Rusalka

A Rusalka Rusalka or ( Русалка Russian, Czech Rusalka ) is a female water spirit low rank Slavic mythology. Russalken typically live in water, but sometimes also in the field or in trees. Sometimes they are very similar to those mermaids and nymphs, represented with a fish tail than lower body.

Slavic mythology The Rusalken are drowned virgins or from vodyanoi, the male counterpart to the Rusalka, in his underwater kingdom forcibly abducted women. Rusalken live during the day at the bottom of rivers and go only at night on shore, in order to unite in a dance, producing a loud laughter. The one who hears this laughter is almost certain death. If Rusalken take a person into their power, they put this person three questions. Can this answer all three, so they let the person move on in peace. In at least one wrong answer can not escape death.

A Rusalka similar nature spirit is the Víla.

In literature and music

• Alexander Pushkin: Rusalka ( The Mermaid ), Drama 1832
• Alexander Dargomyzhsky: Rusalka, opera 1855
• Frank Wedekind: The Princess Rusalka, 1897
• Antonín Dvořák: Rusalka, opera 1901