The Kazan Creation Myth
The founding myth of Kazan explains how the city got its name. According to legend, a Bulgar prince was hunting on the banks of the Volga when his party stopped to prepare a meal. They put a copper cauldron (kazan in Tatar) on the fire to boil water. A serpent emerged from the water, warning the prince that a great city would rise on this spot but would face many trials. Frightened, the prince's men fled, leaving the cauldron behind. When they returned, the cauldron had filled with gold coins. The prince interpreted this as a sign from Tengri and founded the city of Kazan on the site. Another