Лучшие эссе студентов МАХУ – победителей международного конкурса (для параллельного чтения на двух языках) - страница 13

Both countries’ legendary events come at the time of transition from paganism to the Christian religion. So, Christian beliefs are mixed with pre-Christian ideas of magic. For instance, heroes are usually protected from dark powers by their crucifix and defeat the enemies with magic swords. Excalibur was given to Arthur by the Lady of the Lake (after he had withdrawn his first sword from a stone to prove that he is the true heir to the throne). To be awarded with a magic weapon Russian bogatyrs either pull Sword Kladenets from under a rock demonstrating their strength or fight against a strange creature like a chunk (a half-virgin half-lizard living in a swamp) that symbolizes magical and powerful forces of nature. After the heroes’ death the sword is thrown back into the lake or river. Dobrunya’s sword (also called the Sword of Ares) is believed to be on the bottom of the Oka River. In most legends the weapon is given to the main characters to protect the native land but it also helps them survive. The scabbard Arthur possessed had a healing power and Morgana substituted it by magic that is what the Tatars also had to do with Dobrunya’s sword to be able to kill him.