Sadko is a main character of Novgorod “bylinas” (Russian epic stories), which tell about the life, beliefs, and daily routine of the inhabitants of Veliky Novgorod. Sadko played the “gusli” — the traditional multi-stringed plucked instrument. Moreover, he was an ingenious, brave, clever, and lucky man. The residents of Novgorod knew him well and respected him because of these qualities of his.
According to the story, Sadko was playing his gusli near Lake Ilmen, when the Sea King heard his music. He decided to reward Sadko for his talent. He suggested that Sadko should make a bet with the merchants that he would be able to catch a fish with “golden feathers” in Lake Ilmen. He promised to help Sadko win the bet. That is how the gusli player came into a great fortune and became a famous Novgorod merchant.
Later Sadko made another bet — he told the local merchants that he was going to buy all the goods in the town. However, he failed to fulfill this promise and lost the bet. Sadko said about the bet, “I am not, probably, a rich Novgorod merchant — the honored Novgorod is richer than me.” Then he loaded the goods he had bought on the ships and moved to other countries to sell them in order to get some of his money back.
When the merchant was returning to Novgorod, a storm broke out in the sea. Sadko understood that it was the Sea King’s anger. He threw a barrel with silver and a barrel with gold into the sea to appease the King, but it did not help. The Sea King took Sadko to the bottom of the sea and held him captive. Sadko had to play the gusli and dance for his new master. The Sea King liked Sadko’s music so much that he decided that his daughter should marry the gusli player. The merchant got his freedom with the help of the Saint Mikola of Mozhaysk who told him the way out and saved him.
The sources of the bylina about Sadko are still unknown. Some researchers claimed that there had been no such person similar to the main character. The folk story contained details typical for the medieval Novgorod: its role of an important trade center, the opportunity to move from one social class to another one, and the sea trade trips. According to another version, the bylina about Sadko was based on the song about the Novgorod merchant Sotko Sytinich. He was mentioned in the Novgorod Chronicle of 1167 as the builder of the Church of Saints Boris and Gleb in Detinets, a fortress on the left bank of the Volkhov River.
According to the story, Sadko was playing his gusli near Lake Ilmen, when the Sea King heard his music. He decided to reward Sadko for his talent. He suggested that Sadko should make a bet with the merchants that he would be able to catch a fish with “golden feathers” in Lake Ilmen. He promised to help Sadko win the bet. That is how the gusli player came into a great fortune and became a famous Novgorod merchant.
Later Sadko made another bet — he told the local merchants that he was going to buy all the goods in the town. However, he failed to fulfill this promise and lost the bet. Sadko said about the bet, “I am not, probably, a rich Novgorod merchant — the honored Novgorod is richer than me.” Then he loaded the goods he had bought on the ships and moved to other countries to sell them in order to get some of his money back.
When the merchant was returning to Novgorod, a storm broke out in the sea. Sadko understood that it was the Sea King’s anger. He threw a barrel with silver and a barrel with gold into the sea to appease the King, but it did not help. The Sea King took Sadko to the bottom of the sea and held him captive. Sadko had to play the gusli and dance for his new master. The Sea King liked Sadko’s music so much that he decided that his daughter should marry the gusli player. The merchant got his freedom with the help of the Saint Mikola of Mozhaysk who told him the way out and saved him.
The sources of the bylina about Sadko are still unknown. Some researchers claimed that there had been no such person similar to the main character. The folk story contained details typical for the medieval Novgorod: its role of an important trade center, the opportunity to move from one social class to another one, and the sea trade trips. According to another version, the bylina about Sadko was based on the song about the Novgorod merchant Sotko Sytinich. He was mentioned in the Novgorod Chronicle of 1167 as the builder of the Church of Saints Boris and Gleb in Detinets, a fortress on the left bank of the Volkhov River.
