The Czar Fish: Who Bears This Title in Myths, Literature, and on the Royal Table The question of which fish deserves to be called the "czar fish" does not have a single answer. This title is not a scientific term but rather a poetic one, which has been bestowed upon different fish at different times and in different cultures. In Russian tradition, the answer is usually one — sturgeon. But if you dig deeper, you will find that beluga, taimen, and even pike and tuna also lay claim to this title. Each of these fish has earned the royal name in its own way. Sturgeon — the Main Candidate in Russian Tradition In Russia, "czar fish" has long been called sturgeon[reference:0][reference:1]. This title dates back to ancient times: in the chronicles of the 12th century, there is an expression: "The eagle is the king of birds, the sturgeon is the king of fish, and the lion is the king of beasts"[reference:2][reference:3]. Sturgeon was valued for its size, tender and delicious meat, and its black caviar, which was always a delicacy for the nobility[reference:4]. It was sturgeon that became the main symbol of Viktor Astafyev's famous novella "The Czar Fish"[reference:5][reference:6]. In this work, the gigantic sturgeon embodies the very nature — its majesty, strength, and power, before which man is powerless[reference:7][reference:8]. It is not just a fish but a mythological symbol that judges sinners and reminds man of his place in the world[reference:9][reference:10]. In the novella, the poacher Ignatych enters into a deadly struggle with the huge sturgeon, and this battle becomes a test of his conscience and a moral lesson[reference:11][reference:12]. In memory of Astafyev's work, a wrought-iron monument "The Czar Fish," depicting the sturgeon, was installed in Krasnoyarsk in 2004[reference:13]. Beluga — the Largest of the Sturgeons If sturgeon is the king among sturgeons, then beluga is the queen among them. This fish of the sturgeon family reaches truly monstrous si ... Read more