Лісовик / Lisovyk / Forest spiritLisovyk, also known as leshy, is a forest spirit in Slavic mythology. He is described as an old gray-bearded man with green glowing eyes. Although he usually looks like a human, lisovyk can shapeshift and turn into a wolf, an owl, or a wind.
Lisovyks aren't always hostile to humans, but can mess with them nonetheless; they scare people by laughing or howling from the deepest woods, make them lose their tracks, or even kidnap human children to raise as their own. However, people can make a protection pact with a lisovyk by leaving him a treat: then he'll assist hunters with baiting a prey and protect cattle from getting lost in the forest.
Lisovyks are considered to be shepherds of wild animals, espesially wolves. They graze hares and deer, and bears act like leshys' bodyguards.
Ukrainians believed, that if one pulls a lisovyk's beard, he'll turn into a pile of coins. What a way to get rich, huhOct 19, 2023
Lisovyks aren't always hostile to humans, but can mess with them nonetheless; they scare people by laughing or howling from the deepest woods, make them lose their tracks, or even kidnap human children to raise as their own. However, people can make a protection pact with a lisovyk by leaving him a treat: then he'll assist hunters with baiting a prey and protect cattle from getting lost in the forest.
Lisovyks are considered to be shepherds of wild animals, espesially wolves. They graze hares and deer, and bears act like leshys' bodyguards.
Ukrainians believed, that if one pulls a lisovyk's beard, he'll turn into a pile of coins. What a way to get rich, huhOct 19, 2023
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Comments
i really admire your mythology art, not only is it beautifully rendered, it's also comforting and always so interesting, i love how different slavic mythology creatures can be similar but not the same, i recognise familiar bits and pieces in the creatures you draw and describe, but also i learn about something different from what i grew up with at the same time!
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