Ilya Muromets and Svyatogor the Knight

“Ilya Muromets and Svyatogor the Knight,” from Russian Folk-Tales by Aleksandr Afanas'ev Nikolaevich, 1916.

From the famous city of Murom, out of the village of Karacharovo, the valiant, doughty youth Ilya Muromets, the son of Ivan, set out far into the open fields. The valiant champion met on his way the mighty knight Svyatogor; and the good youth was afraid of him; the old Cossack, Ilya Muromets, was afraid of Svyatogor the knight. So he set his horse to browse and himself mounted a thick grey oak to avoid Svyatogor the knight. Svyatogor the knight arrived under that same stout oak, put up his white linen tent, and took his wife out of his pocket. She spread out the chequered table-cloths and put sugary food and honeyed drink for him to eat. Svyatogor ate until he was sated, and drank until he was satisfied, and lay down to repose.

Then the wife of the knight observed Ilya up in the grey oak, and spoke to him in this wise; "Hail, valiant and brave youth; climb down from the grey oak. If you do not climb down from the grey oak, you will arouse Svyatogor the knight, and he will give you to a speedy death."

So Ilya Muromets was afraid of Svyatogor, and slid down from the grey oak.

And again she spoke in this wise; "Come and do fornication with me, good youth. If you do not, I will arouse Svyatogor the knight, and he will give you to a speedy death."

So he did as he was bidden and went with her into the pocket of Svyatogor. Svyatogor arose from a sound sleep, saddled his horse, and went to the Holy Mountains. Then his horse began to sink fast into the earth, until the knight dug his spurs into his horse's fat haunches. Then the horse spoke with a human voice; "I have carried you Svyatogor the knight and your young wife, but I cannot carry two knights and your young wife as well."

So then Svyatogor put his hand into the depths of his pocket, took his young wife out, and discovered Ilya Muromets.

"How did you get into the depths of my pocket?"

"Your young wife forced me in there; she threatened my life.” And Ilya Muromets told Svyatogor the knight how he had fallen into the depths of the pocket. So Svyatogor took his young wife, cut off her unruly head, broke up her white body into four parts, and scattered them on the bare fields.

Then Ilya and Svyatogor made themselves sworn brothers, and they set out to the Holy Mountains. They came to a deep tomb, and the tomb was decked with red-gold. Svyatogor the knight lay down in that tomb as if it had been built for him.

"Cover me over with boards, my sworn brother," he said. And, as Ilya covered him over with boards, the boards by Divine grace grew as they were required. "Uncover me, my sworn brother!"

But Ilya Muromets had not the strength to uncover him; so he began to break the boards with his sword, and wherever he brandished his sword, hoops arose in his way.

"Take my sword, my sworn brother!"

And Ilya took the sword, but had not the strength to lift it up.

"Come, my sworn brother, I will give you strength."

Ilya then went into the pit and Svyatogor breathed on him with his knightly breath. Then Ilya took that sword, and wherever he made a stroke, iron hoops arose around.

"Come to me a second time, my sworn brother; I will give you more strength."

Ilya Muromets said at once; "If I come down to you again, then our mother the grey earth will not be able to bear it; I have enough strength."

But Svyatogor answered; "If you had come down again I should have breathed on you with a fatal breath, and you would have lain down to sleep beside me."

So there Svyatogor the knight remains to this day.

Aleksandr Afanas'ev Nikolaevich. Russian Folk-Tales. E.P. Dutton, 1916.

Aleksandr Afanas'ev Nikolaevich

World Mythology

A collection of myths, legends, and other stories that teach us something about the world. Note that myths are often tied into the history and religion of the people who tell them, and they should always be treated and read with respect!

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