Sketches of Slavic Fairy Tales
Slavorum posted a wonderful article where they displayed the artwork of Russian artist ROMAN ‘AMOK’ PAPSUEV. It is his interpretation of Slavic mythological beings. Some of these are Russian, and some belong to other Slavic traditions. I’ll post some of his art here, but to see more, go to Slavorum or Roman’s main site.
I’m not claiming that these are EXACT interpretations of Slavic fairy tales. This is the artist’s creative rendition.
In his free time Russian illustrator Roman Papsuev ( @amokrus ) creates amazing sketches influenced by Russian and Slavic folk tales. Characters of Slavic & Russian folklore are redesigned in modern gaming-fantasy style. //Baba Yaga
The first drawings were created on the author’s thoughts and fantasies. He began, of course, with folk character Ilya Muromets — the main Russian epic hero and the strongest bogatyr or warrior: “On his belt hangs a bottle of dead water that heals wounds.”
Alyosha Popovich, third most important Russian hero. // The more the author got immersed in the subject, the more accurate his pictures became. He began to reread the tales and study the works of famous folklorists.
“What I like most is when people look at my pictures and then begin to read the tales and understand why, for instance, Vasilisa the Beautiful has a doll in her bag or why Vodyanoy rides a giant catfish. This grassroots revival of ancient folklore through my humble project gives me great pleasure.” // Vasilisa the Beautiful
Leshy, the forest guardian, is more radically minded than Lesovik, another woodland sprite. “His ‘dead’ right eye is usually larger than his normal left. His beard and hair are grey. His hands and feet are covered with fur. On the belt you can see trophies — the skull of a lost traveller, a drinking horn, a bast shoe. He collects them.”
FOR MORE PICTURES
Folk Metal Playlist
VIEW PLAYLIST HERE (VIDEO WON’T EMBED)
This is a playlist of folk metal songs similar to Falkenbach’s Gjallar. Enjoy! I liked almost all of the songs on this list, and even heard a few new songs that I had never encountered before.
“Na Moey Zemle” A Folk Metal Journey Across Pagan Lands
Arkona’s Na Moey Zemle translates into “My Land”
In this song, a man leaves his home in Russia in search of happiness. He travels through Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, and the Netherlands in that order. Yet in his journey he learns that true happiness is back at home where he belongs.
A surprising number of guest vocalists have contributed to this Arkona ballad. We have the vocalists from Heidevolk, Menhir, Månegarm, Obtest, and Skyforger participating in this song.
Hrmm… so we have six vocalists and six countries. Does each vocalist in this song represent their home country?
In examining this idea, I matched voices to lyric and for the most part it is true. There are some instances, where other members of a band – in addition to the vocalist – are singing. Like I think the bassist of Skyforger might be singing the part for Latvia. So this makes matters slightly complicated. But for the most part, I’m sure each of these bands is representing their home country.
Masha Scream of Arkona is obviously the Russian traveler. In order, we have Månegarm (Sweden), Obtest (Lithuania), Skyforger (Latvia), Menhir (Germany) and Heidevolk (Netherlands).
At the end there is a chorus where different vocalists all sing “lai la la lai” together. They all come from different lands, but they are all happiest in their mother lands.
Notes on the lyrics:
* Nerthus: Germanic Earth-goddess
* Svitjod: An Old Norse name for Sweden or its people
* Sunna: Germanic Sun-goddess
* Veles: a major Slavic god
* The One-Eyed: Odin, the chief Norse god
* Žemyna: Lithuanian earth-goddess
* Velinas: Lithuanian creator-god, represented as a blacksmith
* Ąžuoliniai mounds: earth mounds in the village of Ąžuoliniai
* Thuringia: a German state, renowned for its natural beauty.
Examining the Lyrics:
(Russian Traveler,Vocals Masha Scream of Arkona)
Oh, Once at dawn the scarlet sun was rising. The sun was scarlet, that early morning
The maid was seeing her fellow off, To far, far away. Far, far away distant lands.
Seeing him off, giving her tender word. A tender word, and a word of protection.
“Oh darling, oh I will, I will wait for you I will wait for you, And meet you at the crimson sunset.”
The maid’s fingers trembled, And caught the tears And caught the tears Flowing from bright eyes.
With gentle hand she removed her amulet Removed her amulet and prayed for good fortune.
“I pray, I enchant this And give it to my beloved for the journey in that distant place, Protect my beloved from death.”
And that fine fellow departed to foreign lands to seek happiness for the years, hey!
Trail after trail, toward the sun. Through cold and heat, in light and dark.
Into gray mist, Into Fading light, Again turning to the Gods.
Bare feet worn bloody. You follow an unknown road.
And hearing the sea’s call. You fell into the embraces of Northerly winds.
You went after happiness! Again you ask this land about it.
(Sweden, Månegarm Vocalist)
Hear Nerthus* breathe heavily
Svitjod’s* primordial soul
The North Star’s bleak light
The wolf in the night wind
The dawn over the Northern Land
Raven’s wing in Sunna’s Sea
Here my forefathers stand guard
By the one-eyed’s side*
Here I sacrifice to my Gods
the soil of my roots
(Russian Traveler,Vocals Masha Scream of Arkona)
This house is beautiful
But foreign and cold
I hear the voice of winds of other countries
Reveal the roads thither, O Veles*!
The voice of a new land
Your foot treads upon it
Again, you turned from the road
Far off a foreign river I lured you.
People! Pray tell,
For what is your joyous land reknowned?
The Gods, who are they?
What do these lands hide?
(Lithuania,Vocals could be Obtest, I’m not entirely sure since they sound slightly different.)
Boundless woods raised us
Like horses of the wind, in freedom
Black bread like the soil,
Thick foamy mead…
Žemyna’s* falcon
Protects our children in the sun
One-eyed Velinas*
Teaches us of steel, awakening us…
The Ąžuoliniai Mounds*
Look into the distance
As Far as the eye can see-
The land of our forefathers.
(Russian Traveler,Vocals Masha Scream of Arkona)
Gazing on the beauty of golden fields
I will bend the knee
I will offer tribute to this land
Again, I will leave without a trace.
In the sunset’s brilliance again
A new land’s expanse will blaze
For what is your joyous land reknowned,
Dear to a foreigner’s eyes?
(Latvia, Maybe Skyforger…but the vocals don’t sound like their typical vocalist. I do know that they also have their bassist singing…so that might be him.)
I have no problems living
on the edge of the great sea
Just as the sea washes in
So it washes out silver
I put on a coat of water
A pelt of pebbles
Now I go to the sea
To play with the northern wind
(Russian Traveler,Vocals Masha Scream of Arkona)
And again I run off
From a land foreign to my heart
Though the expanses are great
They are not mine
I run far off
Away from the blue seas
Again I ask the people my question
(Germany, Menhir Vocalist)
Thuringia*, how beautiful you are,
Like a young maiden.
Your limbs are the valley and hill,
And the pretty meadows your dress.
The fresh forest is your breath,
Your speech, birdsong.
The pond, that is your bright eye,
Your greeting is bell-ringing.
The forest, it is your green coat,
Your glossy hair, golden grain.
In colorful bouquets here bloom
Many flowers delicate and rich.
The pretty meadows are your dress.
Your limbs valley and hill.
You are like a young maiden.
Thuringian* land, so beautiful,
So beautiful!
(Russian Traveler,Vocals Masha Scream of Arkona)
Trail after trail
Toward the sun
Through cold and heat
In light and dark
I run off…
I run off to foreign lands
Bare feet chafing
In my heart keeping hope
I think of my land
Expecting a wonder, again I run
To the seashore
To the new land I’ll pay respect
For what is this land reknowned?
(Netherlands, Heidevolk Vocalist)
You followed the sun, guided by your gods
Westwards you have traveled
To the boundaries of the land
Where the sea swallows the ground
To the land of the dragon’s cry,
The place fused with my soul,
Your path as led you
Welcome to my fatherland
Warm yourself by the fire, my guest
And refresh yourself with our beer
Far away too we have traveled
But our happiness is here
Where my brothers are around the fire
Drink in this night hour
Where stories and laughter
Sound until the break of day
Our joy we can find
In the woods, in the field of the heath
Our joys we can find
On the shores of the Rhine
(Russian Traveler,Vocals Masha Scream of Arkona)
Oh, how the scarlet heart yearned
Oh, for its native country
Oh at dawn, hurry
To your Mother, dear heart
And there you sight Rus’
With a song in your heart
Through a maelstrom of emotion
Here they are – your native lands.
In chains of Oblivion
Of the oncoming force of happiness
You cry: “Here is my land!”
You cry: “Here is my land!”
Metal Gaia 