What is "idolishche"

Idolishche Poganoye is a mythological monstrosity from Russian bylinas (epic tales) which personified pagan forces invading the Russian lands. The name literally means " pagan idol", with a Russian augmentative suffix "-ishche".

The major epic sources that involve Idolische are various variants of the bylina " Ilya Muromets and Idolishche Poganoye" , where Idolishche is also characterized as "Tatarin", in reference to the Tatar-Mongol yoke.