Viy

In East Slavic mythology, an anthropomorphic squat creature whose gaze kills. His eyes are usually covered with huge eyelids and eyelashes. According to Russian and Belarusian fairy tales, Viy's eyelids, eyelashes or eyebrows were raised with pitchforks by his assistants, which caused a person who could not stand Viy's gaze to die.

Before his appearance, a terrible howl is heard. He is able to remove the protection of any spells and charms. 

It is believed that this image was created by Gogol and is not found in Slavic folklore before him. In Gogol, he is designated as the chief of the dwarves from the folklore of Little Russia. There is an assumption about the origin of the name Viya from Ukr. viya, viika, belor. veika is an eyelash.

Researchers also associated it with Scythian (Iranian) roots. It has been suggested that the image of Viy goes back to the ancient East Slavic god Vey (Ukr. Viy), which corresponds to the Avestan god of death and wind Vayu in the pantheon of ancient Iranians (Scythians). It is possible that the image of Viya corresponds to Koshchei the Immortal. According to E. Dmitrieva, the features of a pagan god have passed to the image of Viy Velesa.

Researchers have also suggested that there is some correspondence between certain characters from Celtic mythology: in the Irish mythological tradition, the leader of the Fomors, Balor, had the nickname "Evil Eye" because the look of his only eye could kill like lightning, and in Welsh mythology, an analogue of Balor is known — this giant Ispadaden Penkawr (Wall. Yspadadden Penkawr), which has similar characteristics.

A Christian saint is also known, with the name Kasyan, whose image in pagan folk beliefs served as the prototype of Viy.