Russia has been an important player on the world stage for centuries though often being seen in an adversarially roll vis a vis many of the world's powers. This work seeks to shine some light on the founding myths that have shaped Russia's view of the world and still, to this day, influence how it's people see and are seen by others. The hope is by deepening our understanding of who Russia and it's people are, we can defuse some of the misconceptions and misunderstandings that can create tensions between nations and can lead to dire consequences.