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Zilant (Tartaria, Russian: ''Зилант'') is a legendary creature, something between a dragon and a wyvern. Since 1730, it has been the official symbol of Kazan. This winged snake is mentioned in legends about the foundation of Kazan. ==Nomenclature and etymology== The word ''Zilant'' is the English transcription of Russian ''Зилант'', itself a rendering of Tartaria ''yılan/елан'', pronounced (:jɯˈlɑn) (i.e., "snake", sometimes pronounced (:ʒʲɯˈlɑn)). The Tatars themselves, on the other hand, frequently refer to this creature with the Persian word ''Ajdaha'' (dragon)〔pronounced (:ʌʒdɑˈhɑ), Cyrillic: ''Аждаһа'', Iske imla: ''اژدها''〕 or ''Ajdaha-yılan'' (''Dragon-snake''). For Tatars, it was a repulsive creature, corresponding to Europeans and to Persian dragons. According to Idel-Ural beliefs, any snake that survives for 100 years turns into an ''ajdaha''. Zilant/Ajdaha should be distinguished from ''Aq Yılan'' (''White Snake''), which is the king of snakes. ''Aq Yılan''〔Cyrillic: ''Ак Елан'', Iske imla: '' آق یلان ''〕 or ''Şahmara''〔pronounced (:ʃʌhmʌˈrɑ)〕 (from Persian ts ''shah'' (king) and ''mar'' (snake,〔Cyrillic: ''Шаһмара'', Iske imla ''شاهمار''〕 which advised and helped epic heroes (''batırlar''),〔Cyrillic: ''батыр'' (:bʌˈtɯr)〕 often by giving them gifts. As regards his beneficial influence on humans, ''Aq Yılan'' is similar to the Chinese dragon. Chuvashes and Mari, ethnic groups surrounding Kazan as well as Tatars, also have legends relating to the foundation of Kazan, but none of them refer to the Kazan dragon. After the 16th century Russians acquired this legend from Tatars. For Kazan Russians, Zilant had negative connotations, as it was represented as a Slavic dragon rather than a snake. The popular perception of Zilant among citizens of Kazan is strongly influenced by Western culture and many modern citizens imagine Zilant to be a more classically Western wyvern or dragon as depicted in films. There is no strong evidence that image of dragon or snake with wings was used in coat of arms of Kazan city or Kazan khanate before Russian invasion. Also it was prohibited by Islam to make images of animals. And modern tatar villages do not have such thing as coat of arms nor symbols of towns. (Though coats of arms were created for all raions of Russia recently near 2004 and there were coats of arms of Russian Empire's uyezd centers). Zilant is proper name in Russian language and its role of symbol of Kazan is mostly Russian culture nowadays. Snake with wings is only a participant of legends in Tartaria culture, and dragon - ajdaha - is participant of fairy tales. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Zilant」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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