Prince Oleg was the Regent of Russia from 879 to 912, moving the capital from Novgorod-the-Great to Kiev, consolidating most of the dissenting tribes and conducting campaigns against the Byzantine Empire. Pushkin's poem "The Song of Oleg the Wise" is well known in Russia. Oleg comes upon a soothsayer who predicts that his horse will cause his death; in consequence the Prince hands over the beast to retainers so that he should never set eyes on it again. Some years later he hears of its death, and, pouring scorn on soothsayers, goes to visit its remains. As he stands by the skeleton a poisonous snake issues from the skull, dealing him a fatal bite and thus fulfilling the prophecy.
(Retelling was done by David Armstrong)