You are here:

1. » Home
2. » Areas
3. » Folklore
4. » General folklore
5. » Alatyr

Cite/print/rate article
Send comment    References

by Cyril Korolev

In Russian folklore Alatyr is a magic stone, "father of all stones", a holy omphalos possessing healing properties. This stone is placed in the center of the Booyan Island. As a legend says, healing rivers flow from beneath Alatyr and on it stands the World Tree (it could be oak, apple tree or cypress). This stone is guarded by mythical monsters – Gagana-bird and Garafena the snake.

In spells and incantations Alatyr is mentioned together with the Booyan Island. People believed that otherwise no spell or charm could be effective.