In Slavic folk tradition, lizards play a significant role. They are often associated with crawling creatures and snakes, which are considered unclean beings. For example, in Serbia, a legend is told about a shepherd named Nestor, who killed a snake-like monster called “aly,” from whose body many lizards and other crawling creatures emerged.

According to Slavic beliefs, lizards may be connected with the devil. They may hatch from the devil’s eggs or be creatures made by the devil. Lizards may also possess demonic properties and be able to cast the evil eye on a person or inflict a curse.

In some regions, such as Bulgaria and Poland, it is believed that lizards living at the edge of the world devour anyone who tries to enter. They may also enter the human body through the skin and reach the heart.

Lizards are also associated with other chthonic animals and demonic beings, such as the grass snake and the toad, and share some of their functions. For example, they may take or spoil cows’ milk. In Poland, sorcerers use dried lizards to take milk from their neighbors’ cows.

In Slavic mythology, lizards are beings with many negative associations linked to impurity and demonism.

— Gura. Symbolism of Animals in Slavic Folk Tradition, p. 359