Dissertations on competition of a scientific degree
mytholog
UDC - 008
Alex Fantalov
Culture of Barbarous Europe: typology of mythological characters
24.00.01 - the theory and a history of culture
The abstract
Dissertations on competition of a scientific degree
The doctor of cultural science
Saint Petersburg
2001
Work is executed on faculty of art culture of the Russian state
pedagogical university by A.I. Herzen.
The general characteristic of work
The Actual of research is caused by growing interest to mythology as a
whole and to a mythological heritage of Barbarous Europe in a number
of many countries (France, USA, Ireland, Scandinavia, Russia, Baltia,
Romania and some other) where the given heritage frequently is used as
a material for creation various ideological and cultural projects.
Thus, complication of many images and plots, it is capable to result
in various speculative constructions. To prevent such danger of
ideological gamble the best understanding of base mythological
structure is capable.
The Purpose of research: on the basis of the analysis of monuments of
art culture to reveal a structural nucleus of a pantheon, general for
mythological traditions of Barbarous Europe and to look after its
local variants.
Research problems:
1. On the basis of studying maximum big number of mythological plots
of peoples of Barbarous Europe and related cultures, basing on the
broad audience of domestic and foreign researches to create model of a
structural nucleus of a pantheon of peoples of Barbarous Europe.
2. To reveal connections between socio-cultural changes and change of
objects of worship at early stages of development (bronze and iron
centuries) European peoples.
3. To lead comparison of literary and graphic sources, revealing laws
of development of mythological images.
Object of research: culture of Barbarous Europe, mythological images
in culture of Barbarous Europe.
Methodology of research:
1. In this thesis the comparative-historical method is base. As the
majority of peoples of Europe and Indo-European peoples as a whole are
related each other genetically the relatives who have occurred from a
uniform root are also their mythologies. Hence, comparing mythological
images of peoples of Barbarous Europe and them Indo-European relatives
and finding typical features, we gradually can allocate initial types
of gods.
2. To reveal a structural nucleus of a pantheon and variants of its
functioning in various ethnic cultures the typological method helps in
work.
3. As object of consideration is not only Barbarous Europe as a whole,
but also the separate cultural worlds inside it, it is impossible to
do without a cultural-historical method.
4. As the basic working method of research serves it a
system-ikonographic method based on recognition in monuments of the
fine arts of repeating motives and images and their consideration in
view of written certificates of contemporaries and mythological
sources. The art culture, with reference to a theme of the present
research, means dualism of the literature and the fine arts, being
additional each other sources at studying so co and fragmentary kept
phenomenon, as mythology.
5. Research inevitably adjoins to such sciences as art criticism,
archaeology, a history, ethnology and even the linguistics and if
necessary addresses to methodological receptions of these sciences.
History of problems:
There are the extensive scientific literature investigating
mythologies of various peoples of Europe. Nevertheless, in a domestic
science attempt of their complex studying on a basis of simultaneously
textual and graphic material was not undertaken yet. 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. As for the Celts
we see, that on continent scientists of France were engaged in
studying of their culture first of all (J.J. Hatt) and Czech
(J.Filip). Island Celt culture investigated, accordingly, Britains
(for instance P. Mac Cane). To the given question showed interest and
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 culture
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
and other researchers.
The Thraco-Dacians were studied by scolars of Bulgaria (in H. Danov,
M. Zoncheva), Romania and Moldova (I. Nikulitse).
The Scythians and the Sarmatians lived in Russian steppes therefore
the Russian scolars (as V. Abaev, M. Artamonov, D. Raevsky, S.
Jatsenko) considered these peoples.
East Slavs also were studied by Russian scolars (Rybakov, V. Sedov, V.
Propp - let alone such authors, as A. Afanasjev and F. Buslaev) while
concerning the western Slavs the priority belongs German (J. Herman)
and Czech (L. Niderle) to scientists.
N. Velius and M. Gimbutas (USA) studied Balt culture.
As for 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 due time in Germany (İ.
Gerhard, E.Rashinger) and Russia (P. Modestov, A. Nemirovsky). The
same can be told and about Hittites and Zoroastrian Persians cultures.
Among the scientists engaged in research Indo-European mythologies as
a whole, J. Dumezil, the author of the so-called three-functional
theory uses the greatest popularity. In its basis is the idea that is
primary gods Indo-Europeans lays should be grouped on functions: magic
authority, military force, fertility (the pantheon represented a
projection socium Dumezil was supposed). At all beauty and logically
and wide popular (ideas Dumezil use in the constructions many
intellectuals of Europe - from such "new right philosopher" as Alaine
de Benoix, up to his antipode -"mondialist" J. Attali) 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 P. Mac Cane, theory Dumezil gives reason for
existence of the coordinated system of the gods inherited from
Indo-European of the past.
In a Russian science Indo-European mythologies fruitfully are engaged
in reconstruction of the most ancient I. Ivanov and V. Toporov. They,
as well as Dumezil, investigate basically mythological texts. Using
principles of structural linguistics, Ivanov and Toporov allocate some
circles of the mythological characters described by a generality of
fields of activity and, especially, the names which are going back to
uniform Indo-European roots (for example: deiuo-"the day time shining
sky"; perk-"thunder"; uel-connected to the world dead; iemo-"twin"; s
(a) uel-"sun"; trit-, dhon-and (mo)-mer-the deities connected to water
and the bottom world). These researches are of great importance.
However, at all breadth of the scientific review, Ivanov and Axes
almost did not concern the Celts and German-Scandinavians (also as
Dumezil did not mention mythology of Balts and Slavs). Behind
frameworks of their work there was, for example, such chain of gods,
as Odin - Hermes - Mercury - a Lugh, genetically close, but having the
names not connected among themselves (as frequently the mythological
character started to be called not on a primary name, and one of
epithets - that complicates work of the linguist).
Thus, at all variety of works existing in the world scientific
literature on Indo-European mythologies, they or have local character,
or concentrate the attention to any one party of art culture (as a
rule, texts). And you see in definition of a structural nucleus of
mythology studying of monuments graphic and arts and crafts which
allows to fill in many lacunas of a textual material is capable to
play very important role also and to give other time cuts that helps
to see mythological images in development. In comparison of these both
parties of art culture feature of the given work also consists. Thus
it bases on maximum broad audience of researches and considers
cultures of Barbarous Europe in unity, involving for comparison many
related Mediterranean and Asian cultures.
Scientific novelty of work consists in revealing on the basis of the
analysis of maximum wide art - historical material of a structural
nucleus of mythologies of peoples of Barbarous Europe as several
initial mythological types (by a principle of possession them of the
most significant for ancient sociums functions), forming steady
structure of a pantheon. All local variants of the given structure, in
their coherence with features of historical development of separate
peoples of Barbarous Europe are analysed. Such mythological types that
are included in an initial pantheon of Barbarous Europe, as "the
Cultural Hero" and "the God of Earth Powers" were interpreted new.
The main points of research:
1. In thesis the concept of "Barbarous Europe", including three
aspects (cultural historical, religious, studial ones) is suggested.
2. The model of a structural nucleus of the European pantheon
consisting of fifth extremely steady mythological types: the God of
the Clear Sky, the God of the Thunder, the God of Earth Powers, the
Cultural Hero, the Great Goddess is submitted. Each of these types had
the certain social function, characteristic attribute, iconography and
correspond with the certain mythological plots.
3. On basis of this model the functions of mythological characters of
some the European pantheons are specified.
4. On the basis of this theoretical model lines non-identificated
ikonographic images with mythological characters known in literary
texts are identified also.
5. The correlation of data of a mythological nucleus in the various
cultural worlds of Barbarous Europe with changes in cultural sphere
was studied.
6. The role of the Greek-Roman civilisation as catalyst for expression
by barbarous peoples in art of original religious ideas is revealed.
Theoretical value of thesis
The typologisation conducted in this thesis allows to systematise all
variety of mythological images of Barbarous Europe and to clear
connection between religious - mythological and social-cultural sphere
at early stages of development of a society.
Practical value of thesis
Substantive ideas, conclusions and illustrative materials can be used
by preparation of lecture rates for the supreme and average
educational institutions and development of manuals on
historical-cultural disciplines, at research of monuments graphic and
arts and crafts.
Approbation of work
Substantive ideas of the dissertation and the received results were
discussed at a postgraduate seminar and faculty meetings of art
culture RSPU by name A.I. Herzen. They are published in articles of
scientific conferences: "Punin's readings" (Saint Petersburg, April
7-8, 2000), "Culture of the Petersburg region in a science and
education" (Saint Petersburg, September 28-29, 2000), "the Theory and
practice of education in a context of domestic culture" (Saint
Petersburg, April 18-20, 2001) etc.
The Material of the dissertation has formed a basis by development of
programs of special courses: "Introduction in mythology of nations of
the world", "Mythological images of Indo-Europe in iconography",
"Mythologies of peoples of Northern Europe" which were approved in
RSPU by name A.I. Herzen in 1999-2001
Structure of research. Work consists of the introduction, three
chapters, conclusion, bibliography, containing 160 names and an album
of photocopies of monuments.
fant...@hotmail.com