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Sozh, a MythSource painting
Slavic

Sozh

01Identity

Sozh in Slavic tradition

In Ralston's Russian Folk-Tales, Sozh and Dnieper are the sons of Dvina. Sozh is the elder; Dnieper is the younger. While Sozh is away, Dvina is persuaded to give the younger son the elder son's blessing. The blessing turns Dnieper into a river. When Sozh returns three days later, he complains to his father, who tells him to pursue his brother. The account follows Sozh's chase through rough country and Dnieper's progress through hills. A Vulture warns Dnieper, and the Raven becomes part of Sozh's plan to get ahead. The tale ends when the Raven calls before reaching Dnieper, and Sozh rises from underground into the river's waves. Ralston presents this as one paired tale about the brothers and their pursuit, rather than two separate adventures.

SourceRussian Folk-Tales (W. R. S. Ralston, 1873): Sozh and Dnieper (paired account), printed pp. 209–210· Russian Folk-Tales (W. R. S. Ralston, 1873): Source scan (printed pagination), pp. 68, 70, 90, 96, 180, 210

Top questions

The quick answers

  • Who is Sozh?

    In Ralston's Russian Folk-Tales, Sozh and Dnieper are the sons of Dvina.
02The myths

The myths of Sozh

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

Sozh and Dnieper: mistaken blessing and river pursuit

Sozh was away when Dvina's wife persuaded the old man to bless Dnieper as the elder son, though Dnieper was younger. The blessing turned Dnieper into a river that flowed through meadows and woods. Three days later Sozh returned and complained. Dvina told him to pursue Dnieper; if Sozh overtook his brother, Dnieper would serve him. Sozh raced through untrodden country, leaving the landscape torn apart in his wake. The Vulture warned Dnieper of the chase, and Dnieper drove a path through high hills rather than turn aside.

Sozh asked the Raven to fly straight to Dnieper and croak three times when it reached him. He burrowed underground, planning to spring up at the signal and get ahead of his brother. The Vulture attacked the Raven before it reached Dnieper. The Raven began to call too soon. Sozh burst out of the earth and fell into the waves of the Dnieper.

Sozh and Dnieper: mistaken blessing and river pursuit, a MythSource painting of the scene

2 sources· checked 2026-09-28

  1. 1Russian Folk-Tales (W. R. S. Ralston, 1873)T1
  2. 2Russian Folk-Tales (W. R. S. Ralston, 1873)T1