Baba Yaga

mythological figure, fantasy character, witch

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Baba Yaga is a witch figure from Slavic folklore and mythology who appears in traditional stories and modern fantasy works. She matters as an important character in cultural tradition and continues to influence contemporary fantasy literature and media.

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Commons category: Baba Yaga

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Article

Baba Yaga depicted in Tales of the Russian People (published by V. A. Gatsuk in Moscow in 1894) Baba Yaga being used as an example for the Cyrillic letter Б, in Alexandre Benois' ABC-Book Baba Yaga is a female character (or one of a trio of sisters of the same name) from Slavic folklore who has two contrasting roles. In some narratives, she is described as a repulsive or ferocious-looking old woman who fries and eats children, while in others she is depicted as a nice old woman who helps the hero. Both versions often depict her as a witch. She is often associated with forest wildlife. Her distinctive traits are flying around in a wooden mortar, wielding a pestle, and dwelling deep in the forest in a hut with chicken legs.

Etymology