Bylina

Dobrynya Nikitich rescues Zabava Putyatichna from the dragon Gorynych, by Ivan Bilibin

A bylina (Russian: былина, Ukrainian: билина, IPA: [bɨˈlʲinə]; pl. былины, byliny) is a type of Old Russian oral epic poem.[1][2]

The oldest byliny are set in the 10th to 12th centuries in Kievan Rus', while others deal with all periods of Russian and Ukrainian history.[1] Byliny narratives are loosely based on historical fact, but greatly embellished with fantasy or hyperbole.[3]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference EB, Bylina was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Alexander, Alex E. (1973). Bylina and fairy tale: The origins of Russian heroic poetry. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. p. 13. ISBN 978-3-11-139685-9.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Oinas, 236 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).