The protective armor of the Sakha people as depicted in the early olonkho records: historical and comparative perspectives

The significance of the present interdisciplinary article lies in the fact that it provides a comprehensive, systematic overview of the Sakha people’s arsenal based on materials from the Yakut olonkho. The novelty of this study lies in the fact that it complements the author’s previous research on the names of ranged and melee weapons. The research is based on the database “Names of Heroic Weapons and Equipment in the Yakut Epic Olonkho,” compiled by the author. The aim of the article is to identify the names of defensive weapons mentioned in early Olonkho records and to compare them with ethnographic and historical facts. The primary research method was the historical-comparative method, alongside which retrospective analysis, extrapolation, and verification methods were applied. In the course of the study, 23 names of defensive weapons were identified from the database, which are actualized in the olonkho texts through lexical units and phrases. Based on the content of key lexemes, these names were classified into 9 types and 11 subtypes. The analysis revealed that the names of protective armor generally find parallels in ethnographic and historical works and, moreover, clarify and supplement existing data. For example, a previously unknown type of armor, likely of Mongolian origin, was identified: timir khalaat-khomhuol “iron robe-tunic” –lamellar armor reaching to the lower knees with numerous fasteners positioned close together and additionally secured by a wide armor belt with iron plates. The most frequently mentioned in the Olonkho is lamellar armor of the kuyakh “kuyak” type, whose armor plates were made of tempered iron and attached to a treated leather base, then carefully polished to a shine or coated with black lacquer/paint to prevent oxidation. In addition, the description of the protective armor set egyllybyt yuryung kemyus tanas “unbendable silver armor” is particularly interesting; which likely refers to armor consisting of iron lamellar plates wrapped in silver sheaths. Based on olonkho materials, the Sakha people’s protective armor also includes an iron, spheroconical helmet with a long plume, a protective collar-necklace, an iron rawhide armor belt, iron bracers used as shields, iron mittens, and greaves.

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