Sadko

Principal character in an East Slavic epic bylina

For other uses, see Sadko (disambiguation).

Sadko, Palekh miniature

Sadko (Russian: Садко) is the principal character in a Russian medieval epic bylina. He was an adventurer, merchant, and gusli musician from Novgorod.

## Textual notes

[edit]

"Sadko" is a version of the tale translated by Arthur Ransome in Old Peter's Russian tales (1916).[1] Kate Blakey's translation of a variant, "Sadko, the Rich Merchant Guest", appeared in the Slavonic Review (1924).[2]

A bylina version collected by P. N. Rybnikov has been translated by James Bailey.[3]

## Synopsis

[edit]

Sadko of Novgorod played the gusli on the shores of a lake and river.[a] The Sea Tsar[1][b] enjoyed his music, and offered to help him. Sadko was instructed to make a bet with the local merchants about catching a gold-finned fish in the lake; when he caught it (as provided by the Sea Tsar), the merchants had to pay the wager, making Sadko a rich merchant.[2][3][c]

Sadko in the Underwater Tsardom by Ilya Repin.

Sadko traded on the seas with his new wealth, but did not pay proper respects to the Tsar as per their agreement. The Tsar stopped Sadko's ships in the sea. He and his sailors tried to appease the Sea Tsar with gold, to no avail. Sadko realizes a sacrifice of a live soul was being demanded. All the shipmates drew lots, but Sadko draws the unlucky lot as if by fate or magic, so he is sent overboard and he sinks into the sea.[2][3]

In the sea world, Sadko played the gusli for the Sea Tsar, whose dancing roughened the seas, so that all the sailors prayed to Mikola Mozhaisky (Mikula Mozhaysk, patron of mariners;[4] or the name Saint Nicholas is called by in variants[5]), and the saint instructed Sadko to quit playing, and break the strings if the Tsar will not let him stop. As the Tsar was bound to offer him a choice of maidens to wed in order to detain him, Mikola advised him to choose the last one, with the warning not to embrace her as a wife (consummate the marriage[5]) if he hoped ever to return to Russia. The Tsar showed Sadko a selection of 900 (or 300) maidens, and Sadko picked out Chernava (diminutive: Chernavushka) who appeared last.[6] The two then wed, but the groom made no overture to the bride on their wedding night, and Sadko the next day woke up in his hometown, reunited with his terrestrial wife.[2][3]

The Chernava is explained as the nymph of the River Chernava.[7] In Ransom's version, the Sea Tsar's youngest daughter is named Volkhov, which is the river Sadko has always cherished.[1]

## Analysis

[edit]

### Tale type

[edit]

The story of Sadko is classified in the international Aarne-Thompson-Uther Index as tale type ATU 677*, "Below the Sea": due to his musical prowess, the hero is taken to the court of an underwater Tsar.[8]

### Motifs

[edit]

In some variants, Sadko is chosen to jump overboard by throwing lots between the men. This motif, derived from the Biblical story of Jonah, is a widespread device, appearing, for instance, in Child ballad 57 Brown Robyn's Confession.[9]

## Historical parallels

[edit]

Sadko may be based on a certain Sotko Sytinich (or Sedko Sitinits[10]), who is mentioned in the Novgorodian First Chronicle as the patron of the stone Church of Boris and Gleb built in the Novgorodian Detinets in 1167.[11][12]

## Adaptations

[edit]

This tale attracted the attention of several authors in the 19th century with the rise of the Slavophile movement and served as a basis for a number of derived works, most notably the poem "Sadko" by Alexei Tolstoy (written 1871–1872);[13] additionally notable the 1898 opera entitled Садко (Sadko) composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, who also wrote the Libretto. In 1952, Aleksandr Ptushko directed a live action film based on the opera entitled Садко (Sadko).[14] A shortened and heavily modified version of this film was dubbed and entitled The Magic Voyage of Sinbad in 1962; later spoofed on Mystery Science Theater 3000 and released on DVD by Shout! Factory in 2011. In 2018 an animated adaption was released. The 1953 Soviet biopic Rimsky-Korsakov features pieces of the opera.

The 1952 original film adaption Садко by Mosfilm studio was released on DVD in February 2004 by the Russian Cinema Council (Ruscico) as noted on Mosfilm website [15] and available as free download on RareLust website [16] as Sadko.

## See also

[edit]

* Sadko (musical tableau)
* Sadko (opera)
* Jūratė and Kastytis \- a similar Lithuanian legend.

## Explanatory notes

[edit]

1. ^ Ilmen Lake,[2] or Volkhov River.[1]
2. ^ Tsar Morskoy.[2]
3. ^ The wager is wanting in Ransome's version, where Sadko is told by the Sea Tsar to draw the fish net and finds a coffer filled with gems.[1]

### References

[edit]

Citations

1. ^ a b c d e f Ransome (1916) tr., "Sadko", pp. 29–42.
2. ^ a b c d e f g Blakey (1924) tr., "Sadko, the Rich Merchant Guest", pp. 57–62.
3. ^ a b c d e Bailey (2015) tr., "Sadko", pp. 293–306. From Rybnikov, P. N. (1990). Songs 2: No. 13. Singer A. P. Sorokin, residing near Lake Onega.
4. ^ Blakey (1924), p. 61, n2.
5. ^ a b Bailey (2015), p. 295.
6. ^ Picked from three sets of 300 mermaids;[3] or three sets of 100 maidens.[2] It is a choice from just 30 of the Tsar's daughters in Ransome's version.[1]
7. ^ Blakey (1924), p. 61, n3.
8. ^ Uther, Hans-Jörg (2004). The Types of International Folktales: A Classification and Bibliography, Based on the System of Antti Aarne and Stith Thompson. Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia, Academia Scientiarum Fennica. p. 373\. ISBN 978-951-41-0955-3.
9. ^ Francis James, Child (1965). The English and Scottish Popular Ballads. Vol. V. 2. New York: Dover Publications. p. 15.
10. ^ Michell, Robert; Forbes, Nevill eds. (1914). Chronicle of Novgorod (Camden Third Series 25). London: Offices of the [Camden] Society. p. 25.
11. ^ Birnbaum, Henrik (1981). Lord Novgorod the Great: The historical background. Columbus, Ohio: Slavica Publishers. p. 137\. ISBN 0893570885.
12. ^ Blakey (1924), p. 57.
13. ^ Bristol, Evelyn (1991). A History of Russian Poetry. Oxford University Press. p. 149. ISBN 0-19-504659-5.
14. ^ Naroditskaya, Inna (2012). Bewitching Russian Opera: The Tsarina from State to Stage. OUP USA Press. p. 3–4, 216ff. ISBN 0-195-34058-2.
15. ^ Садко | Фильмы | Онлайн-кинотеатр "Мосфильма"
16. ^ Search Results for “Sadko” | RareLust ~ movies from All Genres

Bibliography

* Bailey, James, ed. (2015). "Sadko". An Anthology of Russian Folk Epics. Routledge. pp. 293–306\. ISBN 1-317-47693-X.293-306&rft.pub=Routledge&rft.date=2015&rft.isbn=1-317-47693-X&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=UadzCQAAQBAJ&pg;=PA296&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Sadko" class="Z3988">
* Blakey, Kate (June 1924), "Folk Tales of Ancient Russia. (Byliny of Lord Novgorod the Great)", The Slavonic Review, 3 (7): 52–62, JSTOR 420180952-62&rft.date=1924-06&rft_id=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4201809#id-name=JSTOR&rft.aulast=Blakey&rft.aufirst=Kate&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Sadko" class="Z3988">
* Ransome, Arthur, ed. (1916). "Sadko". Old Peter's Russian tales. Dmitri Mitrokhin (illustr.). London, New York: Thomas Nelson and sons. pp. 29–42.29-42&rft.pub=Thomas+Nelson+and+sons&rft.date=1916&rft_id=https://archive.org/details/oldpetersrussian00rans/page/28/mode/2up&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Sadko" class="Z3988">

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sadko.

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

poem "Sadko" by A. Tolstoy

* Sadko the bylina
* Prose version
* Sadko as collected by Arthur Ransome in Old Peter's Russian Tales
* Sadko as collected by Arthur Ransome in Old Peter's Russian Tales as a librivox.org audiobook.
* Collection of bylin about Sadko (in Russian)

* v
* t
* e

Slavic mythology and religion

Deities|

* Chernobog and BelobogH
* ChernoglavF
* Dazhbog
* DevanaH
* Dyi [ru]H
* Diviya [ru; uz]H
* Khors
* KresnikH
* Lada mythology
* MoranaH
* Mokosh
* PizamarHH
* YariloH
* HennilH
* KyiH
* Lel and PolelH
* Niya
* Perun
* PodagaF
* Porenut
* Porevit
* Prove [ru] or ProneF
* RadegastH
* Rod
* Rugiaevit
* PereplutH
* PerperunaH
* Simargl
* Stribog
* Pogoda [ru; cs; fr]H
* Zelu [cs]H
* Svarog
* Svarozhits
* Svetovit
* Triglav
* Veles
* Yarovit
* ZhivaF
* Zorya
* ŻywieH

Personifications|

* Dola
* Karna and Zhelya [ru]H
* Koliada
* Mat Zemlya
* Moryana
* Rod
* Rozhanitsy
* Zorya

Pseudo-deities|

* Chislobog
* Chur [ru]
* Dana [ru]
* Dzidzileyla
* Flins
* Krodo
* Kupala
* Lada
* Lelya [ru]
* Pogvizd [ru]
* Troyan [ru]
* Vesna
* Voloska
* Yesha

Priesthood and cult|

* Vedmak
* Volkhv
* Zhrets
* Shamanism

Legendary heroes|

* Alyosha Popovich
* Burislav
* Damned Jerina
* Đerzelez Alija
* Dobrynya Nikitich
* Dragon of Bosnia
* Hrnjica Brothers
* Ilya Muromets
* Ivan Kosančić
* Ivan Tsarevich
* Jugović brothers
* Kyi, Shchek and Khoryv
* Lech, Czech, and Rus'
* Libuše
* Mikula Selyaninovich
* Mila Gojsalić
* Milan Toplica
* Miloš Obilić
* Misizla
* Mustay-Bey of Lika
* Nikita the Tanner
* Popiel
* Prince Marko
* Sadko
* Solovey-Razboynik
* Svyatogor
* Vasilisa the Beautiful
* Volga Svyatoslavich

Legendary creatures|

| Unquiet dead|

* Vila
* Drekavac
* Kikimora
* Mavka
* Upiór

|

Place spirits|

* Bannik
* Bolotnik
* Cornflower Wraith
* Domovoy
* Dvorovoy
* Lady Midday
* Leshy
* Boruta
* Mistress of the Copper Mountain
* Moryana
* Ovinnik
* Polevik
* Vodyanoy
* Shubin
* Water spirits

Entities|

* Ala
* Alkonost
* Baba Yaga
* Babay
* Baš Čelik
* Bauk
* Berehynia
* Bies
* Black Arab
* Błędnica
* Blud
* Boginki
* Bukavac
* Chernava
* Chuhaister
* Cikavac
* Chort
* Čuma
* Dukljan
* Dziwożona
* Fern flower-Chervona Ruta
* Firebird
* Gagana
* Gamayun
* Indrik
* Ispolin
* Karzełek
* Koshchei
* Krsnik
* Likho
* Likhoradka
* Mare
* Meduza
* Molfar
* Nav
* Nocnitsa
* Płanetnik
* Povitrulya
* Psoglav
* Raróg
* Rahmans
* Raskovnik
* Rozhanitsy
* Rusalka
* Samodiva
* Sirin
* Shishiga
* Skrzak
* Strzyga
* Stuhać
* Stricha
* Sudice
* Tintilinić
* Topielec
* Ved
* Vesna
* Zduhać
* Zmey
* Werewolf

Ritual figures|

* Baba Marta
* German
* Dodola and Perperuna
* Koliada
* Kupala
* Kostroma
* Marzanna
* Maslenitsa
* Jarilo

Mythological places|

* Alatyr
* Bald Mountain
* Buyan
* Faraway Tsardom
* Oponskoye Kingdom
* Kitezh
* Lukomorye
* Vyraj

Objects|

* Axe of Perun
* Sword Kladenets

Beliefs|

* Creation myth
* First humans in Slavic mythology
* Russian traditions and superstitions
* Serbian folk astronomy

Folklore|

* Czech
* Russian
* Serbian
* Ukrainian
* Polish

Literature|

* Bosniak epic poetry
* Bylina
* Russian fairy tale
* Serbian epic poetry
* Ukrainian fairy tale

Christianization|

* Moravia (830s)
* Bulgaria (860s)
* Bohemia (880s)
* Poland (960s)
* Kievan Rus' (980s)
* Pomerania (1120s–60s)
* Bogomilism

Folk practices|

* Apocryphal prayer
* Zagovory
* Egg decoration
* Martenitsa

| Folk cults (also including Ossetian)|

* Ognyena Maria
* Paraskeva of Iconium
* Paraskeva Friday
* Nicholas the Wonderworker
* Veles
* Ilya the Prophet
* Uacilla
* George the Victorious
* Dazhbog
* Uastyrdzhi
* Saint Anastasia
* Saint Nedelya
* Saint Vlasius
* Veles
* Maslenitsa
* Saint Peter
* Donbettyr
* Saint Theodore
* Tutyr
* Saint Eustace
* Apsat

|

Revivalist organizations|

* God-Building
* Slavic Native Faith
* Authentism
* Bazhovism
* Ivanovism
* Kandybaism
* Levashovism
* Peterburgian Vedism
* Ringing Cedars' Anastasianism
* Slavic-Hill Rodnovery
* Sylenkoism
* Vseyasvetnaya Gramota
* Ynglism
* Roerichism
* Russian Zoroastrianism

In popular culture|

* Fantasy
* Film

Related topics|

* Book of Veles
* Slavic Native Faith's calendars and holidays

Notes: H historicity of the deity is dubious; F functions of the deity are unclear.

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template