ON EPIC-MYTHOLOGICAL MOTIFS OF THE ARMENIAN AND KARACHAY-BALKAR EPICS (INSPIRED BY “DAVID OF SASSOUN” AND THE “NART” EPIC)

The ancient Armenian epic David of Sassoun” has much in common with the “Nart” epic of Karachay-Balkar version. The Armenian and the Karachay-Balkar epic traditions are primarily linked by common epic motives, similar characters, attributes and names. In particular, relations between a heroine of the Karachay-Balkar legend – Satanay (“Queen Satanay”, “Eruzmek and Satanay”, etc.) and the Queen of the ancient Armenian mythological epos – Satenik (“Vipasank”) are remarkable in these epics. The name of the Queen Satenik appears in the «History of Armenia» by Movses Khorenatsi and a historian of the 10th century Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi also mentioned her. Besides, information about Satenik was found in two ancient Armenian sources as «Martyrdom of Voskyans» and « Martyrdom of Sukiasyans».

We also mentioned and compared the main motifs of two epics «David of Sassoun» and the «Nart». These epics have intriguing typological parallels such as the heroes’ miraculous birth (Sosruko and Eruzmek) from the stone, a horse and equipment discovery. Besides it has a picture of heroes revenge for murdered relatives. Especially interesting is the magical cross – Khach Patrazi or Pataragi, which gives strength to Armenian heroes. The similar attribute, called Kach, is found in two versions of the «Nart» epic. There is a high degree of commonality in the motives of the struggle between the heroes and dragons. The main enemies of the Narts are emegens.

Sanasar, Mher and David are the Armenian epic heroes who fight with dragons. Sanasar and Mhar the oldest released their brides from the devs and David killed forty of them in order to revenge for his stolen herd. It is noteworthy that the devs as well as the emegens live in caves. The similarity of epic traditions comes, on the one hand, from common features of the heroic epic and from the relations between the nations of the Caucasus, and also may be due to the more ancient Indo-Iranian mythological parallels.

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