View source for Vodyanoy

{{Short description|Male water spirit from Slavic mythology}}
{{Redirect|Vodník|other uses|Vodnik (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Vodyanoy.jpg|thumb|''Vodyanoy'' by [[Ivan Bilibin]], 1934]]

In [[Slavic mythology]], '''''vodyanoy''''' ({{lang-rus|водяной|p=vədʲɪˈnoj}}; [[Literal translation|lit.]] '[he] from the water' or 'watery') is a [[water spirit]]. In Czech and Slovak fairy tales, he is called '''''vodník''''' (or in [[Germanized]] form: '''{{lang|de|Hastrman}}'''), and often referred to as ''Wassermann'' in German sources.{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|Or [[Nixie (folklore)|Nix]], Nixe, Nickel, in certain areas, e.g., Sorbian [[Lusatia]].{{sfnp|Černý|1898|pp=264–265}}}} In Ukrainian fairy tales, he is called “водяник“ (vodyanyk).

He may appear to be a naked man with a pot belly (and bald-headed) wearing a hat and belt of [[reed (plant)|reeds]] and [[Rush (plant family)|rushes]], conflicting with other accounts ascribing him green hair and a long green beard. The varying look has been attributed in commentary to his shape-shifting ability. When angered, the vodyanoy breaks dams, washes down water mills, and drowns people and animals. Consequently, fishermen, millers, and also [[Beekeeper|bee-keepers]] make sacrifices to appease him. The vodyanoy would sometimes drag people down to his underwater dwelling to serve him as slaves.

The ''vodník'' in Czechia or Slovakia were said to use colored ribbons (sometimes impersonating peddlers, but also tying them to grass, etc., as lures in the landscape) to attract humans near water in order to snatch them.

== Russia ==
In Russia, the ''vodyanoy'' is  sometimes called the ''{{Transliteration|ru|dedushka vodyanoy}}''{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|The transliteration has been modified from Machal's ''děduška vodyanoy'', in Czech script, to a regular English transliteration, found elsewhere.<ref name="kmietowicz1982"/>}} ({{lang|ru|Дѣдушка-водяной}}, "Water-Grandfather") or ''{{Transliteration|ru|vodyanik}}'' ({{lang|ru|водяник}}).{{sfnp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 236}}<ref name="machal1918"/>

=== Habitat ===
He is said to dwell in a [[Slough (hydrology)|slough]] ({{lang|ru|[[:ru:|омут]]}}), [[kettle hole]] ({{lang|ru|[[:ru:Котловина|Котловина]]}}), or a [[whirlpool]] of a river, pond or lake, and liked especially to live near a [[watermill]]. One that dwells in marshlands may be called a ''[[bolotnik|bolotnyanik]]'' ({{lang|ru|Болотняник}}).{{sfnp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 236}}

=== Appearance ===
[[File:Малышев Водяной 1910.png|thumb|220px|V. Malyshev. Vodyanoy, 1910]]
His usual appearance is that of a naked old man with a fat paunch of a belly and swollen face according to the Russian folklore collector,<ref>{{harvp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 241}}, in {{interlanguage link|Poėtičeskie vozzrenija Slavjan na prirodu |ru|Поэтические воззрения Славян на природу |lt=''Poėtičeskie vozzrenija Slavjan na prirodu''}} ('The Poetic Outlook of Slavs about Nature'): "{{lang|ru|голымъ старикомъ, съ большимъ одутловатымъ брюхомъ и опухшимъ лицомъ}}" where [[wikt:голый]] is glossed as "naked, nude, bare".</ref> but a later English commentary using similar phraseology insisted the creature was not nude but bald, and concatenates additional commentary from the Russian source which says he is seen naked but covered in slime ({{lang|ru|{{linktext|тина}}}}), wearing a high {{interlanguage link|boyar hat|ru|Горлатная шапка|preserve=1|}}) made of green "[[club-rush]]" (or other [[sedges]]){{efn|Afanasyev's text identifies the plant as {{lang|ru|[[:ru:wiktionary|куга]]}} here, defined as aquatic plants of the sedge family, particularly [[:ru:камыш|камыш]], or ''[[Scirpus]]'' spp., with common names "club-rush" or "[[bulrush]]", though the latter applies to several other species. Sedges are not a "[[true grass]]", to be botanically correct here.}} and a green belt of that same "grass".<ref>{{harvp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 243–244}} citing ''[[:ru:Иллюстрация (1845—1849)|Иллюстрация]]'', 1845, p. 298</ref>{{Refn|Máchal: "bald-headed old man  with fat belly and puffy cheeks", wearing "a high cap of reeds on his head, and a belt of rushes round his waist".<ref name="machal1918"/>　A "[[reed (plant)|reed]]" usually refers to a [[true grass]], while a "rush" something the "[[rush (plant family)|rush]]" plant family, though "bulrush" refers to various sedge family plants.}}

He is also described as an old man with green hair and (long<ref name="dixon-kennedy1998"/>) green beard{{Refn|Afanasyev's makes (evidently his own) observation on green hair and beard ({{lang|ru|озеленыхъ волосахъ и бородѣ}}{{sfnp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 244}} Máchal combines description of combing (non color-specified) hair with this latter commentary.<ref name="machal1918"/>}}<ref name="guirand1986"/> The green beard turns white with when the moon wanes, as the immortal Vodyanoy ages or rejuvenates with the [[phases of the moon]].<ref name="guirand1986"/>

Or, rather than wearing plant-based clothing, a different source states he is covered in weeds and slime, and is scaly-skinned in his true form.<ref name="dixon-kennedy1998"/> Or rather a figure of giant stature covered in grass and moss.<ref name="guirand1986"/> Or be "quite black with enormous red eyes and a nose as long as a fisherman's boot".<ref name="guirand1986"/><ref name="kmietowicz1982"/> Or that he is human-faced, but has huge toes, paws instead of hands, long horns, a tail, and eyes that burn like red-hot coals.<ref name="guirand1986"/>{{Refn|Kmietowicz embellishes as "fish's tail".<ref name="kmietowicz1982"/>}}

He has the capability of shape-shifting,<ref name="machal1918"/><ref name="dixon-kennedy1998"/><ref name="guirand1986"/> which has been suggested as an explanation of its varied descriptions.<ref name="kmietowicz1982"/> He may crawl out of water in the dark of the night and comb his (green) hair on shore,<ref name="afanasyev-pp242-3">{{harvp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 242–243}} citing [[Otechestvennye Zapiski|О. З.]] 1848, IV, смѣсь, 145-6; Ѵ, 24 and other sources.</ref><ref name="machal1918"/> but he can also appear in the form of a naked woman combing her hair.<ref name="guirand1986"/> He may be heard all along the shore while he is slapping the water with his palm ({{lang|ru|ладонь}}, or paw<ref name="guirand1986"/>) on moonlit nights.<ref name="afanasyev-pp242-3"/>

He can appear as a giant moss-covered fish,<ref name="guirand1986"/> a log<ref name="dixon-kennedy1998"/> or even a flying tree-trunk with small-wings, skimming over the water's surface.<ref name="guirand1986"/>

=== Offering and boon ===
Since he tampers with the waterwheel, the dikes, or control of water if he is not pleased, an operator of a mill must know how to have a good relationship with him. When a watermill is built, a sacrifice of pig, cattle, sheep, or even human (or a chicken) must be made to appease the vodyanik. There are reported cases of watermills destroyed by him (at [[Lake Ilmen]]<!--dab needed--> for instance), and may drown a person as forewarned.{{sfnp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 237}}<ref name="machal1918"/>

The fisherman can also benefit from the boon of the vodyanoy, receiving a bountiful harvest in their fishing nets.{{efn|Máchal:" When in good humour, he drives the fish into the fisherman's net"; Afanasyev: "{{lang|ru|{{linktext|счастливый улов}}}} (happy catch)".}} He may receive this reward after returning a child which was accidentally netted.<ref>{{harvp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 240}}, with note 3) citing "О. З." abbrev. for ''Отечественныя записки'' (''[[Otechestvennye Zapiski]]'') 1848, IV 145</ref><ref name="dixon-kennedy1998"/> The fishermen offer sacred libation, especially melted butter or oil ({{lang|ru|{{linktext|масло}}}}) into the river.<ref name="machal1918"/>{{sfnp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 237}}{{sfnp|Kravchenko|1987|loc=p. 51, n205}}

There seems to have been a cult recognizing vodyanoy as a patron saint of [[Beekeeping|bee-keeping]], as evidenced by the old custom of bagging the first swarm of bees and sacrificing it in water. And the bee-keeper wishing for a bounty of honey would choose the midnight hour of the feast days of Saints [[Pope Zosimus|Zosimus]] and [[Sabbatius of Solovki|Sabbatius]] and dip a honeycomb into the water by the mill, while pronouncing an incantation.{{sfnp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 238}}

He will also foretell the coming harvest. He comes into the village disguised as human, but the edge of his coat ({{lang|ru|{{linktext|балахон}}}}) will be visibly wet, and gives himself away. If he buys corn (grain) at a high price it forewarns spike in market price, i.e., [[crop failure]]. But if he buys at low price, the bread will remain cheap.{{sfnp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 238}}

=== Mount ===
The vodyanik "owns" all the fish and aquatic creatures, and his control over them explains his ability to deliver fish. The vodyanik selects in particular the sheatfish ({{lang|ru|сом}}; ''[[Wels catfish|Silurus glanis]]'', aka "wels catfish") as his mount to ride on.{{sfnp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 241}}<ref name="machal1918"/> But he will catch the farmers' cattle or horses (in water) and ride them till they drop dead in the wetlands.{{sfnp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 241}}<ref name="machal1918"/> The farmer fording his livestock will make a sign of cross (emblem of Perun's weapon) over the river as protection from this happening.{{sfnp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 241}}

=== Attacks on humans ===
The vodyanoy also posed risk of attacking people entering bodies of water, hence popular belief was to make the [[sign of the cross]] before swimming or bathing in such waters.<ref name="dixon-kennedy1998"/> An anecdote tells about a hunter trying to retrieve his duck, and the attack left the creature's finger-marks on his neck.{{sfnp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 241}} In Ukraine, children were instructed to chant a certain rhyme before going bathing/swimming.{{efn|"{{lang|ru|Чортокъ, чортокъ! /
Не ломай кистòкъ;}}", etc., where {{Transliteration|ru|chortok}} seems to be an appellation (for a demon).}}{{sfnp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 241–242}}

=== Family ===
He is known to take on a wife (or wives), and espouses "water-nymphs{{efn|{{langx|ru|{{linktext|водяной дѣвка}} ({{linktext|девка}})}}, [singular] 'water-maiden'.}}{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|Máchal does not give the Russian forms for his "water-nymphs", and in a later passage glosses "water-nymphs" in Czech as {{lang|cs|vodní panny}} but this is literally 'water maiden' also (cf. Czech ''[[:wikt:panna|panna]]'')<!--aka {{lang|cs|bílé paní}} "White Women"--> However, a different author (of Finnish mythology) in volume 4 of the same series, recognizes the voydynoy's water-nymph as rusalka.<ref>[[Uno Harva|Holmberg, Uno]] (1927) ''The Mythology of All Races'' {{URL|1=https://books.google.com/books?id=wl7XAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA193 |2='''4''': 193}}</ref>}} or drowned and unhappy girls who have been cursed by their fathers or mothers".{{sfnp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 239}}<ref name="machal1918"/> According to [[Alexander Afanasyev|Afanasyev]], the "water-nymph" ("water-maiden") is known by various names in Russia, including the ''[[rusalka]]''.{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|Afanasyev lists the names of the female water sprites as the ''[[moryana]]'' {{lang|ru|[[:ru:Моряна (мифология)|моряна]]}}, the ''{{Transliteration|ru|vodyanitsa}}'' {{lang|ru|Водяница}}, Polish: {{lang|pl|lawodny žony}}, Macedonian/Bulgarian[?]:  ''{{Transliteration|mk|Dunavka}}'' {{lang|mk|дунавка}}, and ''rusalka'' {{lang|ru|русалка}}.}}{{sfnp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 239}}<ref name="machal1918"/>

It is believed that vodyanoys have a ruler: the Tsar Vodyanik, or the Vodyan Tsar. He is described as an old man armed with a [[Club (weapon)|club]], who can rise to the sky sitting on a black cloud and create new rivers and lakes.<ref>{{cite book |last=Levkievskaya |first=Elena |author-link=<!--Elena Levkievskaya--> |title=Myths of the Russian Folk |publisher=Astrel |year=2000 |url=http://www.booksite.ru/fulltext/myt/hsr/uss/kih/index.htm |page=342<!--340–349--> |isbn=5-271-00676-X}}</ref>

== Other folklores ==
[[File:Splav7.JPG|thumb|left|upright|Typical projection of vodník in Czech or Slovak folklore]]

The Russian ''vodyanoy'' answers to [[Czech folklore|Czech]] (and [[Slovak folklore|Slovak]]) ''vodník'',{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|Also in Czech forms {{lang|cs|vodní muž}} "water-man" and diminutive {{lang|cs|vodní mužiček}}; Slovak {{lang|sk|vodný muž}}{{sfnp|Černý|1898|pp=264–265}}}}  [[Slovene folklore|Slovene]] {{lang|sl|vodeni mož}} ("water-man"), and [[Polish folklore|Polish]] ''[[topielec]]'' ("Drowner").<ref name="machal1918"/>

These water demons of West and South Slavic lore are similar to the East Slavic (Russian, Ukrainian, etc.) conception, though there are certain differences. The Czech and Slovak ''vodníci'' (plural of ''vodník'') can also take on an appearance of ordinary humans, but often with water dripping from their clothing, which makes their false identity easily discernable.{{Refn|Grohmann<ref name="prestice-peddler"/> and Polívka{{sfnp|Polívka|1931|p=171}} See §Czech under {{section link||Physical description}} and §Slovakia under {{section link||Appearances}}.}} But their version says the demon, sometimes impersonating peddlers, use colored [[ribbon]]s to lure humans.<ref>{{harvp|Polívka|1921|pp=312–313}}, See §Czech under {{section link||Man-snatching}} and §Slovakia under {{section link||Appearances}}</ref>{{Refn|Afanasyev also notes the ribbon, citing Grohman (in Russian translation[?]),{{sfnp|Afanasyev|1868|loc='''2''': 243}} cf. German version/{{sfnp|Grohmann|1863|p=154}}}} Some accounts give them green color,<ref>"{{lang|de|Der Wassermann als Saft}} [Water demon as nectar]", evidently in the sense of being a [[sugar daddy]] for a mother's enrichment, and "{{lang|de|Der Wassermann und seine Frau}} [~and his wife]", {{harvp|Grohmann|1863|pp=156–157}}</ref> and also long hair or beard in Slovak versions.{{sfnp|Polívka|1922a|p=119}} There is an isolated Czech example of the water-demon being human-like but transforming into frog,{{Refn|{{harvp|Grohmann|1863|p=151}} , cf. §Czech under {{section link||as Frog}}.}} but the water-demon's wife being froglike is [[Literary topos|commonplace]]. A widely known tale type of ''vodník'' or wife hiring a woman as [[Godparent|godmother]] or housekeeper tale is found in Czech<ref name="miksicek1874"/> and Slovak versions.{{Refn|While the Liduška story with the frog wife given by Mikšíček is supposedly Czech,<ref name="miksicek1874"/> Grohmann offers a cognate tale with no frog wife but the waterman himself,<ref name="grohmann-wohnung"/> while the "frog wife" version in Slovak (localized at [[Hron]] river) is given by Polívka, who notes it is widespread.}}{{Refn|{{harvp|Polívka|1922a|p=121}}, cf. §Slovakia under {{section link||Frog wives}}.}}

Czech, Slovenian and Slovak tales have both evil and good watermen (relative to human beings) who do (or don't, respectively) try to drown people when they happen to swim in their territory. Vodníci would store the souls of the drowned inside pots,{{sfnp|Grohmann|1863|p=149}}{{sfnp|Polívka|1931|p=171}} and the liberated souls can ascend to heaven, or even revive.{{sfnp|Polívka|1922a|p=121}}<ref name="miksicek2014"/>

{{citation needed span|Except for fish (or perhaps fish spirits), they do not have servants. Otherwise, vodníci spend their time running their territory or – in their spare time – playing cards, smoking pipes or just sitting at the water surface (on rocks or willows nearby) and loitering. Fishermen ask the vodník for help by placing a pinch of [[tobacco]] in the water and saying, "Here's your tobacco, Lord Vodník, now give me a fish."|date=July 2024}}

== Czechia==
[[File:Alois Jirásek sborník I-p308-vodník.jpg|thumb|Vodník{{right|{{small|―Illustr. [[Mikoláš Aleš]] (1921)}}}}]]
The Bohemian male water demon came to be called ''vodník'' or {{lang|de|Hastermann}}, but their ancient names have not been found in older sources.{{sfnp|Grohmann|1863|p=148}} It dwells in every river, stream, or pond. Though several may share a body of water, they keep themselves apart since they are antagonistic towards each other.{{sfnp|Grohmann|1863|pp=148–149}} Sometimes the ''vodník'' enters into a loving relationship with a human woman, and will live together with the family he has formed, but otherwise the bachelors are solitary.{{sfnp|Grohmann|1863|p=149}} Those in the pond are considered more feral, living amongst the reeds, but those in the river are believed to live in crystal palaces in a whole expansive world found underwater, where they keep the souls of the drowned dead, inside pots.<ref>{{harvp|Grohmann|1863|p=149}} and "Die Wohnung des Hastermanns",{{harvp|Grohmann|1863|pp=160–162}}</ref>

There are also a tale and a legend concerning the ''hastermann'' or ''vodnik'' living near mills.<ref>"Der Hastermann in der Mühle"{{harvp||Grohmann|1863|pp=158–160}}</ref><ref>Jungbunzlau legend/rumor, {{harvp|Grohmann|1863|pp=156–157}}</ref>

=== Physical description ===
[[File:Nové Město nad Metují Peklo 2011 2.jpg|thumb|Czech vodník statue {{right|{{small|—at {{interlanguage link|Peklo (Jestřebí)|cs|lt=Peklo}}<!--[[:cs:Peklo (Nové Město nad Metují)]] redirects to [[:cs:Peklo (Jestřebí)]]--> on the outskirts north of [[Nové Město nad Metují]] and [[Jestřebí (Náchod District)|Jestřebí]], [[Náchod District]] in the northern Czech Republic. By {{interlanguage link|Josef Marek (sculptor)|cs|Josef Marek (sochař)|lt=Josef Marek}} (1960)}}<ref name="NMnM-museum2017"/>}}]]

The net-casting ''vodník'' (cf. {{section link||Man-snatching}} below) is described as a green man, and comes out of the water combing his green hair on a day he does not hunt drowning victims.{{sfnp|Grohmann|1863|p=149}} But in several accounts he manifests himself as an ordinary human being (cf. {{section link||As frogs}}), or the peddler by the pond north of [[Přeštice]], wearing a dripping wet coat.<ref name="prestice-peddler">Informant: J. Gruber aus Merklin ([[Merklín (Karlovy Vary District)|Merklín]]), {{harvp|Grohmann|1863|p=150}} The tale states starting from Merklín the pond is in the area around Přeštice, i.e., north of it.</ref> He is known as the "green man" at the market, appearing like an ordinary man wearing a green coat, with the left coat-tip ({{lang|cs|[[:cs:wikt:šos|šos]]}}) always wet, and also missing the thumb on his left hand. The merchants welcome him because when he makes purchases, business does well.<ref name="erben_etal1874-erben">{{harvp|Erben et al.|1874}}, pp. 4–6, portion undersigned K. J. Erben.</ref>

=== Man-snatching ===
The ''vodník'' lures people into the water to drown them, and those who bathe after hours are especially vulnerable, but he can only drown those who were fated to die that way.{{sfnp|Grohmann|1863|p=149}} Fishermen were afraid of saving a drowning man from the clutches of a vodník, because they would come in a bad way and wind up being drowned themselves.<ref>{{harvp|Grohmann|1863|pp=155–156}}, lore of Jungbunzlau ([[Mladá Boleslav]]).</ref>{{sfnp|Košťál|1892|p=52}}

In one version the water demon spans a fine invisible net across the river to trap people. But he sits in the grass mending his nets on Friday, his day off from man-snatching.{{sfnp|Grohmann|1863|p=149}}

The peddler ''vodník'' displays some sort of trinkets hanging on a rack in order to lure his prey into water.<ref name="prestice-peddler"/> Most especially the peddler ({{lang|cs|kramář}}) ''vodník'' uses the colorful [[ribbon]] ({{langx|cs|stuha}}, pl. {{lang|cs|stuhy}}; {{lang|cs|pentle}} or its dim. {{lang|cs|pentlička}}{{sfnp|Polívka|1921|pp=312–313}}{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|{{lang|cs|stužka}}, diminutive of ''stuha'' occurs in Slovak tales of tale with the butcher ({{langx|sk|mäsiar}}).<ref name="slovak-butcher"/> And in the Liduška story, the ''{{langx|cs|{{linktext|mašle}}}}''<ref name="miksicek2014"/> signifies "ribbon" (cog. German {{lang|de|{{linktext|Masche}}}}), though translated as "flower".<ref name="miksicek1874"/>}} to lure humans, according to numerous accounts.<ref>{{harvp|Polívka|1921|pp=312–313}}, mostly localized in Czech regions, e.g. [[Nasavrky]], {{interlanguage link|Moravian Záhoří|cs|Moravské Záhoří}} (''[[:cs:Záhorská kronika|Záhorská kronika]]'') are named, and in Moravia the hastrmann displaying fancy beaded ribbons ({{lang|cs|pentličky}}) occurs. Some Slovak examples are given also.</ref><ref>Polívka's list also includes Grohmann's tale ({{harvp|Grohmann|1863|p=154}}) localized at dam at [[Veltrusy]], Bohemia, where the  ''hastermann'' [sic.] displayed red and yellow ''[[:wikt:Masche|Maschen]]'' (ribbons) on a green little branch.</ref> In {{interlanguage link|Podskalí (Praha)|cs|Podskalí (Praha)|lt=Podskalí}} Quarter of Prague, the vodník was seen on a raft ({{lang|cs|vor}}, pl. locative ''vorách'') in the evenings, and he hangs a red ribbons<!--({{lang|cs|pentličky}})--> over the water to lure children and drag them down.{{Refn|Erben, posthumous (1874),<ref name="erben_etal1874-erben"/> also cited as "Slavia I, seš. 3, str. 4".{{sfnp|Polívka|1921|p=312}}}} A vodník in the guise of a red-haired man wearing green peddled green ribbons to a village woman, but the goods turned into grass when she returned home.{{Refn|Concerns a village woman from {{interlanguage link|Balda, Czech|cs|Balda}} near [[Polička]]. ''Slavia'' '''3''': 8,<ref name="erben_etal1874-woldrziski">{{harvp|Erben et al.|1874}}, p. 8, portion undersigned Julius Woldrziski</ref> also cited by {{harvp|Košťál|1892|pp=53–54}}.}}

The ''vodník'' or ''hastrmann'' maintains a collection of captured souls inside pots in his underwater palace or mansion, as in the tale localized in Moldautein ([[Týn nad Vltavou]]), here specified as "earthenware" ({{langx|de|irdenen}}) pots also filled with water. Here a poor day-laborer woman's eldest daughter becomes the Hastermann's servant, and when she sweeps, the dust she collects is gold. She liberates a soul from a noisy jar, which turns out to be her brother. She is forgiven, but after serving many years, homesickness hardens her decision to flee, and she frees all the souls on departure. The hastrmann pursues but she returns home to her siblings.<ref name="grohmann-wohnung">"Die Wohnung des Hastermanns",　{{harvp|Grohmann|1863|pp=160–162}}, citing Vernaleken, ''Mythen und Bräuche'', p. 178.</ref>{{efn|Compare basic plotline with godmother Liduška story below,<ref name="miksicek1874"/> and the Grimms'  "Der Wassermann und der Bauer", listed as a German Bohemian tale, taken down orally.<ref name=grimms-wassermann/><ref name="thirlwall1859"/>}}

=== As frogs ===
In a Bohemian version of the butcher tale,{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|There is a similarly plotted Slovak tale ("Vodník u mäsiara"), except there is no frog metamorphosis that occurs, and the butcher meets his doom being pushed into a [[water tank]] during the rain.<ref name="slovak-butcher">{{harvp|Polívka|1931|p=171}}, citing ''Časopise Muzeálnej slovenskej spoločnosti'' [J. Slovak Museum Society] VII, 92, version from Ašakert, [[Nyitra County]] (now [[Nové Sady, Slovakia|Nové Sady]]), [[Nitra District]]). Also {{harvp|Polívka|1922a|p=120}}.<!--but cited source differs (erroneous?--></ref>}} a man from [[Předměřice nad Jizerou|Předměřice]] was really a vodník, regularly shopping from a butcher at [[Tuřice]], but the out-of-town man's habit of pointing the finger at the piece of meat he wanted annoyed the butcher into cutting a finger off one day. But two days later, he was taking the valley path along the Iser ([[Jizera (river)|Jizera]]) and encountered a huge frog which the curious butcher, but it turned into the client he maimed and dragged the butcher into water.<ref>Informant: J. Kraus aus Luschteniß (from [[Luštěnice]]),{{harvp|Grohmann|1863|p=151}}</ref>

{{interlanguage link|Matěj Mikšíček|cz}} recorded a tale about the pregnant wife of a vodník ({{lang|cs|vodníkova žena}}) in frog form, which compelled a housekeeper named Liduška to be its child's godmother, though this tale type has been discussed elsewhere as a widely disseminated piece of Slovak folklore (see {{section link||Frog wives}} under §Slovakia). In this [[Moravia]]n version (but recorded in [[Bohemian language|Bohemian dialect]][?]), the vodník returns from his absence in the guise of a red ribbon ({{lang|cs|červené mašle}}),{{efn|Though renderd as "red flower" by the English translator.}} attempting to lure and snatch Liduška, just as he is wont to do with girls with rakes [[haymaking]] on meadows by the river.<ref name="miksicek2014"/><ref name="miksicek1874"/>

But in Jungbunzlau ([[Mladá Boleslav]]) it was rumored the water demon maintained two castles on the Iser ([[Jizera (river)|Jizera]]), one by the mill, and other by the brickhouse. At mill was seen a vodník who was completely green, and covered with filamentous [[green algae]];{{efn|German text {{lang|de|Wasserfänden}} lit. "water-threads", glossed as ''[[Conferva]]'' sp. of algae.}} at the other abode was seen the vodník's wife, half maiden, half fish.<ref>{{harvp|Grohmann|1863|pp=156–157}} "{{lang|de|Der Wassermann und seine Frau}}". Informant: Ad. Bloch aus Jungbunzlau</ref>

== Slovakia ==
In Slovakia, the same water demon may be called {{lang|sk|vodný chlap}} meaning "water guy" or "waterman".{{sfnp|Polívka|1921|p=312}} The water spirit may also be called  a {{lang|sk|molek}}{{sfnp|Košťál|1892|p=52}} (var. {{lang|sk|molok}}{{Refn|Kálal dictionary,<ref name="kalal1923"/> cited by Valentsova.<ref name="valentsova2019"/>}}). There is a story of a localized in a lake in the forest of [[Dolný Kubín District|Dolný Kubín]] in [[Orava (region)|Orava]], where a peasant encounters a waterman (from a lake in [[Kriváň (village)]]) pursuing another waterman who stole his wife, guiding him to the lake of the perpetrator. The peasant watches as an underwater fight ensues, culminating in bubbling froth turning red, signaling a bad outcome, and the peasant flees as forewarned.<ref>"a) {{lang|sk|Zápas jedného Vodníka s druhým}} [Bout between a vodník and another]" {{harvp|Polívka|1931|pp=169–170}}</ref>{{sfnp|Polívka|1922a|p=119}}

Slovakian folklore also speak of the vodník's pot ({{lang|sk|vodníkove hrnce}}), attested in the former [[Trencsén County]] (now [[Trenčín Region]] or [[Trenčín District|District]]), and anecdotally, in the northwestern village of {{ill|Boky, Slovakia|lt=Boky|sk|Boky}} (now attached to [[Budča]]) a stream was home to a {{lang|sk|vodný}} ("aquatic" man) who purchased pots<!--paying with Kreuzers? krajciari>grajciar--> to trap souls inside.{{sfnp|Polívka|1931|p=171}}

=== Appearances ===
Also according to Boky lore, the vodník had a long beard, and would be naked one moment, then be wearing a blouse ({{lang|sk|halena}}) dripping water from its side.<ref>{{harvp|Polívka|1931|p=171}}; {{harvp|Polívka|1922a|p=119}}, citing MS. {{interlanguage link|Jozef Ľudovít Holuby|sk|lt=J. Ľ. Holuby}}, p. 39, version by Geľka.</ref> Some say a vodník can be identified because the left side of his coat ({{lang|sk|kabát}}) is always dripping wet.<ref>{{harvp|Polívka|1931|p=171}}; {{harvp|Polívka|1922a|p=120}}, citing Procházka, p. 66 (Trencsén County≈[[Trenčín Region]]).</ref> Some ascribe long flowing hair,<ref>{{harvp|Polívka|1931|p=171}}; {{harvp|Polívka|1922a|p=119}}, citing MS. J. Ľ. Holuby, p. 119, "vodník of [[Drietoma]]"</ref> or blazing eyes as large as [[Plate (dishware)|dishes]] ({{lang|sk|tanier}}).<ref>{{harvp|Polívka|1931|p=171}}; {{harvp|Polívka|1922a|p=119}}, citing MS. J. Ľ. Holuby, p. 84</ref> It allegedly appeared out of the stream in the form of a "little green boy"<!--malý zelený chlapec-->, according to one witness.<ref>{{harvp|Polívka|1931|p=171}}; {{harvp|Polívka|1922a|p=119}}, citing MS. J. Ľ. Holuby, p. 134. Seen by a beggar named Drdoš in the {{interlanguage link|Kopanice (region)|sk|Kopanice (región)|lt=Kopanice region}}</ref>

The boatmen on the [[Váh]] claim to have witnessed the vodník looking like a man with the head of a black ram<!--čiernemu baranovi-->, though another that was spotted had green hair and clothing<!--zelené vlasy a rúcho-->.<ref>{{harvp|Polívka|1931|pp=172–173}}; {{harvp|Polívka|1922a|p=120–121}}, citing Tovaryšstvo, III, p. 277</ref>

The vodník are said to employ ribbons to lure humans (as in Czech regions), according to lore found in the [[Bratislava]] area and [[Nitra]] in western Slovakia.{{sfnp|Polívka|1921|p=313}}{{sfnp|Polívka|1922a|p=120}}

=== Frog wives ===
The wife of a vodník ({{lang|sk|vodníkova žena}}) is said to have the appearance of a frog. There is an anecdote of one that transformed into a frog and went to the home of the [[plowman]] ({{lang|sk|{{linktext|oráč}}}}) where it was feasted, then entertained him in her own abode.<ref>{{harvp|Polívka|1931|p=173}}; {{harvp|Polívka|1922a|p=121}}, citing Procházka, pp. 65–66,</ref> In a more intricate but widespread tale, the froglike being with a swollen belly is met by a woman washing in the river [[Hron]], who offers to be the godmother of the unborn child. A servant (drowned man) arrives with news a girl was born, and conveys the godmother to the vodník's home, hidden under the stairs beneath river boulder, which the man splits open with a magic wand. The vodník's wife instructs the woman to sweep and take home the sweepings (which later turn out to be gold and silver), but not to touch the covered pots.{{efn|pl. ''hrnce'', of {{linktext|hrnec}}.}} The godmother disobeys and overturns a pot revealing a soul had been captured inside. Then in a double pot she finds the soul of her two drowned children, who tells her they were thus captured by the vodník and could not ascend to heaven. She takes her children's souls in the pot and makes an escape; thereafter, the river throws up the children's bodies, and they breathe back to life.<ref>{{harvp|Polívka|1931|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=kU3RAAAAMAAJ&q=Hrone 173]}}; {{harvp|Polívka|1922a|p=121}} citing ''Sborník Muzeálnej slovenskej spoločnosti'' I, 38–39, n°33, a version of "Vodníkova žena v Hrone".</ref>

This tale type is classed as [[Aarne–Thompson–Uther Index|ATU]] subtype{{efn|Subtype of ATU 476 "Coal Turns into Gold"}} 476* "In the Frog House", where the type example is a Hungarian folktale, which was incorrectly given as the only variant in the original 1961 publication of the index, but later revised<ref name="almqvistl2008"/> with the listing of Bulgarian and Polish cognate tales, and Slovene and other comparisons as well.<ref name="uther2004"/><ref name="gasparikova1986"/>

== Companion spirits ==

=== Bolotnik ===
{{Main|Bolotnik}}
Bolotnik ({{langx|ru|болотник}}) is the owner of the swamp. He is often considered a relative of the vodyanoy and the [[leshy]]. There are many descriptions of him, but most often he was imagined as an old man with long green beard and his body covered in fish scales and algae. The bolotnik is dangerous, and he would pose an especially huge threat to those who play shepherd's pipe at night. In order to lure the person to the swamp, he would parody the sounds of various animals, create wandering lights and grow intoxicating plants. This spirit is often said to be a loner, although in some beliefs he has a wife, a bolotnitsa.<ref name="bestiary">{{cite web |url=https://www.bestiary.us/bolotnik# |title=Болотник |trans-title=Bolotnik |website=Bestiary.us |language=ru}}</ref>

=== Vodyanitsa ===
Vodyanitsa ({{langx|ru|водяница}}) is a beautiful green-haired water maiden, and she is often said to be the wife of a vodyanoy. This spirit sometimes appears in the form of a golden-finned fish or a white swan. '''Vodyanitsy''' (plural: {{langx|ru|водяницы}}) prefer forested lakes, mill ponds, wells and (less commonly) seas as their habitat. They are considered harmless spirits, although sometimes they tear the nets and spoil the millstones; the sea vodyanitsy are more aggressive than freshwater ones and are dangerous to ships. According to some beliefs, the main difference between the vodyanitsa and other water spirits is that she is a baptized drowned girl.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://afield.org.ua/ist/sl_m2.html |script-title=ru:"Женские персонажи славянской мифологии" |title="Zhenskiye personazhi slavyanskoy mifologii" |trans-title=Female characters of Slavic mythology |language=ru}}</ref> The term is often used synonymously for ''rusalka''.<ref name="mifolog">{{cite web |url= http://mifolog.ru/mythology/item/f00/s04/e0004002/index.shtml |title=Русалки (купалки, водяницы, лоскотухи) |trans-title= Rusalki (kupalki, vodyanitsy, loskotukhi) |website=Mythological encyclopedia |language=ru}}</ref>

== Cultural references ==

* The first Slovene [[ballad]], written in 1826 by the Slovene national poet [[France Prešeren]], was titled "[[The Water Man]]" ({{lang|sl|Povodni mož}}). It is about Urška, a flirt from [[Ljubljana]], who ended up in the hands of a handsome man who turned out to be a vodyanoy. The poem is based on a story from ''[[The Glory of Carniola]]'', about a dance at [[Old Square (Ljubljana)|Old Square]] in Ljubljana in July 1547, when Urška Šefer was enchanted by a vodyanoy and tugged to the [[Ljubljanica]].<ref name="bajec1939"/><!--Prešeren wrote it due to his unfulfilled love towards Zalika Dolenc. In the first publication of the poem, the flirt was named Zalika.-->
* Composer [[Antonín Dvořák]] wrote a [[symphonic poem]] entitled ''[[The Water Goblin|Vodník]]'' (1896) about this creature, who is also a character in his opera ''[[Rusalka (opera)|Rusalka]]''.
* [[Karel Jaromír Erben]]'s poem "Vodník" is the ninth poem of his ''[[Kytice]]'' collection, and inspired Dvořák to compose the above-mentioned symphonic poem.
* The 1974 Czechoslovak comedy film about the end of vodníks in Bohemia, ''[[How to Drown Dr. Mracek, the Lawyer]]'' (''Jak utopit dr. Mráčka aneb Konec vodníků v Čechách'').
* David Wiltshire's novel ''Child of Vodyanoi'' (1978, adapted into the TV series ''[[The Nightmare Man (TV series)|The Nightmare Man]]'') used the water spirit as a metaphor for a miniature Russian submarine.
* Vodyanoy is one of the best known characters of the Soviet cartoons. In the Soviet animated film ''The Flying Ship'' (1979), he sings about his loneliness and need to talk with someone.
* A vodyanoi named Hwiuur features in [[C. J. Cherryh]]'s Russian novel trilogy, ''[[Rusalka (novel)|Rusalka]]'' (1989), ''[[Chernevog]]'' (1990), and ''[[Yvgenie]]'' (1991).
* In [[China Miéville]]'s [[Bas-Lag]] novels, the Vodyanoi are an aquatic people skilled in water-based magic. In Miéville's ''[[Perdido Street Station]]'' (2000), Vodyanoi dockworkers go on strike and use their magic to blockade a river shipping route.
* An aging vodnik is the main character of the novel ''Hastrman'' by Czech writer [[Miloš Urban]] published in 2001. The novel won the [[Magnesia Litera]] prize for literature in 2002. A Czech film based on the first part of the novel was produced in 2018.
* Vodnik is the main character in the 2013 thriller ''Croaker'', written and directed by Pittsburgh area filmmaker Fred Terling.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Axelrad |first=Jacob |author-link=<!--Jacob Axelrad / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette--> |title=Canonsburg abuzz over horror movie
|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=7 June 2013 |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/movies/canonsburg-abuzz-over-horror-movie-690709/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621025623/http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/movies/canonsburg-abuzz-over-horror-movie-690709/ |archive-date=2013-06-21}}</ref>
* A Vodyanoy features early in [[Larry Correia]]'s 2017 novel ''Monster Hunter Siege''.
* A Vodník appeared as an antagonist in episode 3 of the animated Netflix series ''[[Legend Quest (2017 TV series)|Legend Quest]]'', where it terrorized a village by stealing the souls of children.
* A Vodyanoy is a spirit partner to a Russian shaman named Zria Gagarik in the manga and anime series ''[[Shaman King]]''.
* ''The Ghosts of Rose Hill'' features a vodnik named Rudolf Wasserman as its primary antagonist.

=== In games ===
* The Vodyanoi appears as a monster in ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''.<ref>The 1st Edition ''Dungeons & Dragons Fiend Folio'', p.&nbsp;93.</ref> It is described as a variety of [[List of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition monsters#Umber hulk|Umber hulk]].
* ''[[The Witcher (video game)|The Witcher]]'' video game (2007)<!--, based on the Polish book series ''[[The Witcher]]'' by [[Andrzej Sapkowski]],--> portrays a race of water creatures called the vodyanoi, also known as the Fishpeople. Drowners are also referred to as Vodniks.
* Vodyanoy appears as a playable dragon in the 2018 [[Nintendo]] game ''[[Dragalia Lost]]''.
* A Water-attribute monster called the Vodianoi appears in the 2003 [[FromSoftware]] game ''[[Lost Kingdoms II]]''.
* A ship called ''Vodianoy'' entered ''[[Call of Duty: Warzone]]'' at the start of Season 2, bringing zombies to Warzone once more, and potentially hinting at the oncoming destruction of Gora Dam.
* Vodyanoi are depicted as small winged frog monsters in ''[[Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader]]''. They are commonly found near the coast and rivers.
* In ''[[Kingdom Come: Deliverance II]]'', there is a side-quest in which the player may find the rumored treasure hoard of a vodník. In the English localization it is referred to as a "water goblin".
* In ''[[Warframe]]'' there is a character named ''Victor Vodyanoi'' who works with ''Neci [[Rusalka]]''. They seem to be the leaders of the Scaldra faction as introduced in the [[Warframe#1999|Warframe 1999]] update

== See also ==
* [[Bolotnik]] 
* [[Grindylow]]
* [[Kappa (folklore)]]
* [[Lazavik]]
* [[Merman]]
* [[Sea Tsar]]
* [[Su iyesi]]
* [[Topielec]]
* [[Nixie (folklore)|Nixie]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist|2|refs=
<ref name="almqvistl2008">{{cite book|last=Almqvist |first=Bo |author-link=Bo Almqvist |chapter=Midwife to the Fairies (ML 5070) in Icelandic Tradition |editor-last=Gunnell |editor-first=Terry Gunnell |editor-link=<!--Terry Gunnell-->|title=Legends and Landscape: Articles Based on Plenary Papers from the 5th Celtic-Nordic-Baltic Folklore Symposium, Reykjavík, 2005 |publisher=University of Iceland Press |year=2008 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=88cnAQAAIAAJ&q=%22In+the+Frog+house%22 |page=276<!---209–279-->|isbn=<!--9979548061, -->9789979548065}}; {{URL|1=https://www.academia.edu/2993275/Legends_and_Landscape_Plenary_Papers_from_the_5th_Celtic_Nordic_Baltic_Folklore_Symposium |2=fulltext}} @ academia.edu</ref>

<ref name="bajec1939">{{cite book|last=Bajec  |first=Anton |author-link=:sl:Anton Bajec |title=Slovenska čitanka za tretji [in] četrti razred srednjih in sorodnih šol |volume=1 |publisher=Banovinska zaloga šolskih knjig in učil|year=1939|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HbERAQAAMAAJ&q=Šefer-jeva |page=58}}</ref>

<ref name="dixon-kennedy1998">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Dixon-Kennedy |first=Mike |author-link=<!--Mike Dixon-Kennedy--> |entry=Vodianoi (~nik) ''Russia'' |title=Encyclopedia of Russian and Slavic Myth and Legend |place=Santa Barbara, California |publisher=ABC-CLIO |date=1998 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S73OEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA305 |pages=304–305 |isbn=<!--1-57607-063-8, -->9781576070635}}</ref>

<ref name="gasparikova1986">{{citation|last=Gašparíková |first=Viera |author-link=:uk:Вера Гашпарікова |chapter=A szlovák-magyar kapcsolatok tükröződése a népmesemondásban |title=A III. Békéscsabai Nemzetközi Néprajzi Nemzetiségkutató Konferencia előadásai: (1985. október 2-4.) |place=Budapest-Békéscsaba |publisher=Művelődési Minisztérium Nemzetiségi Önálló Osztálya |year=1986 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mTjeLkhzlesC&q=%22Frog%27s+House%22 |page=166<!--162–169--> |language=hu}}</ref>

<ref name=grimms-wassermann>{{cite wikisource |editor=Brüder Grimm |chapter=52. Der Wassermann und der Bauer |wslink=Der Wassermann und der Bauer |plaintitle=[[Deutsche Sagen]] |edition=1st |year=1816 |publisher=Nicolai |chapter-url=https://de.wikisource.org/wiki/Der_Wassermann_und_der_Bauer |pages=67–68 |wslanguage=de}}</ref>

<ref name="guirand1986">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Guirand |first=Félix |author-link=<!--Félix Guirand--> |others=In collaboration with [[Grigory Aleksinsky]].<!--orig. title ''Mythologie générale'' "avec la collab. de G. Alexinsky", specific identity verified by VIAF--> Translated by [[Richard Aldington|Aldington, Richard]]; [[Delano Ames|Ames, Delano]] |title=New Larousse encyclopedia of mythology |place=New York |publisher=Crescent Books |date=1986 |orig-date=1959 |url=https://archive.org/details/newlarousseencyc00robe/mode/2up?q=Vodyanoi |page=292 |isbn=}}</ref>

<ref name="kalal1923">{{cite dictionary|editor1-last=Kálal |editor1-first=Karel |editor1-link=:sk:Karel Kálal |editor2-last=Kálal |editor2-first=Miroslav |editor2-link=<!--Miroslav Kálal--> |entry=molok |title=Slovenský slovník z literatúry aj nárečí |place=Banská Bystrica |publisher=K. Kálal<!--Nákladom vlastným self-pub--> |date=1923 |entry-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CIs4AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA340 |page=340 |lang=sk}}</ref>

<ref name="kmietowicz1982">{{cite book|last=Kmietowicz |first=Frank A. |author-link=<!--Frank A. Kmietowicz--> |title=Slavic Mythical Beliefs |place=Windsor, Ontario |publisher=F. Kmietowicz |date=1982 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uBkRAQAAIAAJ&q=vodyanik |page=205 |isbn=}}</ref>

<ref name="machal1918">{{cite wikisource|last=Máchal |first=Jan Hanuš |author-link=:cs:Jan Hanuš Máchal  |chapter=Chapter IX. Water-Spirits |title=The Mythology of All Races (vol. 3, Slavic) |place=Boston |publisher=Marshall Jones |year=2018 |wslink=The Mythology of All Races/Volume 3/Slavic/Part 1/ |chapter-url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Mythology_of_All_Races/Volume_3/Slavic/Part_1/Chapter_9|pages=270–271}}</ref>

<ref name="miksicek1874">{{cite wikisource|last=Mikšíček |first=Matěj |author-link=:cs:Matěj Mikšíček |others=Translated by John Theophilus Naaké |chapter=Lidushka and the Water Demon's Wife (from the Bohemian) |title=Slavonic Fairy Tales |publisher=Henry S. King |date=1874 |chapter-url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Slavonic_Fairy_Tales/Lidushka_and_the_Water_Demon%27s_Wife |wslink=Slavonic_Fairy_Tales |page= |isbn=<!--8074627594, -->9788074627590}}</ref>

<ref name="miksicek2014">{{cite book|last=Mikšíček |first=Matěj |author-link=:cs:Matěj Mikšíček |chapter=Vodníkova Žena |title=Moravské národní pohádky |publisher=Jota |date=2014 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=diq2DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT32 |page=205 |isbn=<!--8074627594, -->9788074627590}}</ref>

<ref name="NMnM-museum2017">{{citation|last=Kuřátková |first=Petra |author-link=<!--Petra Kuřátková--> |title=Peklo (pamphlet) |publisher= Nové Město nad Metují Municipal Museum |date=2017 |url=https://www.kampocesku.cz/jpg/files_ic/98_nmnm_peklo.pdf |page= }}</ref>

<ref name="thirlwall1859">{{cite journal|last=Thirlwall  |first=Connop |author-link=Connop Thirlwall |author-mask=Thirlwall, Connop, Bishop  |title=X. On Some Traditions Relating to the Submersion of Ancient Cities  |journal=Transactions of the Royal Society of Literature of the United Kingdom |volume=6 |series=second series |year=1859 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NUFOAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA406 |page=406<!--387–415-->}}</ref>

<ref name="uther2004">{{citation|last=Uther |first=Hans-Jörg |author-link=Hans-Jörg Uther |chapter=476* In the Frog's House |title=The Types of International Folktales: Animal tales, tales of magic, religious tales, and realistic tales, with an introduction |publisher=Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia, Academia Scientiarum Fennica |year=1928 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HVQsAQAAIAAJ |page=280 |series=FF communications 284}}</ref>

<ref name="valentsova2019">{{cite book|last=Valentsova |first=Marina M. |author-link=<!--Marina M. Valentsova Валенцова, Марина Михайловна--> |chapter=Slovak mythological vocabulary on the Common Slavic background: Ethno-linguistic aspect |editor-last=Lajoye |editor-first=Patrice |editor-link=Patrice Lajoye |title=New Researches on the religion and mythology of the Pagan Slavs |place=Lisieux |publisher=Lingva |date=2019 |url=https://www.academia.edu/39784546 |page=115<!--99–125-->|isbn=}}</ref>

}}

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* {{Cite journal|last=Košťál |first=Josef |author-link=:cs:Josef Košťál |title=Vodník v podání lidu českého |journal=Český lid: Etnologický časopis |volume=1 |date=1892 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOqITm7xdPAC&pg=PA52 |pages=52–58 |language=cs}}
* {{Cite book |last=Kravchenko |first=Maria |author-link=<!--Maria Kravchenko--> |title=The World of the Russian Fairy Tale |publisher=P. Lang |date=1987  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fce0AAAAIAAJ&q=vodynoi |page= |isbn=<!--3261036729,--> 9783261036728}}
* {{Cite book |last=Polívka |first=Jiří |author-link=Jiří Polívka (linguist) |chapter=Podklad lidových bájí v Jiráskově „Lucerně"  |editor-last=Hýsek |editor-first=Miloslav |editor-link=:cs:Miloslav Hýsek |title=Alois Jirásek: sborník studií a vzpomínek na počest jeho sedmdesátých narozenin |volume=1 |place=Prague |publisher=J. Otto |date=1921 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hLIiAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA305 |pages=305–323|language=cs}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Polívka |first=Jiří |author-link=Jiří Polívka (linguist) |title=Du surnaturel dans les contes slovaques: Les êtres surnaturels |journal=Revue des études slaves |volume=2 |number=1–2 |date=1922a<!--1922b is vol. 2, fascicle 3–4 pp. 256-271, subtitled ": Les êtres doués de pouvoirs surnaturels" --> |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L758A2QuvpoC&pg=RA1-PA120 |pages=104–124 |doi=10.3406/slave.1922.1030 |language=fr}}
* {{Cite book |last=Polívka |first=Jiří |author-link=Jiří Polívka (linguist) |chapter=149. Povesti bájeslovné: K) O Vodníkovi |title=Súpis slovenských rozprávok |volume=5 |place=Martin |publisher=Matica slovenská |date=1931 |chapter-url=https://zlatyfond.sme.sk/dielo/5025/Polivka_Povesti/2#ftn.d56e940 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kU3RAAAAMAAJ&q=vodn%C3%ADk|pages=305–323|language=sk}}
* {{Cite book |last=Rose |first=Carol |author-link=<!--Carol Rose (author)--> |year= 2001 |title=Giants, Monsters, and Dragons |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GKrACS_n86wC&dq=vodyanoy&pg=PA384 |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |page=384 |isbn= 978-0-393-32211-8}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Wikisource-inline|Slavonic Fairy Tales/Lidushka and the Water Demon's Wife|Lidushka and the Water Demon's Wife}}

{{Slavic mythology}}
{{Fairies}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Monsters]]
[[Category:Piscine and amphibian humanoids]]
[[Category:Slavic legendary creatures]]
[[Category:Slavic paganism]]
[[Category:Slavic tutelary deities]]
[[Category:Water spirits]]
[[Category:Frogs in culture]]
[[Category:Nixies (folklore)]]