Horcrux antecedents.

[Cassy Ferris]

No: HPFGUIDX 155190

BAW:
The theme of placing one's soul (or heart, or life-force) in an external object that must be destroyed before you can be killed is a common motive in Slavic folklore. Think of the Firebird, where Koeschi's soul is inside an egg inside a duck in the middle of an inaccessible lake. There are other examples, but that is the one that comes to mind.


Cassy:

A bit off topic, perhaps, but Koeschey wasn't in the Firebird tale and, as I recall, his death (not soul, it is not known if he had one) was on the end of a needle, that was inside an egg, that was inside the duck, that was inside the rabbit, that was inside the chest, that was on the tree. I don't remember anything about the lake, though. But yes, the protagonist had to destroy the needle to kill Koeschey (unlike LV's case, it was enough to get rid of him, no need to duel).