Europe mythology.

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CULTURE of BARBAROUS EUROPE: TYPOLOGY of MYTHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS.

The history of problem:

Studying mythology within the limits of the European tradition of knowledge began in epoch of classical Greece (philosophic-symbolical concept Platon was rather interesting). In epoch of Middle Ages Christianity treatment to this subject was negative. Revival of interest to mythology has taken place from Renaissance. Thus, though separate concepts surpassed time (are those, for example, were sights J. Vico which believed, that the myth in ancient epoch comprised all aspects of culture), as a whole, is necessary to attribute the beginning of the scientific analysis of myths to middle of 19 centuries. Then there were two large scientific schools: solar-meteorological one, where gods were treated as symbols sun-moon objects or the meteorological phenomena and cultural anthropology school resisting to it, whose representatives investigated archaic tribes of South America, Equatorial Africa and Oceania.

The solar-meteorological school represents significant interest from the point of view of the present research as its representatives used a comparative-historical method. This method was borrowed from comparative Indo-European linguistics which actively developed from the end of 18 centuries. It meant a generality of an origin Indo-European peoples and relationship of their languages occurring from certain "parent language", existing in the remote past. Representatives of sun-mythological school (A. Kun, V. Shvarz, A.N. Afanas'ev, etc.) have applied F.I. Buslaev this method to studying Indo-European mythologies, and such approach has not lost the value and today.

The brightest spokesman of cultural anthropology school were E. Taylor and J. Fraser - authors, accordingly, animystical and ritualistic theories of a myth. Representation is typical of this direction about a myth as about pre-scientific an explanation of the phenomena of world around. Despite of many important ideas and the valuable ethnographic material collected by representatives of cultural - anthropological school, such sight represents the certain recourse.

The Twentieth century is characterised by attention to psychological aspects of a myth. On this basis such influential concepts, as the theory primitive thinking Levi Broulle, the theory mythical creation were created with the purpose of rescue from fear before M. Eliade's history, structuralistic theory of a myth of K. Levi-Straus etc.

It is necessary to recognise significant achievements of the mentioned scientists in the field of the analysis of features of mythological thinking, reflection in myths of space and time. Nevertheless, from the point of view of the present research the greatest interest is represented with works, whose authors concentrate the attention to concrete mythological characters as these characters and the plots connected to them are the basic maintenance of any mythology. Here again there is a problem of interpretation of concept " the mythological character ".

In the twentieth century significant influence on understanding of a problem of interpretation of concept " the mythological character " rendered Carl Jung. Such Jung's archetypes as "anime", "animus", "mother", "wise old man" partly it is possible to interpret as prototypes of characters of all world mythology. At all importance of such installation which in eyes of the modern person as though will rehabilitate mythology, giving it intellectual support, it is necessary to note, that the Swiss scientist was, first of all, the psychoanalyst that has imposed very strong print on all this concept. To present time still know about mental processes that on this basis to build global concepts more few.

Therefore, while it is represented to more lawful to treat mythological characters from the point of view like sociological - gods as an embodiment of social forces and structures (this approach was planned in E. Durkgejm 's 19 century).

For achievement of the purpose put in the present research, are very important was to familiarise with the works studying concrete European and is wider - Indo-European than mythology. In spite of the fact that we in the country and abroad have the extensive scientific literature investigating mythologies of various peoples of Europe, in a domestic science attempt of their complex studying on a basis of simultaneously textual and graphic material was not undertaken yet. Besides in most cases, scientists work within the framework of one ethnic culture, though it is known that really to understand a subject or the phenomenon it is possible only in comparison with similar for it.

Researches frequently geographically are located in the countries in which territory there is no time lived these peoples. In the attitude the Celts we see, that on continent scientists of France were engaged in studying of their culture first of all (J. Hatt) and Czech (J. Filip). Island Celt culture was studied, accordingly, by Britains (item Mac Cane). To this question showed interest scientific USA (F. Bober), by virtue of that in territory of this country large Irish and Scottish communities live.

The numerous works have devoted to the German-Scandinavian myths Scandinavian (B. Almgren, E. Oxenstirna, S. Lindkvist etc.), German (F. Hoysler), English (E. Davidson, A. Evans) experts. In Russia above this theme worked as A. Gurevich, E. Meletinsky, M. Steblin-Kamensky.

The scolars of Bulgaria (in H.Danov, M.Tsoncheva), Romania and Moldova (I. Nikulitse) studied Thracian-Dacian.

Above studying of culture of Scythians and the Sarmatians lived in South-Russian steppes Rissian researchers (as V. Abaev, M. Artamonov, D. Raevsky, S. Jatsenko) worked mainly. In east Slavs also the Russian science (B Ribacov, V. Sedov, V. Propp - let alone such classics, as A. Afanas'ev and F. Buslaev) while concerning the western Slavs the priority belongs German (J.Herman) and Czech (L.Niderle) to scientists.

Baltic myths were engaged in N. Velius, M. Gimbutas (USA) etc.

As to cultures with which at modern peoples alive connection here not all so is unequivocal has interrupted. For example, strong schools Etruscology have developed, for example, in Germany (İ. Gerhard, item. Court, E.Rashinger) and Russia (P. Modestov, A. Nemirovsky). The same can be told and about cultures the Hittities and the Zoroastrian Persians.

Among the scientists engaged in research the Indo-European mythologies as a whole, J. Dumezil, the author of the so-called three-functional theory uses the greatest popularity. His idea basis on fact that primary gods of the Indo-Europeans should be grouped on functions: magic authority, military force, fertility (the pantheon represented a society projection as Dumezil saw it). At all beauty and logicality and wide popular, this theory is a little bit artificial and causes disputes. In particular, it is known, that the gods connected to sphere of fertility, had in most cases magic function (and, frequently and military). Nevertheless, extensiveness of erudition and the deep analysis of the French scientist have enriched a science with many valuable conclusions. Besides, as fairly marks Mac Cane " irrespective of its central thesis, theory Dumezil gives reason for existence of the coordinated system of the gods inherited from Indo-Europeans of the past... " (Mac Cana, 1973).

This is Europe map of structure of basic Indo-European pantheons according to my conceptions. Circle means type the God of Sky. Square means the type of the Great Goddess. Upper triangle means the type of the God of Thunder. Under triangle means the type of the God of Earth Powers. Rhomb means the type of the Cultural Hero. Pointer with one tip is feature of birth one divinity from other; hand with two tips is feature of resemblance these divinities; double line is feature of marriage.

The Russian state pedagogical university by name of A.I. Herzen

Alex Fantalov

CULTURE of BARBAROUS EUROPE:

TYPOLOGY of MYTHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS

The Speciality 24.00.01 - the theory and a history of culture

The Thesis for competition a scientific degree of the doctor of cultural anthropology

Saint Petersburg

2001

THE CONTENTS:

Introdaction.

Chapter 1. Barbarous Europe and typology problem of mythological characters:

1.1. Barbarous Europe, and its cultural worlds.