ZARKUM
ZARKUM (from Persian – hypocrite, pretender) is an evil demon in Bashkir mythology that looks like an enormous snake. It appears in the epic called “Ural-batyr” as the son of a tsar, Kakhkakhi snake. It does not have mythical magic powers but is cunning and insidious. Z. tries at all costs to hold Khumay – the daughter of Samray, the tsar of the birds. After swallow ing a 12horned deer it is able to turn into a fish, a water rat, a handsome young man, etc. Once Ural-batyr saved him from death, Z. invited his savior to a castle and left him there for snakes to tear him apart. The demon helps Azraka the tsar and diyu to fi against Uralbatyr, turns Shulgan against his brother. Shulgan causes a flood and Z. takes an attempt to kidnap Khumay. The 6year old Uralbatyr’s son Nugush kills the demon.
