Voldemort and Koshchei

[ericoppen]

No: HPFGUIDX 135493

When I found out about Horcruxes, I immediately thought of the story of 
Koshchei the Deathless in Russian mythology.  Koshchei was a fairly 
standard-issue Evil Wizard, but he had sneakily stashed his heart, 
which was his one vulnerable spot, outside of his body in a hiding 
place.  Without a vulnerable point, he couldn't be killed, and he went 
on a grand old rampage until some smart fellow figured out his secret 
and destroyed his disembodied heart.

I wonder---did JKR take the idea for Horcruxes from this story?  

--Eric Oppen, who is already impatiently awaiting Book Seven.  I can 
wait---I'm grown-up, I'm patient---I WANT IT NOW!  WANT-WANT-WANT, MINE-
MINE-MINE, ME-ME-ME-ME!!!  *throwing myself on the floor and rolling 
around, kicking my heels, screaming and holding my breath till my face 
turns blue*