A dark winged man carries a woman above a terrace between towers under a pink sky.
Dulac depicts Bashtchelik carrying off the princess in his telling of the Serbian tale; this is a separate illustrated version from Petrovitch’s account.
Overview
Baš Čelik, rendered Bash Tchelik or Real Steel in Petrovitch’s English telling, first appears as a man constrained by iron around his limbs and neck. A fountain stands within sight but outside his reach. The prince gives him two drinks, then pours a third mug over his head. With this last assistance the prisoner breaks his chains, reveals wings, abducts the prince’s wife and flies away. His gifts of additional lives become limited pardons when the prince repeatedly tries to recover her.
Even the combined forces of the dragon, eagle and falcon kings fail to destroy him directly. His captive draws out misleading claims that his power lies in his sword, then his bow, before he finally reveals an external refuge: a fox on a distant mountain contains a heart, and that heart contains a bird holding his strength. The animal changes form during the hunt. When the allied kings extract and burn the bird, Baš Čelik dies and the couple reunites.
Origins & earliest records
Woislav M. Petrovitch, Hero Tales and Legends of the Serbians, Chapter XIV.VIII, printed pp. 258–267. First publication August 1914; the inspected imprint lists reprints in November 1916 and December 1921. These publication dates do not date the oral tradition.
Records & interpretation
Entire selected tale read in bounded consecutive sections, including the external-strength hunt and outcome. Historical English terms remain attributed to this telling; illustrations have not yet been visually checked for the named subject.
In the literature
“lo! he had wings”
Chapter XIV VIII, p.259; escape from chains · Woislav M. Petrovitch
The forbidden ninth room contains a man immobilised by iron bindings and chains. He identifies himself as Bash Tchelik, glossed Real Steel. After two drinks and a third cup poured over him he breaks free, reveals wings and abducts the prince’s wife. The name does not by itself establish that his entire body is metal.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Hero Tales and Legends of the Serbians, XIV.VIII: Bash Tchelik or Real Steel, pp. 258–267
Direct selected text and imprint read; no individual oral narrator invented. Related Mijatovich and Dulac versions remain a comparison queue.
- 02
Hero Tales and Legends of the Serbians
Woislav M. Petrovitch, Hero Tales and Legends of the Serbians, London: George G. Harrap, selected December1921 reprint; first published August1914, intervening November1916 reprint explicitly printed. Chapter XIV VIII Bash Tchelik or Real Steel, pp.247–267, complete selected English prose independently read. Original Serbian tale/ballad text not independently inspected.
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Located primary passages
Specific passages supporting details in this entry, grouped by their published witness.
Hero Tales and Legends of the Serbians
Woislav M. Petrovitch, Hero Tales and Legends of the Serbians, London: George G. Harrap, selected December1921 reprint; first published August1914, intervening November1916 reprint explicitly printed. Chapter XIV VIII Bash Tchelik or Real Steel, pp.247–267, complete selected English prose independently read. Original Serbian tale/ballad text not independently inspected.
- The forbidden ninth room contains a man immobilised by iron bindings and chains. He identifies himself as Bash Tchelik, glossed Real Steel. After two drinks and a third cup poured over him he breaks free, reveals wings and abducts the prince’s wife. The name does not by itself establish that his entire body is metal.
- Three previously granted extra lives operate as pardons for successive attempts to take the wife away. On the fourth attempt the summoned animal armies cannot defeat him and the prince is found dead. A dragon brings Jordan water and the kings revive the prince; this additional revival is distinct from the three earlier pardons and remains a narrative claim.
- Bash Tchelik first misleads the wife with sabre and bow explanations, then reveals a distant fox containing a heart which contains a bird with his strength. The kings catch the changing fox and burn the bird; Bash Tchelik dies and the couple reunites. No egg or extra hidden container is added to this exact version.
Original Serbian source not independently checked. Edition date1921 retained apart from first work1914; no individual oral narrator invented. No sacred formulas excerpted.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary textPetrovitch: Bash Tchelik or Real Steel, complete primary taleResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Original named-tale colour illustration.A dark winged man carries a woman above a terrace between towers under a pink sky.
Dulac depicts Bashtchelik carrying off the princess in his telling of the Serbian tale; this is a separate illustrated version from Petrovitch’s account.