Koshchey the Immortal is one of the most famous characters in Russian fairy tales. We all know that he is immortal, but what do we know about his nature and origin? In this article we will try to uncover the secrets of Koschei and consider different hypotheses about his essence.
1. Koshchei is not a human?
Perhaps Koshchey the Immortal is not a human, but is a completely different creature. Some researchers suggest that he may be a reptile. Koshchei’s appearance is never described in fairy tales, but his endurance and immense strength indicate that he is an unusual creature. Perhaps he has some kind of superpowers that make him virtually invulnerable.
2. What attracts Koschei to women?
One of the mysteries of Koschei the Immortal is his interest in women. But why? Perhaps pheromone-mediated communication is important to Koschei. In fairy tales, we see that Koschei discovers an interest in human females. This may be related to the odor recognition system. It is interesting to note that a study done at Duke University showed that humans perceive the odor of androsterone differently. Perhaps Koshchey makes a mistake when choosing a bride by smell because of his peculiarities.
3. The mysteries of the battle with Koschei
One of the key scenes in fairy tales about Koshchei is the decisive battle with the hero. But how do we know if the hero has finished the villain or if the villain is just pretending? In fairy tales we see that the hero has to resort to additional manipulations to make sure of victory. And only after all the efforts of Koshchey is burned to destroy him finally.
4. Origin of the name “Koshchey”
The very word “Koschey” can be found in ancient chronicles of the XI-XII centuries, where it means a slave or a captive. Probably, the name of the fairy-tale hero comes from this word and is not associated with the powerful magician Koschei. It is also possible that the name Koshchei comes from the dialectism “kast”, which means abomination or filth.
5. Is Koshchei a vertebrate or an arthropod?
All tales about Koshchey describe his armor in detail, but it may not be the usual armor, but an external skeleton. This may indicate that Koshchey belongs to arthropod creatures. This hypothesis may explain his unusual abilities and endurance.
In conclusion, Koschei the Immortal remains a mystery to us. His nature and origin still raise many questions. However, the study of folklore sources and various hypotheses allows us to come closer to understanding this amazing character.
