View source for Alkonost

{{Short description|Mythical bird from Russian folklore}}
{{refimprove|date=November 2016}}
{{About|Russian mythical creature|the band|Alkonost (band)}}
[[File:Alkonost.svg|thumb|right|[[Ivan Bilibin]]'s ''Alkonost'']]

The '''Alkonost''' is a [[legend]]ary woman-headed bird in [[Slavic folklore]]. Alkonost is more likely an individual character, as was noted in some legends about this bird.<ref name="mythological encyclopedia">{{cite web|url= http://mifologia.osipova-pr.com/soderjanie/slavyane/alkonost|title=Алконост|website=PR in mythology. Electronic encyclopedia}}</ref>

== Folklore ==
The name of the Alkonost came from a [[Greeks|Greek]] demigoddess whose name was [[Alcyone]]. In Greek mythology, Alcyone was transformed by the gods into a [[Halcyon (genus)|kingfisher]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Nina | first=Lena G. | title=Everything Slavic Related | url=http://slavic.tumblr.com/post/3618946836/the-alkonost-is-a-legendary-bird-in-slavic | publisher=self-published | via=Tumblr | format=blog | access-date=2011-05-27 | archive-date=2011-08-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827103151/http://slavic.tumblr.com/post/3618946836/the-alkonost-is-a-legendary-bird-in-slavic | url-status=dead }}{{better source|date=November 2016}}</ref>{{better source|date=November 2016}}

Alkonost makes amazingly beautiful sounds, and those who hear these sounds forget everything they know and want nothing more ever again.<ref>{{cite book|author = Torpie, Kate | year=2007 | title= Groovy Tubes: Mythical Beasts | edition = children's illustrated | series = Groovy Tube Books | asin = B002YX0E8Y | location= Norwalk, CT | publisher=InnovativeKids | pages=23 | url = https://www.amazon.com/Groovy-Tubes-Mythical-Beasts-Books/dp/B002YX0E8Y  | access-date = 18 November 2016 }}{{better source|date=November 2016}}</ref>{{better source|date=November 2016}}<ref name="mythological encyclopedia">{{cite web|url= http://mifologia.osipova-pr.com/soderjanie/slavyane/alkonost|title=Алконост|website=PR in mythology. Electronic encyclopedia}}</ref> She lives in the underworld with her counterpart, the [[Sirin]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=Matthews, John  |author2=Matthews, Caitlin | year=2010 | title= The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A–Z of Fantastic Beings from Myth and Magic| edition = children's illustrated | isbn = 978-0007365050 | location= London | publisher=HarperCollins UK | page= 16 | url = https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0007365055  | access-date = 18 November 2016 }}{{better source|date=November 2016}}</ref>{{better source|date=November 2016}} The Alkonost lays her eggs on a beach and then rolls them into the sea. When the Alkonost's eggs hatch, a [[thunderstorm]] sets in and the sea becomes so rough that it becomes impossible to traverse. She is also the sister of other birds from Slavic mythology, such as [[Rarog]] and Stratim.<ref name="mythological encyclopedia">{{cite web|url= http://mifologia.osipova-pr.com/soderjanie/slavyane/alkonost|title=Алконост|website=PR in mythology. Electronic encyclopedia}}</ref> 

According to folk tales, at the morning of the [[Apple Feast of the Saviour]] day, Sirin flies into the apple [[orchard]] and cries sadly. In the afternoon, the Alkonost flies to this place, beginning to rejoice and laugh. Alkonost brushes dew from her wings, granting healing powers to all fruits on the tree she is sitting on.<ref>{{cite book|last= Bobrov A. A.|title=Русский месяцеслов на все времена. Памятные даты, праздники, обряды, именины|trans-title=Russian months for all time. Memorable dates, holidays, ceremonies, name days|date=2004|publisher=Veche|location=M.|isbn=5-7838-1304-4|language=ru}}</ref>

==Gallery==
{{gallery|mode=packed
|File:Lubok alkonost.JPG|[[Lubok]] picture
|File:Grebnev Alkonost.JPG|Postcard, 1908
|File:Vasnetsov Sirin Alkonost.jpg|[[Viktor Vasnetsov]]'s [[Sirin]] (left) and Alkonost (right) ''Birds of Joy and Sorrow'' (1896)
|File:Будинок Російського селянського(дворянського) банку. Тепер СБУ.JPG|Alkonosts on frontage of the {{Interlanguage link|House of Noble and Peasant Bank|uk|Будинок Дворянського і Селянського банку}} in [[Poltava]], [[Ukraine]] (1906-1909, burned in 1943, restored in 1948)
|File:Ivan Bilibin 099.jpg|A depiction of the Alkonost, by [[Ivan Bilibin]] (1905)}}

==In popular culture==
{{In popular culture|date=March 2022}}
* Alkonost is featured in the digital card game ''Mythgard'' (2019) as a rare minion in the Dreni faction.
* [[Croatian people|Croatian]] singer [[Nina Kraljić]] that performed at the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2016]] sings under the name of Alkonost of Balkan. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://eurosong.hr/objavljen-spot-za-pjesmu-rijeka/nina-kraljic-alkonost-of-balkan/ | title=Nina Kraljić Alkonost of Balkan }}</ref>
* [[Alkonost (band)|Alkonost]] is a Russian epic folk metal band formed in Naberezhnye Chelny, Tatarstan, Russia in 1995.

==See also==
*[[Gamayun]]
*[[Harpy]]
*[[Sirin]]
*[[Uchek Langmeitong]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Commons-inline}}

{{Slavic mythology}}

[[Category:Russian folklore]]
[[Category:Avian humanoids]]
[[Category:Human-headed mythical creatures]]
[[Category:Female legendary creatures]]
[[Category:Slavic legendary creatures]]
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