Dobrynya Nikitich

Dobrynja Nikititch (Russian Добрыня Никитич ) is a very popular literary figure in Russia the Russian epic, the so-called byliny. In their popularity it is comparable German figures such as Roland or Siegfried.

Dobrynja Nikititch was a Bogatyr and is primarily known as a dragon slayer. He is depicted in the epics usually as a servant at the court of St. Vladimir, who is the Prince and his family at the next and a series of tasks that will be rejected by other knights. The first byliny to this literary figure goes back to the time before the Mongol rule in Russia and describe a relative and Duke Vladimir. The extent to which this figure was based on a historical model is unclear. The oldest epics Dobrynja Niki table probably from the Novgorod region.

Art history

Nikititch was represented by Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov in the famous painting Bogatyri together with Ilya Muromets and Alyosha Popovich.