Kitezh

Kitezh (Russian Китеж ) was a legendary city in today's Nizhny Novgorod Oblast in Russia.

The Legend

The legend says that Yuri II, Grand Prince of Vladimir Maly Kitezh out the city (small Kitezh ) on the Volga Built - today's Krasny Chelm. Sometimes Maly Kitezh is also incorrectly identifies with Gorodez, which was founded about 30 years ago Juris birth. Later the prince crossed the rivers Ussola, Sanda and Kerschenez and found a gorgeous piece of land on the shores of Lake Swetlojar east of the present Semyonov, where he decided to found the city of Kitezh Bolshoi (wholesale Kitezh ). It is generally believed that the name of the city from the plundered in 1237 by the Tatars royal residence Kideksha stems (near Suzdal ).

After Batu Khan had conquered part of Russia, he heard of Kitezh and ordered his army there. Maly Kitezh was conquered by the Tatars quickly and Yuri was forced to withdraw after Bolshoi Kitezh. A prisoner told the Tatars the secret way to Swetlojar Lake. The army of the Golden Horde pursued Yuri and soon reached the walls of the city. To the surprise of the Tartars, the city had no fortifications or the like. The inhabitants had never contemplated having to defend themselves and began to pray fervently for a rescue by God. When the Tartars saw this they began their attack, but had to stop abruptly. Around around them suddenly countless water fountains from the earth began to bubble. The attackers were forced to retreat and could only watch as the city sank into a lake. The last thing they saw was the cross on the dome of the cathedral. Shortly afterwards, were only the waves to see.

This legend was the impetus for countless rumors, which live on to this day. It is said that only those who are pure in heart and in the soul, can find their way to Kitezh (ironically called the road to the lake is still " Батыева тропа " Batu's path). Also it is said that in calm weather can sometimes be heard from the Swetlojar Lake accusing the chimes and the singing of the inhabitants. Some say that the most pious of the light of religious processions ( " крёстный ход ") and even buildings on the bottom of the lake can be seen. Therefore, the Swetlojar Lake is sometimes called the " Russian Atlantis".

Kitezh in art

Nikolai Rimsky -Korsakov's opera " The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya " (premiere in 1906 in Saint Petersburg )

The city is in many works of Russian literature is mentioned, in a poem by Anna Akhmatova, in a story by Vladimir Tendryakov and in a novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.

56.81916666666745.091666666667Koordinaten: 56 ° 49 ' 9 " N, 45 ° 5' 30" E

• Fictitious place
• Nizhny Novgorod Oblast