Images of the Pleiades of the Turkic and Mongolic Peoples
https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2024-3-563-576
Abstract
Introduction. The Pleiades star cluster (hereinafter referred to as a constellation) was of extreme importance in the lives of the nomads of Inner and Central Asia of all the astral objects visible in the night sky. The purpose of this article is to solve two problems, one of which is to study the distribution of the main names of the Pleiades in the Turkic and Mongolic languages, to identify the most complete set of their versions in different dialects, to clarify and supplement the etymology of the names. The other task is to identify and analyze the mythological images of the Pleiades known in the territory of settlement of the Turkic and Mongolic peoples. Materials and methods. The sources of the study were historical and ethnographic data published in the works of researchers — ethnographers, historians, linguists, folklore materials, as well as materials of the author’s field research. The work uses both general scientific research methods (analysis, analogy, etc.) and specific scientific (historical-comparative method) research. Results. Two names of the Pleiades are recorded, the Turkic ürker / ülker and the Mongolic mičid, the most relevant etymological hypotheses reflecting the origin of the Turkic and Mongolic names of the Pleiades are presented, a number of mythological images of the Pleiades revealed in the course of the study are proposed. Conclusions. Unique images of the Pleiades in the ideas of the Turkic-Mongolian peoples arose in the process of interaction of different languages and cultures, understanding and interpretation of different versions of the names of the Pleiades, integration of disparate plot-forming elements in myths, fairy tales, legends.
Supporting agencies: The reported study was funded by government subsidy, project 123021300198-4 “Universals and Specifics in Traditions of the Mongolian-speaking Peoples through the Prism of Cross-Cultural Contacts and the System of Relations between Russia, Mongolia and China”.
About the Authors
Marina M. Sodnompilova
Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS (8, Ilishkin St., 358000 Elista, Russian Federation)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Dr. Sc. (History), Leading Research Associate
Bair Z. Nanzatov
Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS (8, Ilishkin St., 358000 Elista, Russian Federation)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Cand. Sc. (History), Senior Research Associate
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Review
For citations:
Sodnompilova M.M., Nanzatov B.Z. Images of the Pleiades of the Turkic and Mongolic Peoples. Mongolian Studies. 2024;16(3):563-576. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2024-3-563-576
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