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Currently Playing: Leshy: The Slavic Lord of the Forest | Monstrum

PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateStoried ↓ More info below ↓ He can grow higher than the trees, or smaller than a blade of grass. Both demon and deity, guardian and antagonist, the Leshy is rooted deep in the cultural and religious history of the Slavic people. Said to be the lord of the forest, the Leshy could lead people and animals astray, causes accidents, and even drive people to madness and death. But they could also be surprisingly helpful...if you asked nicely. In this episode, you’ll learn about the surprising history of this shapeshifting creature, and how to avoid becoming his victim. #leshy #slavicfolklore #witcher #MonstrumPBS We are incredibly grateful to Katherine Arden for her insight into the Russian language and Slavic folklore. Written and Hosted by: Dr. Emily Zarka Director: David Schulte Executive Producer: Amanda Fox Producer: Stephanie Noone Illustrator: Samuel Allen Editor: Sara Roma, Derek Borsheim Produced by Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monstrumpbs/ ----------- BIBLIOGRAPHY: Bouchard, Michel. “Anthropology and Folklore; Bridging Gaps.” Folk Culture of Euro-Arctic Barents region: new methods of research. Ed. N.V. Drannikova. Arkhangelsk, 2013, pp. 56-66. Ivantis, Linda J. Russian Folk Belief. Routledge, 2015. Kalik, Judith, and Alexander Uchitel. Slavic Gods and Heroes. Routledge, 2019. "Leshy/Leshiye (Slavic)." Storytelling: An Encyclopedia of Mythology and Folklore, Josepha Sherman, Routledge, 1st edition, 2008. Mingazova, Liailia I., Foat G. Galimullin, Alfiya F. Galimullina. “The Mythological Image of Shuralen and Its Reflection in the Folklore of Volga-Ural Region.” The Turkish Online Journal of Design, Art and Communication, Nov. 216, pp. 3256-3262. Ralaston, W.R.S. The Songs of the Russian People: An Illustrative of Slavonic Myhtology and Russian Social Life. 2nd edition. Ellis & Green, 1872. Ralston, William Ralston Shedden. Russian folk-tales. Smith, Elder, & co., 1873. Ryan, William Francis. The Bathhouse at Midnight: An Historical Survey of Magic and Divination in Russia. The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1999. Warner, Elizabeth. Russian Myths. British Museum Press with University of Texas Press, Austin, 2002.