The Legend of Mozyr

As with many towns and cities around the world Mozyr has its legend too. Mozyr possibly derived from the similarity between it's present name and the Russian for "my fat".Once upon a time there lived two brothers who decided to come from Kiev and live on the steep banks of the Pripiyat.

They earned their living by selling cod liver oil.The two brothers were very different. The elder brother was ugly and he despised his younger brother who was handsome, successful in trade and much richer.

They both fell in love with a young girl who was living nearby but because of the attributes of the younger brother chose him to be her husband and they got married. The younger brother once married wanted to settle away from his older brother but he would not give the married couple that which was due to them i.e. half the "fat".

The younger brother assembled a small army and declared war against his brother and the witch who had been asked for her help. It was intended that the younger brother should be killed but the older brother demanded "my fat". At this the legend becomes confusing for me but the witch made a gesture towards the hill where the elder brother was standing. The hill was split asunder and the elder brother killed.

The witch tried every means at her disposal including witchcraft to entice the handsome brother to live with her but all her efforts failed. The younger brother's wife advised him to put a cross on the hill and therefore make the hill holy thus protecting the hill and himself from the witch. On the site today is a nunnery and St. Michael's Church.

According to legend the younger brother became rich and moved to the place where Mozyr is now situated.

Mozyr may also have acquired its name from the small river Monzhirie which flows into the Pripiyat.

I would welcome any assistance to resolve my confusion with the middle part of this legend