Illustration for The Ural Tales 

Vyacheslav Nazaruk’s illustration for *The Ural Tales* is rich in symbolism, drawing us into a world where myth and nature intertwine. Here, we see the Queen of the Copper Mountain, adorned in traditional finery, seated in her cavernous palace. Note the lizards at her feet, ancient symbols of transformation and wisdom. This motif echoes through time, from the serpent in the Garden of Eden to the alchemical Ouroboros, each shedding its skin, reborn. In ancient Greece, the lizard was associated with medicine and healing. Here, in the Ural tales, it represents the Queen's deep connection to the earth's hidden powers. The emotional resonance of this image lies in its evocation of the primeval. We are drawn back to a subconscious recognition of nature's transformative energies. This illustration thus becomes more than a depiction, it is a living conduit of cultural memory, reminding us of the cyclical nature of existence itself.