One of the Bogatyrs of the
Russian (or Slavic)
mythology. Most of the stories about this hero also involve his two companions -
Alyosha Popovitch and
Dobrynya Nikititch. The three heroes are among the most common and famous characters in Russian
fairy tales. Ilya is the considered to be the leader of the group, tall and strong, always dressed in simple armour and riding his horse, Voroneyushko.
According to the legends, Ilya was born in a village near Murom (Muromets means 'Of Murom'), was the son of a poor farmer and was gravely ill until he was miraculously cured and became a warrior for Prince Vladimir. Among many other feats he is known for defeating Solovey-Razboynik ("Nightingale the Robber"), a monster who lived in forests near Kiev and killed people using a high pitched scream.
Other tales about him include stories of "Ilya Muromets and Falconer", "Ilya Muromets and Kalin Tsar" and "Ilya Muromets Quarrels with Prince Vladimir".