:30.
  6. KazakhTV 2018, 3. Konchuk's personal file 12:20–13:15.
  7. KazakhTV 2018, 3. Konchuk's personal file 13:10–13:40.
  8. KazakhTV 2018, 4. Say a word about the poor Koshey 13:40–15:02.
  9. Johns 2004, Note 1, p.230.
  10. KazakhTV 2018, 2. Entertaining etymology. 5:10–5:50.
  11. KazakhTV 2018, 2. Entertaining etymology. 5:50–6:10.
  12. Johns 2004, p. 233.
  13. KazakhTV 2018, 2. Entertaining etymology. 6:05–6:58.
  14. KazakhTV 2018, 2. Entertaining etymology. 6:50–7:20.
  15. Johns 2004, p. 230.
  16. Johns 2004, pp. 231–2.
  17. Johns 2004, p. 232.
  18. Johns 2004, pp. 230–1.
  19. Johns 2004, p. 231.
  20. Gimbutas, Marija; Miriam Robbins Dexter (1999). The Living Goddesses. University of California Press. p. 207. ISBN 0-520-22915-0.
  21. Lang, Andrew, ed. (1890), "The Death of Koschei the Deathless", The Red Fairy Book
  22. Wheeler, Post, ed. (1917), "Tzarevich Petr and the Wizard", Russian wonder tales, pp. 309–
  23. Heller, Jason (7 Apr 2011). "Catherynne M. Valente: Deathless". www.avclub.com.
  24. Corrie, Alexa Ray (August 4, 2015). "Rise of the Tomb Raider's Myths Explained". GameSpot. Retrieved May 4, 2020.

Sources
  • "Turkic roots of Koshey The Immortal", Reflections on History (documentary), Kazakh TV, no. 5, 4 Apr 2018
  • Johns, Andreas (2004), Baba Yaga: The Ambiguous Mother and Witch of the Russian Folktale, Peter Lang

Further reading
  • Johns, Andreas. 2000. “The Image of Koshchei Bessmertnyi in East Slavic Folklore”. In: FOLKLORICA – Journal of the Slavic, North European, and Eurasian Folklore Association 5 (1): 7–24. https://doi.org/10.17161/folklorica.v5i1.3647.
  • Media related to Koschei at Wikimedia Commons
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