Polkan
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![]() | This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in Russian. (April 2010) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/PolkanChest.jpg/300px-PolkanChest.jpg)
A depiction of a polkan on the lid of a chest
Polkan or Palkan (Russian: Полка́н or Палкан, from the Italian Pulicane) is a half-human, half-horse (in some variants, half-dog) creature from Russian folktales which possesses enormous power and speed. In folk etymology his name is understood as полуконь (polukon - half-horse). He appears first as the enemy of the hero Bova Korolevich, but after a battle becomes his loyal friend and ally.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Bova1860.jpg/300px-Bova1860.jpg)
Prince Bova fights Polkan
Polkan is originally based on Pulicane, a half-dog character from Andrea da Barberino's poem "I Reali di Francia", which was once popular in the Slavonic world in prosaic translations.
In the 19th century Polkan became a popular name for a guard dog.
See also[]
- Bova Korolevich
- Centaur
Categories:
- Russian folklore characters
- Mythological horses
- Slavic legendary creatures