The present article analyzes the problem of semantic relations of motifs, archetypal characters of the Narts’ Epic and aphoristic genres of the Ossetian folklore. It is a folklore-ethnographic study pioneering the prioritizing of this aspect and presuming the national specificity of works of folklore of the Ossetians. It seems significant that aphoristic units that conform to a given topic are largely drawn from unpublished sources, preserved in the personal archive of the famous researcher of the Ossetians folklore K.Ts. Gutiev. The study of the peculiarities of such genre interaction, characterized by direct inclusion in the texts of sustainable aphoristic genres of steady epic motifs and the archetypal values, revealed that the “Nartiada” plays the role of a semantic universe unifying all oral-poetic folklore of the Ossetians. The analysis of various genres of oral poetic culture of the Ossetians: kadags, ritual prayers, ritual singing, proverbs and sayings as well as certain hymns of Avesta enabled to account for the sacral semantics of Tsykurayy færdyg (Wish-fulfilling Beads) and Arvaydæn (Heavenly Sky Mirror), magic items, with water and solar symbols. The kinship of these concepts, significant for the folklore-ethnographic tradition of the Ossetians, was established through etymological consideration of the question and data from various ethnographic sources. The study is also carried out in the framework of religious mythological views of the Ossetians, and their marked effect on the formation of different genres of folklore, particularly the most archaic works of folk art: good wishes and the ritual prayers, which is the source for recreating the mythological beliefs of the ancient world order of the Ossetians.

Keywords: Ossetian “Nartiada”, aphoristic genres, Tsykurayy færdyg (Wish-fulfilling Beads), Arvaydæn (Heavenly Sky Mirror), arfætæ (good wishes), ritual praying, myth-making.

______________________________________________________

References:

1. Neklyudov S.Yu. Semantika fol'klornogo teksta i “znanie tradicii” [The Semantics of Folklore Texts and Knowledge of Traditions]. URL: http:///folklore/neckludov14.htm.

2. Sokolov Yu.M. Russkiĭ fol'klor [Russian Folklore]. Moscow, 1941.

3. Dal' V.I. Poslovicy russkogo naroda [Russian People’s Proverbs]. Moscow, 1957.

4. Permyakov G.L. Ot pogovorki do skazki [From a Saying to a Tale]. Moscow, 1970.

5. Cherdanceva T.Z. Yazyk i ego obrazy (Ocherki po ital'yanskoj frazeologii) [Language and its Images (Essays on Italian Phraseology)]. Moscow, 1977.

6. Tarlanov Z.K. Russkie poslovicy. Sintaksis i poehtika [Russian Proverbs. Syntax and Poetics]. Petrozavodsk, 1993.

7. Potebnya A.A. Iz lekcij po teorii slovesnosti [From Lectures on Theory of Literature]. Har'kov, 1914.

8. Osetinsko-russko-anglijskij slovar' [Ossetian-Russian-English Dictionary. Ed. T.A. Guriev]. Vladikavkaz, V.I. Abaev’s North Ossetian Institute for Humanitarian and Social Studies Publishing House, 2013, vol. I.

9. Buslaev F.I. Istoricheskie ocherki russkoj narodnoj slovesnosti i iskusstva [Historical Sketches of Russian Folklore and Arts]. Saint Petersburg, 1861, vol. 1.

10. Satcaev E.B. Nartovskij ehpos i iranskaya poehma Shahname [Narts’ Epos and Iranian Poem Shahnameh]. Vladikavaz, 2008.

11. Callagova Z.B. Aforisticheskie zhanry osetinskogo fol'klora [Aphoristic Genres of Ossetian Folklore]. Vladikavkaz, Ir Publishing House, 1993.

12. Ossetishe Shruchworter vor A. Schiefner. Bulletin de L’Academie imperiale des schences. St.–Petersbourg, 1863, vol. V, No 6, pp. 435–453.

13. Miller V.F. Osetinskie ehtyudy [Ossetic studies]. Moscow, 1887, vol. III, pp. 80–189.

14. Gabaraev S., Dzhusojty N. Iron æmbisændtæ [Ossetian Proverbs and Sayings]. Stalinir, 1955 (in Ossetian).

15. Salagaeva Z.M. Iron adæmy sfældystad [Ossetian Folklore]. Ordzhonikidze, 1961, vol. II (in Ossetian).

16. Abaeva Z.V. Osetinskie poslovicy i pogovorki [Ossetian Proverbs and Sayings]. Ckhinvali, 1962.

17. Ckhurbaty Z. Adæmy duneæmbarynad iron æmbisændty [Comparing Ossetian Proverbs and Sayings with Others]. Tskhinvali, 1975 (in Ossetian).

18. Gadzaov V.M. Æmbesændtæ [Proverbs and Sayings]. Ordzhonikidze, 1977 (in Ossetian).

19. Dzagurov G.A. Osetinskie (digorskie) narodnye izrecheniya [Ossetian (Digoron) Sayings]. Moscow, 1980.

20. Gutiev K.C. Iron æmbisændtæ [Ossetian Proverbs and Sayings]. Ordzhonikidze, 1976 (in Ossetian).

21. Takazov F.M. Model' mira v ehpicheskih skazaniyah osetin o Carciatah [Representation of the World in Ossetian Epics about Carciatah]. Sovremennye problemy nauki i obrazovaniya [Contemporary Problems of Science and Education]. 2015. No 2-2; URL: http://www.science-education.ru/ru/article/view?id=22976

22. Petrosov Yu.S. Osetinskie poslovicy i pogovorki [Ossetian Proverbs and Sayings]. Vladikavkaz, 2010.

23. Abaev V.I. Nartovskij epos [Narts’ Epos]. Izvestija Severo-Osetinskogo nauchno-issledovatel’skogo instituta [Izvestiya of the North Ossetian Research Institute]. 1945, vol. X, iss. 16.

24. Salbiev T.K. Motiv mesti v ehpose anglosaksov i osetin [Revenge Motives in Anglo-Saxon and Ossetian Epics]. V poiskah Sozdatelya. Mifologiya i tradicionnaya kul'tura osetin [Searching for a Creator. Mythology and Traditional Culture of Ossetians]. Moscow, 2013, pp. 20–25.

25. Narty kaddzhytæ. Iron adæmy ehpos [Narts’ Sagas. Ossetian Folk Epos]. Dzæudzhyhkæu, 2003, vol. I (in Ossetian).

26. Abaev V.I. Nartovskij ehpos osetin [Narts’ Epos of Ossetes]. Izbrannye trudy. Religiya, fol'klor, literatura [Selected works. Religion, Folklore, Literature]. Vladikavkaz, 1990, pp. 142–243.

27. Narty kaddzhytæ. Iron adæmy ehpos [Narts’ Sagas. Ossetian Folk Epos]. Dzæudzhyhkæu, 2004, vol. II (In Ossetian).

28. Narty kaddzhytæ. Iron adæmy ehpos [Narts’ Sagas. Ossetian Folk Epos]. Dzæudzhyhkæu, 2011, vol. VI.

29. Ron M.V. Metamorfozy obraza zerkala v istorii kul'tury [Metamorphosis of the Image of a Mirror]. Thesis abstract of the candidate dissertation on culturology. Saint Petersburg, 2004.

30. Dyumezil' D. Osetinskij ehpos i mifologiya [Ossetian Epos and Mythology]. Vladikavkaz, 2001.

31. Kanukova Z.V. Zhenskoe prostranstvo v poreformennoj Osetii [Woman’s Space in Postreformed Ossetia]. Kavkazskij sbornik [Caucasian collection]. Moscow: Russian Panorama Publishing house, 2008, vol. 5(37), pp. 286–300.

32. Abaev V.I. Istoriko-ehtimologicheskij slovar' osetinskogo yazyka [Historical Etymological Dictionary of the Ossetian Language]. Moscow-Leningrad, 1958, vol. I.

33. Gazdanova V.S. Zolotoj dozhd'. Sost. Z.K. Kusaeva [Golden Rain. Compiled by Z.K. Kusaeva]. Vladikavkaz, 2007.

34. Dzlieva D. Pesni “Alaj” v osetinskoj svad'be: k probleme genezisa i tipologii [“Alay” Songs and Ossetian Wedding: Problems of Genesis and Typology]. Fol'klor: istoricheskaya tradiciya i sovremennye polevye issledovaniya. Materialy chetvertoj mezhdunarodnoj nauchnoj konferencii pamyati A.V. Rudnevoj [Folklore: Historical Tradition and Modern Field Studies. Materials of the Fourth International Scientific Conference in Memory of A.V. Rudneva]. Moscow, 2012, pp. 174–179.

35. Bol'shoj ehnciklopedicheskij slovar'. Mifologiya. Pod redakciej Meletinskogo E.M. [Large Encyclopedic Dictionary. Mythology. Ed. E.M. Meletiskii]. Moscow, 1998.

36. Avesta. Izbrannye gimny. Perevod s avestijskogo I.M. Steblin-Kamenskij [Avesta. Selected hymns. Translated from Avestan by I.M. Steblin-Kamenskiy]. Dushanbe, 1990.

37. Nyberg H.S. Die Religion des alten Iran. Leipzig, 1938.

38. Abaev V.I. Istoriko-ehtimologicheskij slovar' osetinskogo yazyka [Historical Etymological Dictionary of the Ossetian Language]. Moscow-Leningrad, 1958, vol. I.

39. Uarziati V. Izbrannye trudy [Selected Works]. Vladikavkaz, 2007.

40. Megabook Kirilla i Mefodiya [Cyril and Methodius’ megabook]. URL: http://megabook.ru/article

41. Tuallagov A.A. Osetinskie volshebnye businy i nekotorye istoriko-arheologicheskie paralleli [Ossetian Magic Beads and Possible Historical and Archaeological Parallels]. Nartovedenie v XXI veke: sovremennye paradigmy i interpretacii [Narts’ Studies in the XXI century: Modern Paradigms and Interpretations]. Vladikavkaz, 2015, vol. 3, pp. 243 – 249.

42. Takazov F.M., Kusaeva Z.K. Ehtiologicheskie mify o proiskhozhdenii nebesnyh svetil v fol'klore osetin [Etiological Myths on the Origin of the Heavenly Bodies in the Ossetian Folklore]. Sovremennye problemy nauki i obrazovaniya [Modern Problems of Science and Education]. 2015. No 2; URL:http://www.science-education.ru/131-23683

43. Kusaeva Z.K. Motiv chudesnoj businy (Tsykurayy færdyg) v fol'klore i ehtnicheskoj kul'ture osetin [The Motif of the Magic beads (Wish-fulfilling Beads) in Folklore and Ethnic Culture of the Ossetians]. Izvestiya of the Volgograd State Pedagogical University, 2015, Тщ 8(103), pp. 165–173.

44. Sokaeva D.V. Obraz chudesnoj businy v osetinskom fol'klore [The Image of the Magic Beads in the Ossetian Folklore]. Informacionnyj byulleten' otdela fol'klora SOIGSI [The Newsletter of the Folklore Department of the North Ossetian Institute for Humanitarian and Social Studies]. Vladikavkaz, 2007, No 3, February, pp. 3–4.

45. Hetagurov K.L. Polnoe sobranie sochinenij. V 5-ti t. [Collected Works. In 5 vols.]. Vladikavkaz, 2000, vol. 4.

46. Besolova E.B. Opyt simvolicheskogo prochteniya ehlementov narodnoj mediciny v Nartovskih skazaniyah osetin [Experience of Symbolic Readings of the Elements of Traditional Medicine in Narts’ legends of the Ossetians]. Nartovedenie v XXI veke: sovremennye paradigmy i interpretacii [Narts’ Studies in the Twenty-first Century: Contemporary Paradigms and Interpretations. Collection of Scientific Works]. Vladikavkaz, 2015, iss. 3, pp. 101–110.

47. Kusaeva Z.K. Nartovskie arhetipy v tradicionnom ispolnitel'skom iskusstve osetin [Narts’ Archetypes in the Traditional Performing Skills of the Ossetians]. Ehvolyuciya ehpicheskoj tradicii. K 80-letiyu akademika AN Abhazii Shota Hichovicha Salakaya [Evolution of the Epic Tradition. On the 80th anniversary of Academician of the Academy of Sciences of Abkhazia Shota Khichovich Salakaia]. Suhum, 2014, pp. 169 – 179.

48. Osetinskie narodnye zagadki. Sost. D. Tmenova [Ossetian Folk Riddles. Compiled by D. Tmenova]. Dzæudzhyhkæu, 2000.

49. Mamieva I.V. Paremiya kak strukturoobrazuyushchij faktor romana-mifa (B. Gusalov “Plot' ot ploti”) [Paremias as a Structure-forming Factor of the Novel-myth (B. Gusarov “Flesh”)]. Yazykovaya situaciya v mnogoyazychnoj polikul'turnoj srede i problemy sohraneniya i razvitiya yazykov i literatur narodov Severnogo Kavkaza. Materialy Vserossijskoj konferencii. [Language situation in a Multilingual and Multicultural Environment and problems of Preservation and Development of the Languages and Literatures of the Peoples of the North Caucasus. Materials of All-Russian Conference]. Karachaevsk, 2011, pp. 30 – 38.

50. Khadikova A.Kh. Etnicheskie obrazy i traditsionnye modeli povedeniya osetin [Ossetian Ethnic Images and Traditional Behavior Patterns]. Vladikavkaz, 2015.