Nomenclature and Etymology
The word Zilant is the English transcription of Russian Зилант, itself a rendering of Tatar yılan/елан, pronounced (i.e., "snake", sometimes pronounced ).
The Tatars themselves, on the other hand, frequently refer to this creature with the Persian word Ajdaha (dragon) 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 or Şahmara (from Persian ts shah (king) and mar (snake, which advised and helped epic heroes (batırlar), 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.
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