Alkonost
The Alkonost is a legendary woman-headed bird in East Slavic folklore. Alkonost is more likely an individual character, as was noted in some legends about this bird.[1]
Folklore
The name of the Alkonost came from a Greek demigoddess whose name was Alcyone. In Greek mythology, Alcyone was transformed by the gods into a kingfisher.
Alkonost makes amazingly beautiful sounds, and those who hear these sounds forget everything they know and want nothing more ever again.[2][3] She lives in the underworld with her counterpart, the Sirin.[4] The Alkonost lays her eggs on a beach and then rolls them into the sea. When the Alkonost's eggs hatch, a thunderstorm sets in and the sea becomes so rough that it becomes impossible to traverse. She is also the sister of other birds from Slavic mythology, such as Rarog and Stratim.[1]
According to folk tales, at the morning of the Apple Feast of the Saviour day, Sirin flies into the apple orchard and cries sadly. In the afternoon, the Alkonost flies to this place, beginning to rejoice and laugh. Alkonost brushes dew from her wings, granting healing powers to all fruits on the tree she is sitting on.[5]
Gallery
-
Lubok picture
-
Postcard, 1908
-
Viktor Vasnetsov's Sirin (left) and Alkonost (right) Birds of Joy and Sorrow (1896)
-
-
A depiction of the Alkonost, by Ivan Bilibin (1905)
In popular culture
- Alkonost is featured in the digital card game Mythgard (2019) as a rare minion in the Dreni faction.
- Croatian singer Nina Kraljić that performed at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 sings under the name of Alkonost of Balkan.[6]
- Alkonost is a Russian epic folk metal band formed in Naberezhnye Chelny, Tatarstan, Russia in 1995.
See also
References
- ^ a b "Алконост". PR in mythology. Electronic encyclopedia. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ Torpie, Kate (2007). Groovy Tubes: Mythical Beasts. Groovy Tube Books (Children's illustrated ed.). Norwalk, CT: InnovativeKids. p. 23. ISBN 978-1584766186.
- ^ "Алконост". PR in mythology. Electronic encyclopedia.
- ^ Matthews, John; Matthews, Caitlin (2010). The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A–Z of Fantastic Beings from Myth and Magic (Children's illustrated ed.). London: HarperCollins UK. p. 16. ISBN 978-0007365050.
- ^ Bobrov A. A. (2004). Русский месяцеслов на все времена. Памятные даты, праздники, обряды, именины [Russian months for all time. Memorable dates, holidays, ceremonies, name days] (in Russian). M.: Veche. ISBN 5-7838-1304-4.
- ^ "Nina Kraljić Alkonost of Balkan". Retrieved 26 January 2026.
External links
- Media related to Alkonost at Wikimedia Commons