<Slav mythology 9

Slav mythology 9.

 

Horned sculpture of men with spears - so-called "dancing warriors" are, probably, the most typical plot of the following, Vendel period. There are on helmets from Valsgarde - Sweden we see a steady composition: the horseman, whose horse trambles down the enemy (which, in turn, sticks to a horse into a belly a sword). The helmet of the horseman is decorated with top like a head of an eagle, or (on the other exemplar) - the boar. Behind the horseman is small sculpture, directing his spear. The sculpture has also an own spear, there are the horns terminating bird's heads on its head. The same type, but already pair (as on a horn from Hallehuse) is and on Vendel period helmets from other places, including Anglo-Saxon Sutton-Hoo. At last, on a bronze matrix from Torslund (Oland, 8 c. A.D.) the horned warrior with two spears is shown in "dancing" pose. Beside the person with the wolf head, amazing the warrior a spear in his heel (ill. 29.). Horned soldiers usually count images of Odin, or his emissaries (that from the point of view of mythology not essentially - all of them equally play his role). But the features of the god, which are a little bit distinct from described in "Edda", have the big value. In the first why Odin is so small growth? Where his favourite eightlegged horse? Why Odin is horned, you see it is attribute of the God of Earth Powers? Is allowable to assume, that here we deal with earlier concept Odinn, in process of " cult increase ", but yet not achieved its peak. He gradually superseded many gods, for example Freyr (it, in particular, it is visible from replacement of the bull to the horse in sacrifice).

The great interest causes the image of the "armed" wolf defeated Odin in his heel. As far as it is known from "Edda", in final fight with forces of a gloom owner Valhall was swallowed by World Wolf Fenrir. Means, on a matrix from Torslund earlier version of a myth quite can be represented. It is allowable even to consider, that in due time the wolf could belong to German-Scandinavian God of Thunder Donner/Thor as it belonged to Celt Taranis . This werewolf in general the interesting character. It, with a spear and a sword is represented on Allemanic sword. And later image from Ekhammar represents werewolf, swallowing a certain sprout.

 

 

 

Skimen-beast of Russian epos. (A. Fantalov, 1994).

 

Volh. (A. Fantalov, watercolour).

The picture represents Slav myth about marvelous hero-wolf. There is this character in folklore of South and East Slavs. In Russian epos Volh was a son of princess and the serpent. Inspite of this circumstance he intruded into serpent kingship and killed his father.

Volh possessed abilities for various transformations.

 

Russian griffin. (A. Fantalov, watercolour and Indian ink).

 

Russian epos 1. Русский эпос 1.

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