Muromets ilya - biography. Biography of ilya muromets

Ilya Muromets

Mythology:	Slavic
Origin:	Peasant origin, the village of Karacharovo near Murom
Mentions:	"The acquisition of strength by Ilya Muromets"; "Ilya Muromets and Svyatogor"; "Ilya Muromets and Nightingale the Robber"; "Ilya Muromets and Idolische"; ""; "Ilya Muromets and Zhidovin" and others.
	Ivan Timofeevich
	Efrosinya Yakovlevna
	Zlatygorka (Baba Goryninka)
	Son - Sokolnik (or daughter polaris in another embodiment)
Related characters:	Nephew Ermak, Svyatogor, Dobrynya Nikitich

Historical prototype

Elijah Pechersky

Ileiko Muromets

Sensational research

Murom or Morovsk

Feats of Russian Hercules

Literature

art

Computer games

Ilya Muromets (full epic name - Ilya Muromets son of Ivan) - one of the main characters of the old Russian epic epic, a hero, embodying the common folk ideal of a warrior hero.

Ilya Muromets appears in the Kiev epic cycle: "Ilya Muromets and the Nightingale the Robber", "Ilya Muromets and Idolische Poganoe", "Quarrel between Ilya Muromets and Prince Vladimir", "Fight of Ilya Muromets with Zhidovin." In the epic "Svyatogor and Ilya Muromets" It tells how Ilya Muromets studied with Svyatogor; and dying, he blew into him with a heroic spirit, which is why strength increased in Elijah, and gave his sword-treasurer. The prosaic tales of Ilya Muromets, recorded in the form of Russian folk tales and passed on to some non-Slavic peoples (Finns), also do not know about the Kiev epic relations of Ilya Muromets, do not mention Prince Vladimir, replacing him with an unnamed king; they contain almost exclusively the adventure of Ilya Muromets with the Nightingale the Robber, sometimes with Idolisch, called the Glutton, and sometimes attribute to Ilya Muromets the liberation of the princess from the serpent, whom they did not know about Ilya Muromets.

According to the assumption of some historians of the Russian Empire, their small homeland could not be the village of Karacharovo near Murom, but the village of Karachev, near the city of Moroviysk in the Chernihiv region (the modern village of Morovsk, Kozeletsky district, Chernihiv region of Ukraine), which leads from Chernigov to Kiev. This conclusion is based on the possibility of merging in the folk epos the image of Ilya of Muromets with the Monk Elijah of Pechersky. This version was especially popular in the works of modern Ukrainian historians.

Epic stories, the main character of which is Ilya Muromets

According to S. A. Azbelev, numbering 53 stories of heroic epics, Ilya Muromets is the main character of 15 of them (No. 1-15 according to the index compiled by Azbel).

The acquisition of strength by Ilya Muromets (Healing of Ilya Muromets)
Ilya Muromets and Svyatogor
Ilya Muromets and the Nightingale the Robber
Ilya Muromets and Idolische
Ilya Muromets in a quarrel with Prince Volodymyr
Ilya Muromets and Goli Kabatsky (rarely exists as a separate plot, usually attached to the plot of a quarrel with Vladimir)

I am going to serve for the Christian faith,

And for the Russian land,

And for the capital city of Kiev,

For widows, for orphans, for poor people

And for you, the young princess, the widow Apraxia,

And for a dog, Prince Vladimir

Yes, I would not get out of the cellar.

Ilya Muromets on the Falcon ship
Ilya Muromets and the robbers
Three trips of Ilya Muromets
Ilya Muromets and Batu Tsar
Ilya Muromets and Zhidovin
Ilya Muromets and Tugarin (about the wife of Ilya Muromets)
Ilya Muromets and Sokolnik
Ilya Muromets, Ermak and Kalin Tsar
Kama battle
Ilya Muromets and Kalin Tsar
Duel of Dobrynia Nikitich with Ilya Muromets
Ilya Muromets and Alyosha Popovich

For each story, the number of separate options recorded from different storytellers is in the tens and can exceed a hundred (No. 3, 9, 10), mainly there were from 12 to 45 or more.

Epic biography of Ilya Muromets

A large number of plots dedicated to Ilya Muromets makes it possible to present in more or less complete form the biography of this hero (as it seemed to the storytellers).

According to the epic Healing of Ilya Muromets, this hero until 33 years of age (the age at which Christ died and rose again) “did not possess” hands and feet, and then received miraculous healing from elders (or Kalik passers-by). Who they are is omitted in all Soviet publications; in the pre-revolutionary edition of bylina, it is believed that the “Kaliki” is Christ with two apostles. Kaliki, having come to the house of Ilya when there was no one except him, asked him to stand up and bring them water. Ilya answered this: "I don’t have either arms or legs, I’ve been sitting on my seat for thirty years." They repeatedly ask Elijah to get up and bring them water. After that, Ilya gets up, goes to the water carrier and brings water. The elders told Ilya to drink water. Ilya drank and recovered, after the second drink he feels exorbitant power in himself, and he is given a drink a third time to reduce it. After, the elders tell Ilya that he should go to the service of Prince Vladimir. At the same time, they mention that on the road to Kiev there is a heavy stone with an inscription, which Ilya must also visit. After that, Ilya says goodbye to her parents, brothers and relatives and goes “to the capital city to Kiev” and comes first “to that motionless stone”. A call was written on the stone to Ilya to move the stone from a fixed place. There he will find a hero horse, weapons and armor. Ilya pushed the stone aside and found everything that was written there. He said to the horse: “Ai, you are a horse of great strength! Serve you faithfully to me. ” After that, Ilya jumps to Prince Vladimir.

Folklore outside the Russian North

Only a few epic stories with the name of Ilya Muromets are known outside the provinces of Olonetsk, Arkhangelsk and Siberia (Collection of Kirsha Danilov and S. Gulyaev). Outside of these areas, only a few scenes have been recorded so far:

Ilya Muromets and Nightingale the Robber;
Ilya Muromets and the robbers;
Ilya Muromets on the Falcon ship
Ilya Muromets and son.

In the middle and southern parts of Russia, only epics are known without the attachment of Ilya Muromets to Kiev and Prince. Vladimir, and the most popular stories in which the role of robbers (Ilya Muromets and robbers) or Cossacks (Ilya Muromets on the Falcon-ship), which testifies to the popularity of Ilya Muromets among the freedom-loving population, who traded on the Volga, Yaika and was part of the Cossacks .

Often there is a confusion of Ilya Muromets with Ilya the prophet. This confusion also occurred in the alleged epic homeland of Ilya Muromets, in the view of the peasants of the village of Karacharovo (near Murom), and in the stories of these peasants the relationship of Ilya Muromets to Kiev and Prince Vladimir is not mentioned at all. A study of the epic biography of Ilya Muromets leads to the conviction that many fabulous and legendary wandering stories have been layered on the name of this popular hero.

The hero Ilya is a hero not only of Russian epics, but also of Germanic epic poems of the 13th century. In them he is represented by the mighty knight of the princely family Ilya of Russia.

Historical prototype

Elijah Pechersky

Some researchers consider the prototype of an epic character to be a historical character, a strong man named “Chobitok”, a native of Murom, who became a monk in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra with the name Elijah, and ranked in 1643 the saints of the Orthodox Church as “Rev. Elijah Muromets”.

According to this theory, Ilya Muromets lived in the XII century and died in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra around 1188. The memory according to the church calendar is December 19 (January 1).

The theory of the identity of the epic hero with the monk - Chobitko, Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is quite plausible.

Russian annals do not mention his name. After miraculous healing, he passes into Orthodoxy and chooses a new name for himself, Ilya.

The relics rest in the Near Caves of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. The tombstone of Ilya Muromets is located near the grave of Stolypin. Part of the relics of Elijah - The middle finger of his left hand, is located in one of the churches of the city of Murom, Vladimir Region.

Ileiko Muromets

In the XVII century, Ileiko Muromets (Ilya Ivanovich Korovin) was known - the impostor Lzhepetr of the Time of Troubles, executed in 1607. According to scientists, in particular the Russian historian Ilovaisky, the expression “old Cossack” is explained by the fact that at the end of the reign of Boris Godunov, Ileika Muromets was in a Cossack detachment, consisting of the army of governor Prince Ivan Hvorostinin. B. M. Sokolov wrote that a significant fact of peasant processing of bylinas was the transformation of Ilya Muravlenin from Muroviysk and the city of Karachev in Chernihiv into a peasant son Ilya Muromets and the village of Karacharovo near Murom.

Sensational research

IN 1988 Interstate Commission conducted a study of relics Rev. Ilya of Muromets. The results were astounding. It was a strong man who died at the age of 45-55 years, high growth - 177 see. The fact is that in XII century, when Ilya lived, such a person was considered quite tall, because the average height of a man was 165 see. Moreover, on the bones of Elijah, scientists found traces of many battles - multiple fractures of the collarbone, broken ribs, traces from the blow of a spear, saber, sword. This confirmed the legend that Ilya was a powerful warrior, a participant in fierce battles.

But most of all, the scientists were struck by something else: they argue that, in full agreement with folk traditions, Ilya really could not walk for a long time! According to the researchers, the reason for this was a serious illness - tuberculosis of the bones or polio. This caused paralysis of the legs.

Ilya Muromets was born approximately between 1150 and 1165 years And he died at the age of about 40–55 years, as suggested, when taking Of Kiev the prince Rurik Rostislavich in 1204 g., when the Pechersk Lavra was defeated by the allies of Rurik Polovtsy. The cause of death was apparently the blow of a sharp weapon (spear or sword) in the chest.

Curse and miraculous healing

The people passed word of mouth such a story. As if the grandfather of Ilya Muromets was a pagan and, not recognizing Christianity, once cut an icon. Since then, the curse has fallen on his family - all boys will be born crippled.

10 years later was born Ilya, and the curse seemed to be fulfilled: the boy from childhood could not walk. All attempts to cure him were unsuccessful. But Ilya did not give up, stubbornly trained his hands, developed muscles, becoming more and more strong, but, alas, still could not walk. Years passed, and probably more than once it seemed to him that he needed to come to terms with fate: he would forever remain a cripple.

But when Ilya turned 33 years, something inexplicable happened. The day has come, which abruptly and forever changed his life. Prophetic old men entered the house - kaliki passers-by (poor beggars), and asked the boy to supply water. He explained that he could not walk. But the guests persistently repeated the request, which already sounded like an order. And Ilya, suddenly feeling an unprecedented power, first got to his feet ...

What is it? Miraculous healing? Maybe. But how did strange guests manage to heal a seemingly hopelessly ill person? There are various assumptions about this. For example, that wanderers were the wise men and magicians and knew the secrets of ancient conspiracies.

And other scientists suggest that this was the case self healing, which science is not yet able to explain ...

Be that as it may, Ilya got to his feet after 33 years of stillness. And scientists who conducted the research of relics confirm that the bone tissue of this person miraculously recovered. Moreover, according to their conclusion, after thirty years he led an active lifestyle, which is fully consistent with epics.

Murom or Morovsk

Regarding the birthplace of Ilya, there are also different versions. The most common - what comes from the village Karacharovo, near the city Muroma. This village, located on the banks of the Oka, exists today.

But some researchers claim that Ilya was born not far from Of Kiev - in Morovsk (Moroviysk) under Chernihiv, which in ancient times was called Murom. Since the legends say that Ilya got to Kiev very quickly, in one day (which is hardly possible in the case of the city of Murom, which is about 1,500 km from Kiev), this version is very plausible. Yes, but according to epics, Ilya happened from the village of Karacharovo? It turns out that not far from Chernihiv was an ancient city Karachev. Moreover, near the Karachev river flows Currantand on its shore is an ancient village Nine-Dube. Local old-timers indicate where the nest was supposedly located The Nightingale the Robber. And now there is a huge stump on the bank of the Currant, which, according to legend, has survived from nine oaks.

Feats of Russian Hercules

After miraculous healing Ilya Muromets, as befits heroes and heroes, he performs numerous feats. His most famous feat is the victory over The Nightingale the Robber.

Researchers believe that The Nightingale the Robber - not a fabulous monster, but also a real historical figure, a robber who hunted in the forests along the road to Kiev. And the Nightingale of this robber was nicknamed for notifying his attack by a whistle (or, perhaps, whistling a signal to his gang to attack). Ilya Murometshe made many other feats, participated in battles, protecting the Russian land from enemies. Contemporaries noted his incredible, inhuman strength, therefore, in the memory of people, he remained probably the greatest Russian hero. It is enough to recall the picture “Three Heroes”, in which Ilya Muromets is depicted in the center - as the most powerful and powerful.

In epics and legends, three heroes - Ilya Muromets, Alyosha Popovich and Dobrynya Nikitich - often perform feats together. But in fact they never met. They were separated by centuries - Dobrynya Nikitich lived in the 10th century, Alyosha Popovich - in the 13th century, and Ilya - in the 12th century. But when legends are transmitted for centuries from one generation to another, they are overgrown with new details, famous characters begin to perform new feats, and the time frame is gradually blurred and shifted. Contrary to legends Ilya Muromets never served Prince Vladimir the Great. They simply could not meet, because they lived in different centuries. Ilya served prince Svyatoslavprotecting Russia from Polovtsy.

But if this is true, and Ilya Muromets - historical person, why is there not a word about him in the annals? Firstly, not many written sources have survived from those times, which is quite natural if you recall what a tumultuous history Russia went through. Hordes of conquerors more than once burned and completely destroyed cities. In one of the fires, the books of the Pechersk Lavra also burned down once.

And secondly, there are references in foreign sources. For example, in Germanic epic poems recorded in Xiii century, but based on earlier legends, the great hero is mentioned Ilya RussianThe legend says that in one cruel battle Ilya nearly died, but miraculously survived and made a vow to retire to the monastery, devote himself to God and never again pick up the sword. Ilya came to the walls of the Lavra, took off all his military armor, but could not throw his sword and took it with him. He became a monk Pechersk Lavra and spent all his days in his cell in prayers.

But once the enemies approached the walls of the monastery, and Ilya saw with his own eyes the death of the abbot of the Lavra, who was hit by a mortal blow. And then Ilya, despite the vow, again picked up the sword. But he felt that his legs again refused to serve him. He still managed to block his hand from a mortal blow with a spear, but his strength was already leaving him ...

Was it really so? It is unlikely that we will ever find out. But one thing is certain: the scientists found that Ilya really died as a result of a blow to the chest with a spear and that he apparently tried to stop the spear on the fly, and this slightly weakened the blow. But the wound did not heal and in the end became the cause of the death of Muromets.

Ilya Muromets in Russian culture

Monuments

In 1999, a monument to the sculptor V. M. Klykov, Ilya Muromets, was erected in the city park of Murom
In 2012, a monument to St. Ilya Muromets by sculptor Zinich was erected in the Admiral Square of the city of Vladivostok. The monument is a gift from the group of companies "Stimeks" and the public of the city of Krasnoyarsk to the city of Vladivostok.

Objects named after Ilya Muromets

Geographical features

Located on the Bear Peninsula, one of the highest waterfalls in Russia is named after Ilya Muromets.
In the Kiev region on the Dnieper is Muromets Island - a landscape park and a favorite vacation spot for citizens.

The organization

The film studio for children and youth films "Ilya Muromets"
Troika Dialog Open Joint-Stock Investment Fund - Ilya Muromets

Equipment

Ilya Muromets is a frigate of the Russian Imperial Navy.
In 1913, the name of the hero was received by a bomber aircraft, created by aircraft designer Igor Sikorsky.
"Ilya Muromets" - one of the armored vehicles of Gulkevich.
Ilya Muromets - armored car
Ilya Muromets - Russian and Soviet icebreaking ship built in 1915
The name "Ilya Muromets" wore a red armored train in the Civil War
Ilya Muromets - Light armored train of the Don Army of the White Movement in the Civil War.
"Ilya Muromets" - one of the tanks of the COP
Ilya Muromets - Soviet armored train in World War II. His armored locomotive is currently installed as a monument in the city of Murom.
In 1958, the cruise ship Ilya Muromets was commissioned
Ilya Muromets - Soviet port icebreaker built in 1965, the lead ship of project 97K
"Ilya Muromets" - Soviet strategic bomber Tu-160 with tail number 06

Literature

Fiction

"The History of Ilya Muromets" - a handwritten folk book of the XVIII century
Ilya Muromets - an unfinished poem (“heroic tale”) by N. M. Karamzin
“Ilya Muromets” - a ballad by A. K. Tolstoy
Jan Rainis wrote the tragedy Ilya Muromets (1922)
Ilya Muromets is a character in Vasily Shukshin’s short story “Until the Third Cocks”.
Ilya Muromets is the main character of the novel of the same name by Ivan Koshkin.
Ilya is the central character of Oleg Divov’s novel “Brave”, with the goal, according to the author, “immersion in the atmosphere of that time”. The fight of the hero with the Nightingale the Robber is treated in the novel with the use of the hypothesis of the Neanderthals who survived to that time, and the nickname “Muromets” is interpreted as distorted “Urmanin,” that is, Viking, Varangian. In addition to the novel, the book contains an extensive application of a popular scientific nature, giving a fairly detailed historical background and an overview of various hypotheses about the prototype and origin of the epic hero.
Ilya, the son of Ivanov, is one of the main characters in the historical novel The Ninth Savior of Anatoly Brusnikin. The work guesses the images of other fairy-tale characters: Dmitry Nikitin, Alexey Popov, Vasilisa.

Modern folklore

In modern Russian folklore, Ilya Muromets is the hero of a short cycle of jokes (usually together with Alyosha Popovich and Dobrynya Nikitich).

art

Painting

Ilya Muromets is a character in Victor Vasnetsov’s painting “The Heroes”, and under the influence of the bylina “Ilya Muromets and the Robbers”, he painted the painting “The Knight at the Crossroads”.
"Ilya Muromets at a feast at Prince Vladimir" - painting by V. P. Vereshchagin
Ilya Muromets - painting by Nicholas Roerich
“Ilya Muromets frees the prisoners”, “Ilya Muromets and the goal of kabatskaya”, “Ilya Muromets in a quarrel with Prince Vladimir”, “Gift of the Svyatogor” - paintings by Konstantin Vasilyev

Artwork

Ivan Bilibin created illustrations for epics about Ilya Muromets: Ilya Muromets, Ilya Muromets and Svyatogor, Ilya Muromets and Nightingale the Robber, Ilya Muromets and Svyatogor’s wife.

Engravings

There are popular prints about Ilya Muromets: "Ilya Muromets and Nightingale the Robber", "Strong and brave hero Ilya Muromets."

Plastic

"Ilya Muromets and the Nightingale the Robber" - a composition from porcelain by sculptor S. M. Orlov

Music

Operas

Katerino Kavos wrote the opera Ilya the Bogatyr on the libretto of Ivan Krylov.
In the opera-farce of the composer Alexander Borodin, The Heroes is the role of Ilya Muromets.
Composer Leonid Malashkin wrote the opera Ilya of Muromets, or Russian Bogatyrs
Ilya Muromets is a character in Mikhail Ivanov’s opera Fun Putyatishna.
“Ilya Muromets” - opera by Valentina Serova
Opera "Ilya Muromets" composer Boris Feoktistov.

Symphonic works

In 1909-11, composer Reinhold Glier created the 3rd symphony under the name "Ilya Muromets."

Choral music

In 2011, composer Andrei Mikita wrote “Glory to the Rev. Elijah of Murom” for a mixed choir, soloists and three children's voices.

Mass music

The Gas Sector group has a song, Ilya Muromets.
The Gas Attack Sector group has the album "Rock-bylina Ilya Muromets"

Theater

The play "Ilya Muromets, a peasant son" Puppet Theater. S.V. Obraztsova (1951).
Ilya Muromets - one of the characters of the Russian district

Movies

In 1956, based on the epic about Ilya Muromets, the feature film "Ilya Muromets" was shot in the USSR. Director Alexander Ptushko, starring actor - Boris Andreev.
The image of Ilya Muromets was used in the film “This Scoundrel Sidorov” (1984).
In 1975-1978, the cartoons “Ilya Muromets (Prologue)” and “Ilya Muromets and Nightingale the Robber” were filmed.
At the end of 2007, the animated film "Ilya Muromets and the Nightingale the Robber" was released, in 2010 - Three Heroes and the Shamakhan Queen, whose main character is also Ilya. The first of them tells how the crafty Kiev prince and Ilya Muromets went to rescue Ilya's horse and the treasury stolen by Nightingale, who fled to the Byzantine lands, in the city of Tsargrad, where Emperor Vasilevs ruled. In the second cartoon, the heroes, led by Ilya, save the prince from the spell of the insidious Shamakhan queen.
In 2010, the film “Adventures in the Fiftieth Kingdom” was released, where Ilya Muromets was played by Stanislav Duzhnikov.
In 2011, the film “The Real Tale” was released, where Ilya Muromets was played by Alexey Dmitriev.

Computer games

At the end of 2008, the computer adventure game Three Athletes. The first series ”, in which Ilya is presented along with Dobrynya Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich. According to the plot of the game, the heroes will have to fight the robbers who are atrocious in Russia and in the finals defeat their head, the Nightingale the Robber. Moreover, the final battle with the Nightingale Ilya leads one on one.
In the game based on the animated film of the same name, Ilya Muromets sets off in the footsteps of the Nightingale - the Robber, in some missions the Kiev prince will be with him in the company. They have to talk with Alyosha Popovich, his assistant Yeremey, Kashchei the Immortals, Baba Yaga and others.
In Mechwarrior Online, one of the variations of the Cataphract combat robot is named Ilya Muromets.

From ancient times, Molodetskaya valor was valued in Russia. The warriors were famous for their strength and courage, their courage inspired the belief that evil would be punished. Legends about their life were passed from mouth to mouth, overgrown with new details.

Over time, the line between fiction and truth has erased. Modern historians can only argue about the reality of the existence of these heroes, speculate who became their prototype. One thing is clear that in old tales, there is some truth.

Ilya Muromets

Ilya Muromets is an old Russian hero, one of the main characters of epic tales. It can be called the embodiment of courage, courage and devotion. The question of whether this character is fictional is the subject of controversy by many scientists. Some researchers believe that the hero is a real historical figure (Ilya Pechersky is considered a prototype), other historians refute this hypothesis, due to the absence of any annalistic references to the warrior hero Ilya Muromets.

Where was Ilya Muromets born?

It is believed that Ilya Muromets was born in the second half of the 12th century near the city of Murom, in the village of Karacharovo.

It is known that until 30 years old the hero could not walk. Scientists conducted a study of the relics of St. Elijah Pechersky, discovered a curvature of the spine, which could cause paralysis. There are two versions of the cure in the tales. According to one of them, the potions were helped by passers-by, who could be healers, according to another - healing is associated with divine grace. The growth of the epic hero was only 177 cm, for his time it was a very tall man.

The hero took part in many battles. Ilya Muromets had a nickname - Ilya “Chobotok” (boot). This is due to the fact that he was once attacked when he wore shoes. The hero had to fight back with what was at hand, that is, boots.

At the end of his life, Ilya Muromets became a monk, but died, defending the monastery, with a sword in his hands at the age of 40 to 55 years. Scientists have discovered many stab wounds. The relics of St. Ilya of Muromets rest in the Caves of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, their part (the middle finger of the left hand) was transferred to the Transfiguration Monastery in the city of Murom. Every day dozens of people come to temples to worship the saint.

Land of heroes. Ilya Muromets

When was Ilya Muromets born?

January 1 (January 19 according to the old style) in Russia they honor the memory of the epic hero Ilya Muromets. According to tradition, on this day, our ancestors bowed to their native land, remembered the saint and laid candles for the repose of those who died defending their country.

Nikitich

Dobrynya Nikitich is one of the heroes of the Russian folk epos, who, presumably, served under Prince Vladimir. In the epics, Dobrynya Nikitich appears before us as a brave and adroit warrior, an intelligent diplomat, a man who is not devoid of musical talent. The hero had unreal physical strength and unlimited courage. In addition, according to legend, Dobrynya knew 12 languages \u200b\u200band was able to speak with birds. The famous enemy of the hero was the Serpent Gorynych.

Land of heroes. Nikitich

Where was Dobrynya Nikitich born?

Ryazan is recognized as the birthplace of an epic hero. According to legend, Dobrynya Nikitich is the uncle of Prince Vladimir the Red Sun. The prototype of the character is considered the governor Dobrynya, who served under the prince.

Alesha Popovich

Alyosha Popovich is a collective image of the Russian hero-hero, which is present in many folk tales. According to legends, Alyosha Popovich was not distinguished by special physical strength and skillful possession of weapons. The youngest of the heroes was famous for his ability to competently beat life situations, to cunning and get out "dry from the water." The most important feat was the victory over the hero Tugarin.

On August 2, a monument dedicated to the hero Ilya Muromets was unveiled in Kiev. Vitali Klitschko in his speech called the epic character a Ukrainian hero. His words caused a great resonance in social networks. sorted out where Ilya Muromets was actually born and why Russia, Ukraine and Belarus lay claim to it.

What happened

The pedestal of the famous hero was opened in the park of the same name "Muromets". This is a former Park of Friendship of Peoples, which was renamed the authorities of the capital. It was then that the active process of “Ukrainization” of the hero began.

The words of Vitali Klitschko about the Ukrainian roots of the mythological character caused a wide resonance on the Internet. So, for example, in Russia they were indignant that Ukraine “appropriated” the Russian hero. Blogger Rustem Adagamov wrote on Facebook: “To go nuts, the Russian hero Ilya Muromets from the village of Karacharovo in the Vladimir region, now it turns out, is a Ukrainian hero from Ukrainian mythology. Lord. ”

At the same time, some users who left comments under this post supported the author, and the second part objected. The latter indicated that most epics about the hero are connected with the Kiev prince Vladimir, and the relics of Ilya Muromets are in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

Who is Ilya Muromets?

Ilya Muromets was born between about 1150 and 1165. According to legend, he lay on the stove until he was 33 years old, as he suffered from a serious illness and could not walk. One of them was healed by the magi or the so-called "Kaliki passers." This happened when they went into the hero’s house and asked for water, but he answered them that he could not get up. After this, the magi again asked for water, Ilya could hardly rise and go to the vessel with water. After this, the faces were ordered to drink water to Muromets, and he was completely healed and gained inhuman strength. Indeed, experts examined traces of the disease of spondylarthrosis on the vertebrae of the skeleton (an inflammatory disease that limits the mobility of the spine), which can confine a person to bed and is treated by chiropractors.

After healing, Ilya converted to Orthodoxy. For many years he was in the squad of the Kiev prince, was the "first hero in Kiev", who did not know defeats. Ilya Muromets became famous for his numerous military exploits and unprecedented strength, which he used absolutely disinterestedly, only to fight against the enemies of the Fatherland, protect Russian people and restore justice.

The first mention of Ilya Muromets was found in a letter that in 1574 the Orsha headman Filon Kmita sent to the caretaker of Trakai Castle. The message is written in the language of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which, depending on their citizenship, scientists now call “Old Belorussian,” “Old Ukrainian,” or “Western Russian.”

It is known that the hero died during the capture of Kiev by Prince Rurik Rostislavich in 1204.

Homeland of Ilya Muromets

There are several scientific theories about the origin of the hero Ilya Muromets. The original version says that the hero was born in the village of Karacharovo, which is located near the city of Murom, Vladimir Region (the territory of modern Russia).

However, around the 19th century, researchers put forward the version that in fact Ilya Muromets was born in the village of Karachev, which is located next to Moroviysky, Chernihiv region. The alleged places of birth of the hero are consonant, so the error easily crept into the epic.

“The first mention of Ilya Murovanin was not in Russian sources, but in Ukrainian. But a little under a different name. That is, it was not Muromets at that time, but Murovanin. And that is precisely why researchers often associated this with the Chernihiv region, where, actually, there is now the village of Muromsk, ”said journalist Alexander Doniy.

Interestingly, in the folk epos, the character of Ilya of Muromets merged with the image of the Monk Elijah of the Caves. The latter is known that he lived in about the 12th century and died on the territory of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. The Monk Elijah, whose relics are stored in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, was canonized in 1643 under the name "Elijah from Murom" and is called among the possible prototypes of the hero.

Ilya Pechersky - the alleged prototype of Ilya Muromets

In 1988, an examination of the remains of the laurels was carried out. Researchers found that the warrior's height was 177 cm. The average height of men in ancient Russia did not exceed 160 cm. At the time of the death of Ilya, he was about 40-55 years old, and he died from a wound in the heart region.

“In the 1980s, an analysis of the remains was made. And scientists say that in childhood this person suffered paralysis of the lower extremities. That is, it is quite similar to the epic character, who somewhere until 30 years old could not walk. There are many similarities here, ”Doni emphasized.

The relics of Elijah Pechersky

Belarus also has its own version of the origin of Ilya Muromets. The main explanation is that Kmit Chernobylsky, the head of the Belarusian city of Orsha, first wrote about the hero. There is a theory based on information about the journey of Muromets to Kiev. So, for example, Nikolai Chubrik believes that the hero traveled to Kiev through Polesie, because the legends mention the "great mud" that he came across, but there are no other extensive swamps on the way to Kiev. Therefore, the researcher concluded, Ilya Muromets was traveling to Kiev from the territory of present Belarus. However, this theory has not received wide distribution.

“But, nevertheless, this is a character for which both peoples can compete fully. Of course, this is another reason for the information war. And not just for information war. Russians, for example, can be interpreted as a common history. Thus, they are trying to argue that Kiev is theirs. That is, the situation here is rather ambiguous. But it’s better to take everything that concerns the truth of the history of Ukraine than to squander it, scatter Ukrainian characters, Ukrainian personnel. Therefore, I see nothing wrong with mentioning the Ukrainian roots of Ilya Muromets. Moreover, from a historical point of view, such a version can be proved, ”the journalist said.

May 28 - Day of the border guard, celebrated simultaneously in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. On this day, let's remember the patron saint of the border troops - Ilya of Muromets, who is equally revered by the fraternal peoples that make up Holy Russia.

The name of Ilya Muromets does not appear in chronicles and other documents of the corresponding era. But the relics of the hero, preserved in the Kiev-Pechersk monastery, indicate that this was not a mythical, but a very real character in history, who lived in the XI-XII centuries.

Headed the invincible squad of the defenders of Russia Ilya Muromets - the hero of legends created in the wake of the era of Vladimir Monomakh. The second in rank was Dobrynya Nikitich; his real prototype was the famous governor Dobrynya, uncle of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich Krasnoye Solnyshko. The honorable third place was taken by Alyosha Popovich.

The glory of Ilya Muromets even in ancient times went beyond the borders of the Russian land - it is mentioned in the works of the Germanic-Scandinavian epic, recorded no later than the 13th century. And in Russia, he was as famous as Roland in Western Europe.

The second-class vassal of Charlemagne immortalized “The Song of Roland”, created by the ingenious West European poet, who, perhaps, was called Turold.

The warrior Ilya from Murom was glorified by a poetic legend created by the unknown genius of Ancient Russia. This legend, unlike the “Song of Roland,” was not recorded in its original form and was preserved in the tradition of oral retelling. The contents of the masterpiece of Old Russian literature, as well as some elements of its decoration, came to us in a cycle of epics, coarsened in style and language by the peasant milieu, where they existed until the first recordings made only in the 19th century.

Considering the epic texts in this light, one can distinguish the original storyline in them, built on the facts of the true biography of Ilya Muromets.

Chronological framework of the biography of Ilya Muromets

According to the opinion that dominates the scientific community, Ilya Muromets served Vladimir Monomakh, one of the most prominent sovereigns of the Kiev era.

The epics tell of a serious illness that paralyzed the hero in his youth (this fact was indirectly confirmed by an examination of the relics conducted in 1988). Having been cured at the age of thirty, Ilya decided to become a professional warrior.

Soon he received a baptism of fire near Chernigov, defending this city. This happened presumably in 1093. An analysis of the epic texts in comparison with the annals of the military-political chronicle leads to such a statement (the corresponding calculations are partially presented below). Consequently, the probable year of birth of Ilya Muromets is 1063.

An examination of 1988 established that the famous hero could live from 40 to 55 years.

In 1638, the monk of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra Athanasius Kalofoysky indicated that Ilya Muromets died “450 years before that time,” that is, in 1188. It is impossible to accept this dating, since it takes the years of Elijah's life beyond the era of Monomakh, who died in 1125. However, the learned monk could not conceive the year of the death of the illustrious hero at his whim. Athanasius, most likely, was guided by some kind of record, which was then stored in the documents of the monastery, or the inscription at the tomb of Ilya.

Year 1188 from R.H. corresponds to the year 6696 "from the creation of the world." In the old Russian digital system, this last four-digit number could look something like this:

S X Y S
/

It can be assumed that the figure configuration seen by Kalnofoisky was slightly damaged. The sign “worm” (Y), denoting the number 90, could appear instead of the sign “kako” (K) - 20. One lower stick was obliterated, and instead of K there appeared a semblance of Y. In fact, the year of the death of Ilya was probably signified in the following way:

S X K S
/

Displaying this digital combination in the modern decimal system, we get the year 6626 “from the creation of the world”, 1118 from R.Kh.

Therefore, Ilya Muromets, who was born in 1063, lived 55 years, which is consistent with the data of the 1988 examination.

Episodes of a combat career

As you know, Ilya Muromets was born in the village of Karacharov in a peasant family. Therefore, his desire to become a professional defender of the fatherland could not come true easily, even if he had strong power.

The army of that time was a militia that gathered for the period of hostilities, and then dispersed home. Professional warriors were only princely warriors with high social status. In order for the “peasant man” to be in the ranks of the squad corporation, special circumstances were required. And such circumstances arose in 1093.

Then the great prince of Kiev Vsevolod died, and his son Vladimir Monomakh voluntarily ceded the great reign to his cousin Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, and took Chernigov as his inheritance. Soon after, the cousins-princes opposed the Polovtsy, but suffered a brutal defeat on the Stugne River. Monomakh returned to Chernigov, where he began to urgently assemble a new army.

Ilya, the good fellow, went to his first war, presumably, not alone, but as part of a military contingent that came to the aid of Monomakh from Murom, who at that time was part of the Principality of Chernigov.

"Whether the city of Chernigov was caught up with silushki black and black ... He somehow became such a great power, began to stomp his horse and began to stab with a spear ..." The enemy force that Ilya fought against was Polovtsy, brought by Russian Prince Oleg Svyatoslavich, the most dangerous enemy of Monomakh and Svyatopolk (at the same time - their cousin). Oleg demanded that the Chernigov reign, which once belonged to his father by the will of Yaroslav the Wise.

The fighting lasted 8 days, after which Monomakh ceded the city to an enemy relative, not wanting to continue the internecine war at a time when the Polovtsy plagued the Russian lands.

The Chernigov boyars and warriors swore allegiance to the new prince, the Murom swore swearing, but Ilya did not follow a general example.

Vladimir Monomakh went to Pereyaslavl with his family and squad, in which no more than 100 soldiers remained. A worthy place in this selected squad was taken by the warrior Ilya, a commoner from the city of Murom.

Svyatopolk and Monomakh made peace with the Polovtsian khans, but this did not bring peace to the Russian land. Steppe hordes roamed without fear at the very borders of Russia, border people moaned from their violence.

In 1094, the Polovtsian Khan Itlar (Idolische, as the epics are called) appeared against the walls of Pereyaslavl with his horde, as if to visit "Russian friends". Monomakh had to invite Itlar to the city. At the same time, the security of the khan was to be guaranteed by the young son of the Russian prince Svyatoslav, taken hostage to the Polovtsy.

The Khan, received in the city with respect, held himself arrogant as a winner among the defeated people. His behavior humiliated the prince in front of fellow citizens. The boyars were advised to get rid of the aliens, and after some hesitation Monomakh agreed. Princely warriors and hired guns attacked the Polovtsian camp at night and freed Svyatoslav, having killed his guards. And in the morning, Khan Itlar was killed.

In the chronicle of those events there are no important details that can be restored from the old stories. Conceiving a plan of attack on the Polovtsian camp, Monomakh should have thought about defending Svyatoslav. Apparently, Ilya Muromets assumed the responsibility of a bodyguard. He penetrated into the Polovtsian camp in the guise of a “Kaliki passer” - a poor pilgrim, limping and leaning on a stick. The Polovtsians allowed him to visit Svyatoslav: let the poor alien entertain the bored prince. At the decisive moment of the night battle, Ilya closed the prince's son from the guards assigned to him. The invalid hockey stick in the right hand of the hero became a formidable weapon, and on the fingers of his left hand he pulled on a wanderer cap and with this semblance of a shield he repelled a knife thrown by one of the Polovtsian.

After the reprisal against Itlar, war broke out again, during which Monomakh managed to unite most of the Russian principalities into a single union.

The troops of the Russian princes repelled the onslaught of the Polovtsy and made a series of deep raids on enemy territory, reconciling the steppe predators who had to abandon the raids on Russia.

Ilya Muromets participated in many battles and campaigns, but did not serve “soft bread” - high and comfortable posts. And therefore did not get into the annals.

But the hero was not an ordinary warrior either. He was appointed commander of the village - a small detachment deployed at one of the border outposts. The townsfolk watched the steppe, reflected the raids of small Polovtsian gangs. In large campaigns, the village of Ilya Muromets performed the functions of intelligence, mined languages, destroyed enemy guard posts. It was a real border special forces, whose actions significantly contributed to the triumphs of the Russian army during the time of Monomakh.

Rebel on duty and command of the soul

For twenty years, Ilya Muromets faithfully served Vladimir Monomakh, who gradually gained power over Russia, formally remaining a modest unit prince.

In 1113, Svyatopolk Izyaslavich died and for the actual leader of the country the opportunity opened up to become a Grand Duke. But the Kiev nobles, led by the thousand Putyataya, put forward Monomakh conditions with which he could not agree.

In order to get rid of Putyata and his associates, Monomakh tried to attract middle-class citizens who were dissatisfied with the boyar rule, and most of all with the extortion of money-lenders (whom the late Svyatopolk patronized). The applicant for the great reign behind the scenes promised to make life easier for the venerable citizens, if they collect the veche and demand the resignation of a thousand. This action required power support, and the Pereslavl prince sent intelligent soldiers to Kiev. Among them was Ilya Muromets. He, as a true native of the people, was glad to stand up for the people's cause.

But the matter turned into considerable troubles.

When the middle-income citizens took to the streets, the urban mob joined them, and instead of a decent evening, a riot resulted. The crowd was outraging in the streets, instilling fear in the nobles and the clergy. Ilya actively participated in the riots, infuriated himself and incited others.

The boyars rushed to Monomakh, begging him for protection. And, as soon as the new Grand Duke appeared in Kiev, the riots ceased by themselves.

Joining the Angel Regiment

Fulfilling a special task of his superiors in Kiev, Ilya Muromets overdid it and seriously hurt Monomakh, who tried to look in the eyes of society as a strict guardian of the rule of law. The prince was angry and sentenced Ilya to three years in prison.

Time softens wild morals, but it is unlikely that the essence of the relationship between the elite and the Smerds has changed too much after Vladimir baptized Russia in 988 (his pagan pantheon stood for only eight years). Just replaced the god of the prince and the squad of Perun came George the Victorious. The son of Vladimir Yaroslav (Wise) took the name George (Yuri) at baptism and began to label space with this name.

The hero could not recognize such a sentence as fair. Leaving the dungeon, he decided not to serve the princes, but to God, took monastic rank in the Kiev-Pechersk monastery, where he spent the rest of his life (from about 1116 to 1118).

The Moscow pilgrim John Lukyanov left a curious description of the relics of Ilya Muromets, which he worshiped in 1701: “Immediately by the sight of the brave warrior Ilya Muromets, imperishable, under the cover of gold, growing like modern large people, his left arm was pierced with a copy, the ulcer is all you need to know On the hand". According to eyewitnesses, in addition to a deep roundish wound on the left hand, there was the same significant damage in the left chest area.

Thus, the monastic life of Elijah did not end with peaceful repose. He was killed in hand-to-hand combat, which he entered, apparently, without weapons. The left hand of an experienced fighter reacted to a lunge with a spear and tried to repulse the blow. But there was no shield in this hand, and a deadly weapon pierced it, and an unprotected body to the very heart.

The last battle of Ilya Muromets took place near the monastery or even within its walls. The body, not yet touched by the decomposition process, was buried immediately after the battle in the monastery underground necropolis, where it underwent natural mummification, and remained in that form at least until the beginning of the 18th century. Later, the mummy still decayed.

The Kiev-Pechersk monastery in the XII century was famous for its wealth, which attracted predatory gangs of various kinds. Apparently, the famous hero was faced with one of such gangs.

Posthumous service of Ilya Muromets

A popular legend about Ilya Muromets arose around the thirties and forties of the XII century, in the wake of the dramatic era of Vladimir Monomakh. But due to political reasons (their analysis is beyond the scope of this article), the author of the legend transferred the action to the distant past, during the time of Vladimir the Red Sun. At the same time, Ilya’s real exploits were supplemented with revised plots from pagan mythology, including a colorful story about Ilya’s victory over the Nightingale the Robber.

The invincible warrior Ilya could not end his life in such a miserable way as it really happened. The author has prepared a different fate for his hero: having come out of the conclusion, Ilya accomplished new feats. He defeated the countless hordes of Tsar Kalin and became the successor to the great Svyatogor - the ancient protector of the Slavic lands.

The vivid, figurative narration about Ilya Muromets gained immense popularity in Russia and was transmitted from one generation of storytellers to another.

Epic stories about Ilya turned out to be relevant ideological material in the XIV century, on the eve of the first victories of Moscow Rus over the khans of the Golden Horde. The tales of that time made a feasible contribution to the nation-wide affair: taking as a basis the ancient masterpieces of poetic creativity, they created a collective image of an invincible heroic squad led by Ilya Muromets as an example for contemporaries still compelled to put up with the Horde yoke.

In the XVI-XVII centuries, an increased interest in the traditions of Ilya Muromets manifested itself in Ukraine, where the popular movement for liberation from Polish domination rose.

In 1643, Ilya Muromets was canonized by the Orthodox Church as a saint. This happened five years before the speech of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, the result of which was the unification of Kiev and Left-Bank Ukraine with a single-faith, fraternal Russia.

P.S.: For a more complete and detailed version of my research on Ilya Muromets, read the online journal Changes,.

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Biography, life story of Ilya Muromets

One of the most frequently mentioned in ancient Russian epics and legends of heroes Ilya Muromets lived in the XI century. It was to this period that the information in the first written evidence of its existence was related. Modern scientific research believed that under this name Ilya Chebotok was hiding, a saint whose relics were stored in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

Children and teenagers

The estimated year of birth of the hero is the 1063rd. Until recently, only speculations existed about the place of birth. The most popular of them is that the epic hero was born in the village of Karacharovo near Murom, or in Karachev near Moroviysk. The second option seemed to many closer to the truth because of the geographical location of the village of Morovsk located on the site of this settlement. It is located next to the road from Chernigov to Kiev. In addition, the local folk epos contained approximately the same information as written sources about Elijah Pechersky, whose relics were used to form modern ideas about Ilya Muromets. They also spoke of parents - father Ivan Timofeevich and mother Efrosinya Yakovlevna.

According to the idea of \u200b\u200ba hero, the epic hero was 1 meter 77 centimeters tall with very large muscle mass. Her presence was determined by the characteristic growths on the bones. An x-ray of the remains revealed the presence of acromegaly and spondylarthrosis. The first causes a disproportionate growth of internal organs and bones, and the second - disrupts the musculoskeletal system. This confirmed the veracity of the information in written sources related to the Middle Ages. They described the appearance of an epic hero, where in addition to high growth for those times, large limbs were noted. In addition, spondylarthrosis responded to treatment even in those times in exactly the same way as today - all that was needed was a good manual therapist. Representatives of this profession, most likely, put the hero on his feet. In ancient Russian scriptures, it was mentioned that the pilgrims visited - "Kaliki". These were the chiropractors who cured the 30-year-old Ilya.

CONTINUED BELOW

Warrior career

At the age of 30, recovering from the disease, he entered the Chernigov prince's squad, taking part in the defense of Chernigov. Having gained combat experience, he went to Kiev. He was taken into the squad, according to the chronicles, after he was able to move the "motionless stone" from its place. As part of the squad, he accomplished his most famous feat.

It's about a fight with the Nightingale the Robber. In the middle of the XII century, trade in Kiev with other cities was disrupted due to the constant attacks of the Polovtsy on caravans. This forced them to be guided by other roads, which increased the path, almost, by half - to "one thousand", according to ancient Russian writings. Prince Mstislav, who was occupying the throne at that time, ordered the protection of trade caravans to be organized, the duties of which, most likely, were assigned to Ilya Muromets. His victory was so significant that the memory of it existed, up to the present day.

Monastery

After the wound, Ilya could no longer be in the service in the squad. In one of the fights, he received a fracture of two ribs and collarbone. All injuries were on the right side, and their nature testified to the fact that the blows were inflicted by a combat club. As a result, the hero would be forced to leave for the monastery, where he lived until his death, tentatively in 1118. Moreover, it was not natural. This was stated in the annals from 1638 of the monk of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra Athanasius of Kalofoysky. He indicated the date of his death as "four hundred and fifty years before." According to modern research, another half a century should have been added to this period. A mistake by the author who worked with poorly preserved tombstones is not ruled out. Other sources testified to the frequent Polovtsian attacks on Kiev at the end of the XI, and not in the first quarter of the XII century. Not only the prince's squad took part in their reflections, but also the civilian population, including monks. This explained the presence on the hero’s body of a stab wound in the region of the heart. His death was not natural. Most likely, he died from her within a few minutes at the age of 40 to 55 years.