1. The image of the wolf is widespread in folk beliefs. In Indo-European mythology, this image is associated with the head of the family, the leader or the god of war. The wolf plays an important role in the realization of sacred mythical... more
1. The image of the wolf is widespread in folk beliefs. In Indo-European mythology, this image is associated with the head of the family, the leader or the god of war. The wolf plays an important role in the realization of sacred mythical connections.
2. The word "wolf" is originally Armenian. It already originally contains the meaning "ripping", "predator".
3. In ancient folk beliefs, the image of a wolf was created, which had various manifestations in the customs of different families and family groups. A pack of wolves was generally perceived as a symbol of integrity and unity. Most likely, having this circumstance in mind, the leaders of different clans before starting the battle called their soldiers to unite. The leaders gave themselves the name "wolf", they were called "wolf's head" or "wolf's body". Before the battle, the warriors put on a wolf skin in order to show wolf behavior in battle. According to another rite of war, those going to the battlefield even "transformed" into wolves. A well-known rite of initiation is shown here, in which the participants of the rite are compared to wolves.
4. The image of the wolf, widespread in mythology, was reflected in folk tales, especially in tales about animals, both Armenian, Russian, Indian and other nations. Among the numerous heroes of the animal world, the wolf is presented as an evil, greedy, strong, but at the same time stupid, stupid, naive animal. This is its main function in animal tales.
5. In most fairy tales about animals, the wolf stands next to another common fairy-tale image of the fox, tries to imitate her, take an example from her, but fails and he almost always ends up in the position of a victim, yielding to the cunning of the fox.
6. In some fairy tales, a wolf is so stupid and naive that it becomes a victim of such animals as a donkey, a horse, an ox, a sheep. Sometimes there is an image of a wolf who tries to repent, but halfway through he changes his mind and returns to his old habits.
7. The image of the wolf is present not only in Armenian folk tales about animals, but also in miraculous tales, where it has a different function. The wolf can act as a real benefactor, which is a link on the hero's difficult, full of trials road, the light for the once rendered.
6. In some fairy tales, the wolf is so stupid and naive that he sacrificed such animals as a donkey, a horse, an ox, a sheep. Sometimes there is no image of a wolf who tries to repent, but on the way he reconsiders and returns to old habits.
7. The image of the wolf is present not only in Armenian folk tales about animals, but also in miraculous tales, where it has a different function. The wolf can act as a real benefactor, which is a link on the hero's difficult road full of trials, he is always ready to come to the rescue in return for a favor once rendered to him.
In a series of fairy tales, a greedy wolf and a wolf-thief appear. In these images, the alien essence of the wolf is more clearly manifested, which is reflected in a number of Armenian geographical names (Lake Gaylatu, Gayli Drunk, etc.), which symbolize the border with the alien world.
In other fairy tales, the wolf acts as a thief-abductor, alienating children from their surroundings and families. In some fairy tales there is a parallel between a woman and a wolf.
There is also the motif of the transformation of a person into a wolf, corresponding to the perception of wolf qualities, or the transformation into a human-wolf (mardagayl) in order to commit crimes. Such a woman turns into a she-wolf and eats her husband.
2. The word "wolf" is originally Armenian. It already originally contains the meaning "ripping", "predator".
3. In ancient folk beliefs, the image of a wolf was created, which had various manifestations in the customs of different families and family groups. A pack of wolves was generally perceived as a symbol of integrity and unity. Most likely, having this circumstance in mind, the leaders of different clans before starting the battle called their soldiers to unite. The leaders gave themselves the name "wolf", they were called "wolf's head" or "wolf's body". Before the battle, the warriors put on a wolf skin in order to show wolf behavior in battle. According to another rite of war, those going to the battlefield even "transformed" into wolves. A well-known rite of initiation is shown here, in which the participants of the rite are compared to wolves.
4. The image of the wolf, widespread in mythology, was reflected in folk tales, especially in tales about animals, both Armenian, Russian, Indian and other nations. Among the numerous heroes of the animal world, the wolf is presented as an evil, greedy, strong, but at the same time stupid, stupid, naive animal. This is its main function in animal tales.
5. In most fairy tales about animals, the wolf stands next to another common fairy-tale image of the fox, tries to imitate her, take an example from her, but fails and he almost always ends up in the position of a victim, yielding to the cunning of the fox.
6. In some fairy tales, a wolf is so stupid and naive that it becomes a victim of such animals as a donkey, a horse, an ox, a sheep. Sometimes there is an image of a wolf who tries to repent, but halfway through he changes his mind and returns to his old habits.
7. The image of the wolf is present not only in Armenian folk tales about animals, but also in miraculous tales, where it has a different function. The wolf can act as a real benefactor, which is a link on the hero's difficult, full of trials road, the light for the once rendered.
6. In some fairy tales, the wolf is so stupid and naive that he sacrificed such animals as a donkey, a horse, an ox, a sheep. Sometimes there is no image of a wolf who tries to repent, but on the way he reconsiders and returns to old habits.
7. The image of the wolf is present not only in Armenian folk tales about animals, but also in miraculous tales, where it has a different function. The wolf can act as a real benefactor, which is a link on the hero's difficult road full of trials, he is always ready to come to the rescue in return for a favor once rendered to him.
In a series of fairy tales, a greedy wolf and a wolf-thief appear. In these images, the alien essence of the wolf is more clearly manifested, which is reflected in a number of Armenian geographical names (Lake Gaylatu, Gayli Drunk, etc.), which symbolize the border with the alien world.
In other fairy tales, the wolf acts as a thief-abductor, alienating children from their surroundings and families. In some fairy tales there is a parallel between a woman and a wolf.
There is also the motif of the transformation of a person into a wolf, corresponding to the perception of wolf qualities, or the transformation into a human-wolf (mardagayl) in order to commit crimes. Such a woman turns into a she-wolf and eats her husband.
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This report is based on the materials collected as a result of our data collection activities in Aragatsotn region. According to a number of villages in the region, every resident, big or small, is a member of a super-family, has a... more
This report is based on the materials collected as a result of our data collection activities in Aragatsotn region. According to a number of villages in the region, every resident, big or small, is a member of a super-family, has a special name, and that name is the name of an animal. It is interesting that two, even three different superfamilies can meet under the name of the same animal, which are not related to each other. They can carry the same nickname "wolf" or "fox" for different reasons. The remarkable thing is that everyone has their own unique story, why their tribe is called that way, and that this adverb is passed down from generation to generation. The custom of wearing a wolf fur, according to a number of Indo-European ideas, had a magical power, it conveyed attributes of omnipotence and omniscience, and was also a symbol of the perpetuity of marriage. In many European countries, the custom of wearing wolf fur and the ritual associated with it also coincides with the autumn-winter transition. A linguist told how wolves call people snakes and try their best to "finish" them, and hunters, as soon as they kill a wolf, take out the mouth of the killed wolf, dry it and give it to famous soothsayers in their village, who "catch" the fear of frightened people. so they pass the patient through it, and the fear quickly passes. The wolf can sometimes take on the role of a kind of ritualist, helping the hero overcome seemingly insurmountable trials. In the Slavic spiritual culture, particularly in their funeral rites, the wolf symbolizes the dead, who came back from the underworld and entered people's homes." In fact, everything that is connected with death, the afterlife, the grave or the earth, in one way or another is related, connected with the wolf, because it has an absorbing, swallowing property.
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The cult of the wolf dates back to ancient times. Eurasia and North America are considered the homeland of the original cult of the wolf. Central Eurasian and North American mythology is dominated by the belief that the wolf is the leader... more
The cult of the wolf dates back to ancient times. Eurasia and North America are considered the homeland of the original cult of the wolf. Central Eurasian and North American mythology is dominated by the belief that the wolf is the leader of the tribe, and that the wolf-mother is perceived as a nurturing and feeding principle. In Indo-European mythology, the wolf is associated with a war god or tribal leader. Although among many peoples the wolf is a totem, an ancestor of the tribe, the Indo-European word is taboo and replaced by other words. Among the legends and beliefs about the wolf, it is remarkable that the people also weaved various stories around individual parts of the wolf's body, endowing each of them with magical power. One of the most common beliefs about wolves in folklore concerns wolf fur. In relation to wolf fur, we can distinguish two main functions: healing, as well as fertility, and punishment, which is realized through transformation. In ancient Armenian beliefs and traditional conversations, wolf fur is a symbol of evil and darkness. Armenian beliefs are characterized by the transformation of a person into a wolf, and this mythological figure is called a werewolf in Armenian. "Gelkap" prayers were said primarily for one purpose, to bring back lost livestock by tying up a wolf. These prayers were accompanied by a certain magical ceremony. The wolf appears as a cult animal in the mythologies of a number of countries, weaving many legends around it. In addition to acting as a complete figure, this animal also manifests its physical characteristics, manifested in medicine, witchcraft, and divination. Killing a wolf was considered a great heroism, because a number of organs could be taken from its body and used in medicine as a remedy.
Research Interests:
Keywords: transfiguration, ritual, supernatural ability, magic, animals, werewolf, magic fairy tale In the oral traditions of many peoples of the world, the worldview of the representative of the primitive communal society, his... more
Keywords: transfiguration, ritual, supernatural ability, magic, animals, werewolf, magic fairy tale
In the oral traditions of many peoples of the world, the worldview of the representative of the primitive communal society, his boundless imagination, ideas about nature are reflected. People have always been interested in the problem of "borders"; what are the dividing lines between humans and non-humans, what distinguishes humans from animals and plants? Throughout time, humans have sought to cross boundaries, and these road crossings have been accomplished in synchronic or intertemporal transfiguration, transforming into a spirit, animal, bird, object, or other creature.
The problems arising from the goal are to classify the forms and expressions of transformation in different folklore genres, especially in the context of Armenian folk tales.
The first literal explanation of the term "transfiguration" is a change of form, appearance, turning from one thing to another. The ones that transfigure can be animals, birds, objects, and even gods.
Transfiguration in mythological contexts is mainly double-edged, on one side is the person or object, animal, phenomenon, plant, and on the other side the animal, object, thing, phenomenon that transforms into a given form, such as man-wolf, man-bear, rooster-spirit, bird- man, plant / tree / flower-man, etc.
Character change has an important place and role in Armenian mythology and oral tradition.
The motif of transfiguration is based on the partial or complete incarnation of the human soul in an animal, plant, object, and phenomenon. It is seen as an action against the normal course.
There are many stories of the names of the animal-shaped, bird-shaped, and anthropomorphic parts of the natural world, where people and animals are transformed into stones, springs, and hills by divine will.
Transfiguration is associated with rites of passage when a person's external state changes. In the mythical representations of various peoples, the heroes who have changed their shape are the direct participants in the dedication ritual.
In the oral traditions of many peoples of the world, the worldview of the representative of the primitive communal society, his boundless imagination, ideas about nature are reflected. People have always been interested in the problem of "borders"; what are the dividing lines between humans and non-humans, what distinguishes humans from animals and plants? Throughout time, humans have sought to cross boundaries, and these road crossings have been accomplished in synchronic or intertemporal transfiguration, transforming into a spirit, animal, bird, object, or other creature.
The problems arising from the goal are to classify the forms and expressions of transformation in different folklore genres, especially in the context of Armenian folk tales.
The first literal explanation of the term "transfiguration" is a change of form, appearance, turning from one thing to another. The ones that transfigure can be animals, birds, objects, and even gods.
Transfiguration in mythological contexts is mainly double-edged, on one side is the person or object, animal, phenomenon, plant, and on the other side the animal, object, thing, phenomenon that transforms into a given form, such as man-wolf, man-bear, rooster-spirit, bird- man, plant / tree / flower-man, etc.
Character change has an important place and role in Armenian mythology and oral tradition.
The motif of transfiguration is based on the partial or complete incarnation of the human soul in an animal, plant, object, and phenomenon. It is seen as an action against the normal course.
There are many stories of the names of the animal-shaped, bird-shaped, and anthropomorphic parts of the natural world, where people and animals are transformed into stones, springs, and hills by divine will.
Transfiguration is associated with rites of passage when a person's external state changes. In the mythical representations of various peoples, the heroes who have changed their shape are the direct participants in the dedication ritual.
