러시아 문화에 녹아있는 히타이트 문화의 흔적들 - 뱀퇴치 모티브 신화를 중심으로

Abstract

The slaying of dragon(serpent) is one of the common motifs found in the myths around the world. The legend of Saint George who slew a dragon is the most well-known myth of this kind. Such motif originates from the ancient Near Eastern mythology. The myths that share similar motif are also found in the Indo-European Hittite and Slavic culture. The interpretations of what snakes symbolize, as well as the mythical characters who slay them, differ in accordance to each culture and mythology. In Hittite mythology, snakes symbolized the god who controls the underground water, the evil power that brings dry season, and the chaos. Thus, a snake was an object to be killed to put the world in order. In addition, snakes were regarded as the god of earth and underworld who constantly fights with the storm god over the throne of heaven. The Hittite symbol of snakes is also similarly used in the Slavic mythology. Such symbols are found in the myth and legend where Perun, Skiper(monster snake), and Veles appear. Furthermore, the motif of crusade against serpent(dragon) was commonly used in the formative art, such as iconography, sculptures of the middle east and ancient Russian region. Especially in Russia very well-known image of the knight on horseback, who slew a dragon in the coat of arms of Moscow. It is known that this image came to Russia from Byzantium after the adoption of Christianity by grand Prince Vladimir and people called the knight St. Georgie. In fact, it is the image of Perun that existed in the ancient Russia before the 7th century, not of St. Georgie. God of storm, lightning, thunder, rain, as teshub(in Hittite) and Perun have often appeared to humans in the form of animals, especially bulls, so that bulls have become objects of worship and was regarded by the people as a symbol of wealth. Likewise, Russian culture and tradition still preserve many cultural parts of the ancient middle eastern civilization, especially that of the Hittites.