I would greatly appreciate if you could help me find the most appropriate English equivalent of a Russian idiom "Koschei's needle".
To quote Wikipedia, Koshei is a male antagonist in Russian folklore, a very old and ugly man who is usually desribed as a person adbucting the hero's wife. The thing with him is that he is deathless/immortal and cannot be killed by conventional means targeting his body. "His soul (or death) is hidden separate from his body inside a needle, which is in an egg, which is in a duck, which is in a hare, which is in an iron chest, which is buried under a green oak tree, which is on an island in the ocean."
"As long as his soul is safe, he cannot die. If the chest is dug up and opened, the hare will bolt away; if it is killed, the duck will emerge and try to fly off. Anyone possessing the needle has Koschei in their power. If the eedle is broken (in some tales, this must be done by specifically breaking it against Koschei's forehead), Koschei will die."
In Russian, "Koschei's needle" is used to desribe some ultimate truth hidden behind many lies and confusion, the bare essense. By asking, for instance, 'Where is the Kosche's needle hidden?" you basically inquire what is the true meaning of some thing.
My question hence - is there an English equivalent to this expression? Preferably, something rooted in folklore as well - so that the quaint fairy-tale connotation is not lost.
Many thanks for all your help in advance.
To quote Wikipedia, Koshei is a male antagonist in Russian folklore, a very old and ugly man who is usually desribed as a person adbucting the hero's wife. The thing with him is that he is deathless/immortal and cannot be killed by conventional means targeting his body. "His soul (or death) is hidden separate from his body inside a needle, which is in an egg, which is in a duck, which is in a hare, which is in an iron chest, which is buried under a green oak tree, which is on an island in the ocean."
"As long as his soul is safe, he cannot die. If the chest is dug up and opened, the hare will bolt away; if it is killed, the duck will emerge and try to fly off. Anyone possessing the needle has Koschei in their power. If the eedle is broken (in some tales, this must be done by specifically breaking it against Koschei's forehead), Koschei will die."
In Russian, "Koschei's needle" is used to desribe some ultimate truth hidden behind many lies and confusion, the bare essense. By asking, for instance, 'Where is the Kosche's needle hidden?" you basically inquire what is the true meaning of some thing.
My question hence - is there an English equivalent to this expression? Preferably, something rooted in folklore as well - so that the quaint fairy-tale connotation is not lost.
Many thanks for all your help in advance.