Rusalki
;)
were water nymphs and can he found in both Slavonic and Russian mythology. They were thought to he the spirits of drowned girls. During the winter months, they lived in the great rivers of eastern Europe, taking on different forms in different regions. For instance, in the Rivers Dnieper and Danube, in south-eastern Europe, they were commonly pictured as beautiful, siren-like creatures who would attempt to lure unsuspecting passers-by into the water with their magical song. In the northern regions, in contrast, the water nymphs were considered to he malevolent, unkempt and unattractive creatures, who would grab travellers from the river banks and drag them down into the river and drown them. During the summer, when the rivers were warmed by the sun, the Rusalki came out of the water on to the land and lived in the cool of the forests.