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Revision as of 06:17, 29 August 2004 by Eequor (talk | contribs) (Cleanup.)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)In Russian mythology, especially in the Caucasus region, Koschei ( Коще́й ) is an evil spirit with a terrible appearance, menacing principally young women. Koschei's other name is Koschei-Immortal (or Koschei the Deathless) ( Коще́й Бессме́ртный ), the reason for which is the fact that his soul is hidden inside a needle, which is in an egg, which is in a duck, which is in a hare, which is in an iron chest, which is buried under a green oak tree, which is on the island of Bujan, in the ocean. Koschei will die when the needle is broken.
In Neil Gaiman's American Gods, Koschei is referenced as an evil wizard.
In Robert Heinlein's Job: A Comedy of Justice, Koschei is the supreme over-deity who presides over Jehovah and Loki. This characterization was probably taken from the works of James Branch Cabell.