Case file · Apparition / miracle
The body of Yermak
After the Cossack conqueror Yermak drowned in the Irtysh, Tatars who recovered his body said birds and beasts would not touch it and it gave off no smell for six weeks.
1585 CE · 57.95, 69.02 · status: legend
The account
The Siberian chronicles say the corpse was hung up and shot at, caused nightmares, and was finally buried with honours, thirty oxen slaughtered, while his armour was shared among the chiefs as a talisman.
The sceptical view
Known from later Russian chronicles written to glorify Yermak.