Polkan
Polkan or Palkan is a half-human, half-horse creature from Russian folktales, known for his immense power and speed. In folk etymology, his name is interpreted as полуконь. He initially appears as the enemy of the hero Bova Korolevich, but after a battle, he becomes Bova's loyal friend and ally. He eventually dies fighting lions while protecting Bova's wife and children.
Image:Bova1860.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Prince Bova fights Polkan.
Polkan is originally based on Pulicane, a half-dog character from Andrea da Barberino's poem I Reali di Francia, which was once popular in the Slavonic world through prosaic translations.
In the 19th century, '