Leshy: The Slavic Lord of the Forest | Monstrum

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He can grow higher than the trees, or smaller than a blade of grass. Both demon and deity, guardian and antagonist, the Leshy is rooted deep in the cultural and religious history of the Slavic people.

Said to be the lord of the forest, the Leshy could lead people and animals astray, causes accidents, and even drive people to madness and death. But they could also be surprisingly helpful...if you asked nicely. In this episode, you’ll learn about the surprising history of this shapeshifting creature, and how to avoid becoming his victim. #leshy #slavicfolklore #witcher #MonstrumPBS

We are incredibly grateful to Katherine Arden for her insight into the Russian language and Slavic folklore.

Written and Hosted by: Dr. Emily Zarka
Director: David Schulte
Executive Producer: Amanda Fox
Producer: Stephanie Noone
Illustrator: Samuel Allen
Editor: Sara Roma, Derek Borsheim
Produced by Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios.

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Kalik, Judith, and Alexander Uchitel. Slavic Gods and Heroes. Routledge, 2019.

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Mingazova, Liailia I., Foat G. Galimullin, Alfiya F. Galimullina. “The Mythological Image of Shuralen and Its Reflection in the Folklore of Volga-Ural Region.” The Turkish Online Journal of Design, Art and Communication, Nov. 216, pp. 3256-3262.

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