Images of the hero's celestial patrons in the Yakut olonkhos about the bogatyrs Nyurguns

Abstract

The relevance of the topic is due to the need for a systematic study of the character series of the Yakut epic olonkho, including previously unstudied mythological images. The article for the first time examines the images of the hero's heavenly patrons in five olonkho texts about the Nyurgun heroes, representing various epic traditions of Central Yakutia. The purpose of the article is to study the images of the hero's heavenly patrons in the context of the figurative system of the olonkho about the Nyurguns, to clarify their role and functions in the plot structure. To achieve the goal, the following tasks were set: compiling a systematization of heavenly patrons and identifying their functional features. The study was conducted using comparative-typological and comparative-contrastive methods. Using a systematic approach, an attempt was made to classify the images of heavenly patrons by their characteristics and functioning in the plot structure. As a result of the study, we come to the conclusion that heavenly patrons act as intermediaries between the deities and the main characters – the Nyurgun heroes. They can be classified as heavenly messengers, heavenly warriors, heavenly udagan women and the heavenly patron of men. They are of great importance in the storyline, their functions and actions develop along with the events and episodes that happen to the main character. The main function is to convey the orders of the deities, to notify about disasters, to warn about dangerous situations, to provide assistance in battle, and to indicate betrothed. Based on the fact that Nyurgun initially developed the type of a warrior – the defender of the tribe, the celestials in every possible way protect and direct him in the right direction. The presence of heavenly patrons in the plot structure is one of the features of the olonkho texts about Nyurguns, since these warriors have a heavenly-divine origin and are settled in the Middle World with the mission to protect the tribe, due to which the participation and patronage of mythological characters are inevitable. It is necessary to state that over time their appearance and functional features were subject to transformation processes, even a complete disappearance from the plot structure is noted. The prospect of this study is assumed in the systematic study of mythological characters in epic texts.

Acknowledgements: Author gratitude to Shared core facilities of the Federal Research Center “Yakutsk Science Center SB RAS” for the opportunity to conduct research on the scientific equipment of the Center under grant No. 13.SCF.21.0016.

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