As if I don’t have enough, more serious reasons to be sad that I have been barred indefinitely from Russia, along comes the news that at the Kudikina Gora re-enactment park in Lipetsk Region, south of Moscow, there is a 49′-high (that’s 15 metres) iron-and-concrete statue of Zmei Gorynich, the fearsome three-headed dragon that fought the bogatyr Dobrynya Nikitich. Impressive enough, but at 7pm on weekends and holidays, it gives vent to a terrifying scream before breathing fire and smoke from each of its heads. (There’s a nice video here.)
Kudikina Gora seems impressive overall, with a replica 5th century wooden fortress, an 18th century church, hiking trails, stables and more (why doesn’t Britain have a ‘St George experience’ complete with dragon? I presume, alas, because it would be tacky and overpriced). But a fire-breathing three-headed dragon twice the height of the average house? That’s something else.
OK, there are more differences than similarities, but nonetheless this suitably Halloweenish article makes a point between the iron-toothed hag Baba Yaga of Russian folklore, and Soap Sally, the “wicked washerwoman, child murderer, and entrepreneur” of 19thC Appalachian lore, ready to lure away children who failed to do their chores, and then render them down into soap…
Perkunas, the Thunderer, in effect the most important of the Lithuanian gods given that his father largely disassociates himself from everyday affairs, master of the heavens, of storm and thunder, the deity who brought fire to the earth, who embodies Lithuanian national pride… and who now also watches over the English Kent coastline…
Wildlife charity appeals for artist of mysterious totem pole to come forward as local authority request for planning permission to be submitted.
Kent Wildlife Trust is appealing for help to identify the creator of a mysterious totem pole that has appeared at a nature reserve in Capel-Le-Ferne.
Walkers along the cliff-top path on the North Downs Way between Dover and Folkestone can now marvel at the 8ft sculpture, which is carved from a single tree and is inscribed with the name Perkūnas, a Baltic God.
The local authority, Dover District Council, has asked that the Trust now seeks retrospective planning permission to keep ‘Perkūnas the Pole’ and the charity is keen to track down the original artist to shed some light on the mystery.
Area Manager Ian Rickards said: “The artist behind this would have spent hours painstakingly carving out the details and we are keen to keep it on our reserve.
“The artwork seems to be a hit with the walkers who have taken selfies and congratulated us on the installation, but we had no idea how it came to be there – it’s a ‘Totem’ mystery!
“The local council has given us eight weeks to submit planning permission and it would be great to track down the person behind ‘Perkūnas to get a bit more detail so we can keep it. The planning application will incur a cost to the Trust, so if anyone would like to make a donation to help fund the process, it would be gratefully received.”
The totem pole is situated a few miles from the recently released red-billed choughs, who are now flying above the White Cliffs of Dover as part of a reintroduction project between Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust, supported by Paradise Park Cornwall. The conservationists have viewed the new installations as a good omen as, according to mythology, Perkūnas is the god of sky, thunder, and lightning, and it is hoped it may perhaps influence some calmer weather whilst the birds are getting used to being out in the open!
I enjoyed writing this book in the Osprey Combat series, a bit of a step beyond my usual work for them, but I am fascinated by this era and also Lithuania’s time in the sun as one of the great military powers of north-eastern Europe. You can read an excerpt on the webpage, and see the lovely art by Giuseppe Rava, but here’s the blurb:
The Teutonic Knights were a military order committed to spreading Christendom eastwards into the non-Christian realms of the Baltic and Russia. They progressively extended their control across the various feuding tribes of the Baltic until they confronted the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a relatively well-organized and cohesive state. Fully illustrated, this book investigates the fighting men on both sides, assessing their origins, tactics, armament and combat effectiveness in three clashes of the Lithuanian Crusade.
The battle of Voplaukis (1311), triggered by a major Lithuanian invasion of newly Christianized lands, saw the Teutonic Knights defeat the numerous but relatively poorly equipped Lithuanian raiders once they had brought them to battle. As a result, the Lithuanians would begin to prepare for full-scale warfare, and the siege of Kaunas (1362) was the month-long investment of the first brick-built castle the Lithuanians constructed. In the battle of Grunwald (1410), the forces of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth – fielding knights by now almost comparable to those of the Order – broke the armies of the Teutonic Knights, a defeat from which the Order would never really recover. This lively study lifts the veil on these formidable medieval warriors and three battles that shaped the Baltic world.
The book has obvious value as a Mythic Russia aid, from further detail on two of the main factions to evocative illustrations and even as a source of campaign ideas. I’ve got a spare author’s copy, so I thought I’d send it to a deserving reader. If you’re interested, just add a comment to this post by the end of Sunday 23 April (UK time), and I’ll randomly pick someone to get the copy. (Don’t publicly post your address – I’ll be in touch if you’re the lucky one.)
“A CHILLY NIGHT SETTLES ACROSS the grassy knolls of the Mongolian steppe. Then, all at once, the thunder of galloping horses pierces the quiet. Screams erupt as the cavalry charges Kublai Khan’s unsuspecting forces. Khutulun’s horse rears, desperate to join the fray. But Khutulun holds the mare back—not yet. Even before Khutulun was born in 1260, her father, Kaidu, hated Kublai Khan. In their eyes, Kublai was a traitor shunning Mongolian traditions while adopting Chinese ones. But, if this raid goes according to plan, Khutulun and her father could deal a crucial blow. “Now, Khutulun!” Kaidu bellows. Kicking her horse into action, Khutulun flies at the enemy. Deftly as a hawk, she narrows in on her prey, the camp’s commander. She looses a bone-tipped arrow and it sails through the commander’s shoulder. Khutulun hoists his bleeding body onto her saddle and races back to her father’s side. Unceremoniously, she drops the enemy at Kaidu’s feet. “And this she did many a time,” wrote the globe-trotting Marco Polo, who spun Khutulun’s feats far and wide.”
So begins a rather nice piece in (the excellent) Atlas Obscura, on Khutulun, great-great-granddaughter of Genghis Khan, who may have been an unusual case (and made rather larger-than-life in the retelling) but who nonetheless was not unique, as Mongol women were as badass as the men and also did their share of rulership too, as this separate Atlas Obscura piece discusses.)
(And Mongol warrior women might have inspired the Disneyfied legend of Mulan, something discussed here)
Originally meant to run in 2020, now at least COVID has receded to the point where real, in-person gaming conventions are back, so this excursion into how the HQ/QW Mythic Russia game engines handles really powerful characters – and antagonists – will be running at this year’s Continuum gaming con in Leicester. And while I’m at it, let me whole heartedly plug this con, if you happen to be interested in a nice mix of tabletop RPGs, freeform LARPs and general conviviality, 6-8 August…
There’s a minipodcast in my In Moscow’s Shadows series now up looking at the battle of Kulikovo and exploring some of the ways and reasons why it is important today for Vladimir Putin’s efforts to create a new narrative of Russia… You can listen to it on your usual podcast app (and why not subscribe to In Moscow’s Shadows while you’re at it, if you’re at all interested in a personal take on today’s Russia?) or directly here.
Mythic Russia 