Domovoi, Legendary Creature

Domovoi, Legendary Creature

A domovoi or domovoy is a house spirit in Slavic folklore. Traditionally, every house is said to have its domovoi. It does not do evil unless angered by a family's poor keep of the household, profane language or neglect. The domovoi is seen as the home's guardian, and he sometimes helps with household chores and field work. Some even treat them as part of the family, albeit an unseen one, and leave them gifts like milk and biscuits in the kitchen overnight. If a domovoi becomes unhappy, it plays nasty tricks on the members of the household. Those include moving and rattling small objects, breaking dishes, leaving muddy little footprints, causing the walls of a house to creak, banging on pots and moaning. Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin (August 16, 1876 - February 7, 1942) was a Russian illustrator and stage designer who was inspired by Slavic folklore. He gained renown in 1899, when he released his illustrations of Russian fairy tales. He died in 1942 during the Siege of Leningrad at the age of 65.

Album / Science Source / New York Public Library

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4063 x 2919 px | 33.9 MB

34.4 x 24.7 cm | 13.5 x 9.7 in (300 dpi)