Mediaeval Russian Bogatyr Playing Cards

A depiction of a battle between a Russian bogatyr and an Asiatic warrior, both on horseback. Cyrillic (Russian) text reading "Богатырь"(Bogatyr) also appears. Bogatyri are heroic characters found in mediaeval Slavic epics. They are akin to the knights-errant of Western literature. Most of the stories about bogatyri revolve around the court of Vladimir I of Kiev (958–1015). Some bogatyri are presumed to be historical figures. Bogatyri protected Russian land and people against invaders, especially Tatars. Some were attributed powers and strength which were almost divine. This image is adapted from a black and white line drawing illustration in "Повесть о славных богатырях, златом граде Киеве и великой напасти на землю Русскую" (A Tale of Glorious Heroes From the Golden City Kiev and the Great Scourging of the Russian Land) by Tamara Likhiotal; published in the USSR in 1974.