Why are high embankments throughout Ukraine called "Zmiev Walls"?

Huge earth embankments with deep moats on one side are scattered all over Ukraine and not only. What do they mean? When are they built? By whom? And why do they wear such a strange name - "Zmiev Walls"?

History of the Zmiyev Walls

High earthen embankments, backed by a wooden palisade and fringed by a deep moat from one side, stretch to considerable areas. Over the years, some trees have already been destroyed by plowing land, building up and other factors. But those who stayed are scattered all over Ukraine mainly in the Kharkov, Poltava, Kiev regions and Volhynia. With a total length of 900 to 1000 km, they stretched from the Western part to the Seversky Donets River. Although some mounds Serpentine trees are located in the south, in Primorye. Historians are still arguing which people built these earth hills. Some argue that the Zmiev Walls were poured in the 10th century by the princes of Kievan Rus. Since the shafts were located by a line parallel to Primorye, scientists argue their point of view by the fact that the people of Kiev in this way defended themselves against nomadic peoples - Pechenegs. But fans of a different opinion say that Kievan Rus has nothing to do with it. The serpentine walls were built in the second century. BC. E. - VIII century. N. E. Our ancient ancestors - the Slavs. Thus they defended themselves against nomadic tribes. These embankments did not serve as a means of defense, as they were poured from the earth, and they could be overcome. Their main purpose was the ability to restrain and slow the enemy's horse raids. The effect of surprise did not work, and meanwhile the locals received a signal from the watchtower near the embankment where the duty officer was sitting. While the enemy tribes overcame the ditch and the rampart, the Allies managed to gather for battle or hide in case of need. Which of these two thoughts is true, is still unknown. The reason for this is an inaccurate study of the shafts. Nevertheless, the history of Rus before Epiphany is rich in a huge number of tribes who lived in this territory. They did not have their own state with a permanent army, so they needed at least some kind of protection. Kievan Rus was a powerful state, so it could repulse the unexpected raids of nomads.

Where did the name "Zmiev Walls" come from?

Back in ancient times, when there were legends about Russian heroes Alyosha Popoviche, Dobryne Nikitich, Nikita Kozhemyake, there was an ancient prophecy. According to him, Nikita Kozhemyak managed to catch the people's enemy - Snake-Gorynycha. People were too pissed at this monster, which brought them a lot of grief. They did not know what to do with this monster, and finally they decided: Kozhemyaka harnessed him and drove through the whole territory of Russia. After them there was a deep trace. It is a moat, and the ground from it has laid down in a shaft. These are all legends and prophecies. In fact, instead of the Snake-Gorynych in the furrow harnessed ordinary people, who also built such a land structure. Having stood for more than 10 centuries, it does not cease to amaze contemporaries. But only in Ukraine the monuments of culture are not very much appreciated: while in other countries these shafts are under the protection of the state and are a historical monument, they can be destroyed because of the construction of a highway or under the sown field.