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Leshy or Leshi is a tutelary deity of the forests in pagan Slavic mythology. As Leshy rules over the forest and hunting, he may be related to the Slavic god Porewit. There is also a deity, named Svyatibor (Svyatobor, Svyatibog), who is revered by both the Eastern and Western Slavs, heralded as the divine arbiter of woodland realms and the sovereign ruler over other Leshies. His functions were identical to those of the god Veles. Leshy, a masculine entity of humanoid form, possesses the remarkable ability to adopt the guise of any appearance and can change in size and height. In some accounts, Leshy is described as having a wife (Leshachikha, Leszachka, Lesovikha and also, sometimes, the Kikimora of the swamp) and children (leshonki, leszonky). Leshy is reputed for his inclination to misguide wanderers and abduct young ones, a trait he shares with the notorious Chort, "Black One" known as Devil, thus leading certain individuals to perceive him as a malevolent entity. Leshy's attitude towards humans can vary, depending on how they interact with the forest and their overall behavior. Leshy possessed the power to whisk away children afflicted by the malevolent maledictions of their own kin, especially their parents, to the ethereal realm of the forest-dwelling folk. Leshy can be considered as a rather temperamental creature, similar to that of a fairy. Names and etymology Leshy is known by a variety of names and spellings including the following: Main name variations: Borovoi (Russian: Боровой, Polish: Borowy) "[he] of the pine barrens" Gayevoi (Russian: Гаевой, Polish: Gajowy) "[he] of the grove" Leshak (Russian: Лешак, Serbo-Croatian: Lešak, Лешак) Leshy (Russian: Леший, Belarusian: Лешы, Polish: Leszy, Serbo-Croatian: Lešij, Лешиј) [he] of the deciduous forests Lesnik (Russian: Лесник, Polish: Leśnik, Bulgarian: Лесник, Serbo-Croatian: Lesnik, Лесник) Lesovik (Russian: Лесовик, Belarusian: Лесавік, Ukrainian: Лісовик, Serbo-Croatian: Lesovik, Лесовик) Lesovoi (Russian: Лесовой, Serbo-Croatian: Lesovoj, Лесовој) Lesun (Russian: Лесун, Belarusian: Лясун) Mežainis, (Latvian: "forester") Miškinis (Lithuanian: "forest-man") Miško velnias (Lithuanian: "Forest devil") Vir'ava (Erzya: Вирьава) "forest mother" Lauma (Latvian: Lauma; Lithuanian: Laumė; Yotvingian: Łauma), a fairy-like woodland spirit, and guardian spirit of orphans in Eastern Baltic mythology, or Yotvingian mythology Euphemistic titles: He (Russian: он) also used for the devil, based on superstition prohibiting invocation of evil He himself (Russian: он сам) like "he" Les chestnoi (Russian: Лес честной) "honorable one of the forest" Les pravedniy (Russian: Лес праведный) "righteous one of the forest" Lesnoi dedushka/ded or Dedushka-lesovoi (Russian: Лесной дедушка/дед, Дедушка-лесовой, Belarusian: Лясны дзед, Polish: Leśny dziad) "forest grandfather" Lesnoi dukh (Russian: Лесной дух, Polish: Leśny duch) "forest spirit" Lesnoi dyadya (Russian: Лесной дядя) "forest uncle" Lesnoi khozyain (Russian: Лесной хозяин) "forest master" Lesnoi zhitel' (Russian: Лесной житель) "forest dweller" or "woodsman" Lesny muzhik , "forest man" Appearance According to Robert Pyle, the majority of cultures possess tales of giant human-like beings in their traditional narratives, indicating a desire for a mythical creature to have faith in. Each language had its name for the creature featured in the local version of such legends. Many names mean something like “wild man“ or “hairy man”, although other names described common actions that it was said to perform, such as eating clams or shaking trees. The depiction of Leshy in Russian folklore reflects his supernatural essence and his strong bond with the forest. Being the embodiment of the forest, he can manifest in various forms associated with it. Leshy is a multifaceted entity, with his portrayal being a fusion of different elements: animal, plant, human, whirlwind, and formless spirit. In these stories, the physical appearance of Leshy (and other mythical beings) may not be explicitly described, as his image is often elusive and the storyteller may fear the consequences of vividly depicting this unclean force. In ancient tales, Leshy is depicted as a phytoanthropomorphic being, with a distinct leaning towards either human or plant-like characteristics in each depiction. It is often portrayed as a fully vegetative entity, such as a revered tree (such as a pine, spruce, birch, oak, or aspen), a bush, a stump, a leaf, or even a mushroom. As the story progresses, Leshy begins to exhibit human traits, such as a human-like shape and branches resembling hair. Conversely, Leshy may take on a more human form, with strong connections to vegetation, such as long, tangled green hair resembling tree branches, a beard made of lichen, and clothing and skin resembling the color and texture of wood bark. In some cases, the plant-like features are reduced to mere attributes, such as a club or baton in hand, a green beard, and green eyes and clothing. Leshy is often associated with the forest, and is said to possess the ability to whip humans with twigs, create noise and humming sounds, and even cause trees to crack. In certain tales, Leshy is seen as the embodiment of the entire forest, filling its entire space with its presence. In the realm of folklore, Leshy assumes a myriad of forms, some of which mirror zooanthropomorphic creatures. It can take on the form of both wild and domestic animals, such as the revered bear, wolf, owl, demonic hare, frog, crow, magpie, dog, black cat, horse, and black goat. Additionally, Leshy is often portrayed as a half-man half-goat, with black fur covering its body, small curved horns, hooves, long hair and beard. Alternatively, it can also appear as a human with animalistic features, including hairiness, animal skin clothing, claws, hooves, tail, wings, horse bridles, and animal-like sounds. Leshy is often accompanied by an animal companion, such as a black dog or a diminutive black goat. The dominant perception of Leshy is that of an anthropomorphic figure, which emerged relatively late. However, even in human form, Leshy possesses unreal characteristics. It can vary in size from a giant to an average-sized man. Leshy is typically depicted with long, disheveled or combed-to-the-left hair in shades of gray, green, or red, and a similarly colored beard. At times, it is imagined with a face as white as birch bark. Its eyes can be green, unnaturally pale, white, lead-blue, brilliant, or dull, and may appear bulging or fixed, with the right eye often larger than the left, or both larger than human eyes. Leshy may lack eyebrows and eyelashes, although it may also have bushy eyebrows. It is sometimes described as missing a nostril, right ear, or one eye, and may have a limp. According to some beliefs, Leshy has an upward-pointing head. In certain depictions, it is said to have blue blood, resulting in blue skin. Leshy is often characterized by a desire to conceal.... 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