The Snake and Its Chthonic Essence in Traditional Beliefs, Language and Folklore of the Khakass

Abstract

Purpose. The aim of the study is to characterize the image of the snake as a chthonic creature in Khakass culture. Based on the goal, the following tasks were set: to analyze folklore and ethnographic information of these people and identify the key components of this mythological creature, to discover the semantic connections of its image with natural objects and elements, as well as with the idea of death. The work is based on the analysis of a wide range of sources. For the first time, it introduces field ethnographic and archival folklore materials, as well as author translations from Khakas into Russian of excerpts from heroic legends – alyptyg nymykhtar, proverbs and sayings related to the topic under consideration. Particular attention is paid to the lexical analysis of the myth-ritual complex related to the image of the snake. Results. As a result of the analysis, the following conclusions can be drawn: 1) the image of a snake was widespread in Khakass culture. This reptile was endowed with sacred attributes. In this connection, its image was widely used in language, folklore, and ritual practice; 2) the formation of characteristic features of the mythological image of this reptile was influenced by its biological nature, first of all, the morphology of its body, behavior, lifestyle, way of hunting, and, of course – the environment; 3) with all the variety of symbolic characteristics of this reptile, the key is its perception, as a chthonic creature. It was closely associated with the cult of natural objects, in particular with respect for the land. Its deep connection with the underworld is revealed; 4) in religious and mythological consciousness of the Khakass, this reptile acts as an inhabitant of the world of the dead, and is also a harbinger of death, and often its personification; 5) in mythological consciousness, the projection of its zoological features was expressed mainly in endowing its image with features such as agility, cunningness and greed, which was reflected in phraseological units.