Abstract
This paper discusses one group of peculiar anthropomorphic characters found on the rocks and slabs of the mounds of the Minusinsk Basin. These fi gures have intentionally accentuated hands, often of exaggerated sizes. Similar images are frequent from the Bronze Age to the ethnographic time. In general, the images of hands with fi ngers are universal and can be found in the art of many nations. To date, the repertoire of the rock art of the area allowed identifying several scenes with anthropomorphic characters having an intentionally accentuated open hand. Among them is a scene with a character, shown with a raised hand all fi ngers of which are clearly depicted, next to the animal or in the pose of copulation with it (the so-called “sacred marriage”); a plot with the character identifi ed with the thunder god, whose hands have are many times greater than the natural, etc. In the rock art of the Minusinsk Basin, the authors have distinguished two more scenes with fi ve-fi ngered characters from the Tesin and ethnographic time. The fi rst is associated with the idea of a “transition” to another world; and in addition to the large fi ve-fi ngered fi gures, there are smaller anthropomorphs, as well as an image of a mirror with the handle. The other scene of ethnographic time depicts the horseman, a “cultural hero”, who on his way encounters, fi rst, a group of fi ve-fi ngered “round-bellied” characters (depicted on one plane – one episode), and later (the following episode on the next plane) – a two-headed monster, that apart from the long fi ve-fi ngered hands also has zoo- and anthropomorphic features, both male and female. Such scenes were popular in the epic of the peoples of Southern Siberia, their roots in ancient times.
Keywords
Petroglyphs, Minusinsk Basin, scenes with fi ve-fi ngered characters, semantics.
Alekseenko, E.A. 2001: Mify, predaniya, skazki ketov [Myths, legends, fairy tales of the Kets]. Moscow.
Appelgren-Kivalo, N. 1931: Alt-Altaische Kunstdenkmäler Briefe und Bildermaterial von J.R. Aspelins Reisen in Sibirien und der Mongolei 1887–1889. Helsingfors.
Blednova, N., Francfort, N.R., Legchilo, N. 1995: Repertoire des Pétroglyphes d’Asie Centrale, Fascicule No. 2: Sibérie du sud 2: Tepsej I–III, Ust’-Tuba I–VI (Russie, Khakassie). Paris.
Cheremisin, D.V. 2008: Iskusstvo zverinogo stilya v pogrebal’nykh kompleksakh ryadovogo naseleniya pyzyrykskoy kul’tury. Semantika zverinykh obrazov v kontekste pogrebal’nogo obryada [The art of animal style in the burial complexes of the ordinary population of the Pyzyryk culture. Semantics of animal images in the context of the funeral rite]. Novosibirsk.
Chlenova, N.L. 1967: Proiskhozhdenie i rannyaya istoriya plemen tagarskoy kul’tury [The origin and early history of the tribes of the Tagar culture]. Moscow.
Devlet, E.G., Devlet, M.A. 2005: Mify v kamne. Mir naskal’nogo iskusstva Rossii [Myths in stone. The world of rock art of Russia]. Moscow.
Devlet, M.A. 1976: Bol’shaya boyarskaya pisanica [Big boyar pisanitsa]. Moscow.
Dyakonova, V.P. 1984: Etnicheskie i istoriko-kul’turnye svyazi narodov Yuzhnogo Altaya i Tuvy [Ethnic, historical and cultural relations of the peoples of Southern Altai and Tuva]. In: V.I. Matyushchenko, N.A. Tomilov (eds.), Etnicheskaya istoriya tyurkoyazychnykh narodov Sibiri i sopredel’nykh territoriy [Ethnic history of the Turkic-speaking peoples of Siberia and adjacent territories]. 21–25.
Ermolenko, L.N., Sovetova, O.S. 2009: O «fertoobraznykh» voinskikh izobrazheniyakh ryolkinskoy kul’tury [About “fertoobraznyh” military images of rolkinskay culture].In: A.P. Derevyanko, V.I. Molodin (eds.), Problemy arkheologii i istorii Severnoy Evrazii [Problems of archeology and history of Northern Eurasia]. Novosibirsk, 82–88.
Esin, Yu.N. 2016: Petroglify okunevskoy kul’tury na severe Khakasii [Petroglyphs of the Okunev culture in the North of Khakassia]. Nauchnoe obozrenie Sayano-Altaya [Sayan-Altai Scientifi c Review] 1 (13), 85–124.
Esin, Yu.N. 2017: Naskal’nye izobrazheniya Oglakhty. Al’bom. [Rock paintings of Oglahty. Album]. Abakan.
Golan, A. 1993: Mif i simvol [Myth and Symbol]. Moscow.
Gryaznov, M.P., Komarova, M.N. 2006: Syda V – mogil’nik okunevskoy kul’tury [Syda V – the cemetery of Okunev culture].In: D.G. Savinov, M.L. Podol’skiy (eds.), Okunevskiy sbornik 2. Kul’tura i ee okruzhenie [Okunev collection 2. Culture and its environment]. Saint Petersburg, 82–95.
Khazanov, A.M. 1964: Religiozno-magicheskoe ponimanie zerkal u sarmatov [Religious and magical understanding of the mirrors of the Sarmatians]. Sovetskaya arkheologiya [Soviet Archeology] 3, 89–96.
Khmilyar, O.F. 2013: Yazyk ruki kak simvolicheskiy kod obshcheniya: istoriko-psikhologicheskiy aspect [Hand language as a symbolic code of communication: historical and psychological aspect]. Psikhologiya v Rossii i za rubezhom [Psychology in Russia and abroad], 14–21.
Ivanov, S.V. 1970: Skul’ptura narodov Severa Sibiri XIX – pervoy poloviny XX v. [Sculpture of the peoples of the North of Siberia in the 19th to fi rst half of the 20ty century]. Leningrad.
Kashaev, S.V. 2008: Seriya nadgrobnykh pamyatnikov poseleniya Vyshesteblievskaya-11 [A series of tombstones of the Vyshestebliyevskaya-11 settlement]. In: D.G. Savinov, V.N. Sedykh, V.I. Belyaeva, N.A. Lazarevskaya (eds.), Sluchaynye nakhodki: khronologiya, atributsiya, istoriko-kul’turnyy kontekst [Random Finds: Chronology, Attribution, Historical and Cultural Context]. Saint Petersburg, 128–132.
Kerlot, H. Eh. 1994: Slovar’ simvolov [Dictionary of Symbols]. Moscow. Kovaleva, O.V. 2011: Naskal’nye risunki epohi pozdnej bronzy Minusinskoy kotloviny [Rock paintings of the Late Bronze Age Minusinsk Basin]. Novosibirsk.
Kovaleva, O.V. 2013: Risunki na plitakh i stelakh kurgana Barsuchiy log [Drawings on the plates and stelae of the barrow Badger log]. Nauchnoe obozrenie Sayano-Altaya [Sayan-Altai Scientifi c Review] 1(5), 91–112.
Kubarev, V.D. 1988: Drevnie rospisi Karakola [Ancient paintings of Karakol]. Novosibirsk.
Kubarev, V.D. 1990: Periodizatsiya petroglifov Kalbak-Tasha (Gornyj Altay) [Periodization of Kalbak-Tasha petroglyphs (Mountain Altai)] In: M.A. Devlet (ed.), Problemy izucheniya naskal’nykh izobrazheniy v SSSR [Problems of studying rock paintings in the USSR]. Moscow, 154.
Kubarev, V.D. 2002: Naskal’noe iskusstvo Altaya [Rock Art of Altai]. Gorno-Altaysk.
Kubarev, V.D. 2009: Petroglify Shivehet-Khaykhana (Mongol’skiy Altay) [Petroglyphs of Shivaet Khairkhan (Mongolian Altai)]. Novosibirsk.
Kubarev, V.D., Matochkin, E.P. 1992: Petroglify Altaya [Petroglyphs of Altai]. Novosibirsk.
Kuzmin, Yu.N. 2011: Pogrebal’nye pamyatniki khunno-syan’biyskogo vremeni v stepyakh Srednego Eniseya: Tesinskaya kul’tura [Funerary monuments of the Hun-Syanbi time in the steppes of the Middle Yenisei: Tessinsk culture]. Saint Petersburg.
Kyzlasov, L.R. 1971: Khakasskaya arkheologicheskaya ekspeditsiya 1969 goda [Khakass archeological mission in 1969.]. Uchyonye zapiski Khakasskogo NIIYALI [Scientifi c notes Khakassky NIIIL] 3 (XVI), 173–177.
Kyzlasov, L.R., Leontev, N.V. 1980: Narodnye risunki khakasov [Folk paintings Khakases]. Moscow.
Leontev, N.V. 1985: Pisanitsy ust’ya r. Kantegir [Scribe mouth of the river Kantegir]. In: V.E. Larichev (ed.), Rerihovskie chteniya [Roerich’s readings]. Novosibirsk, 168–179.
Lipskiy, A.N., Vadetskaya A.B. 2006: Mogil’nik Tas Khazaa [Burial ground Tas Haza].In: D.G. Savinov, M.L. Podolskiy (red.), Okunevskiy sbornik 2. Kul’tura i ee okruzhenie [Okunev collection 2. Culture and its environment]. Saint Petersburg, 9–53.
Lipskiy, A.N. 1970: K voprosu o semantike solntseobraznykh lichin Eniseya [To the question of the semantics of the sun-like guise of the Yenisei]. In: V.E. Larichev (ed.), Sibir’ i ee sosedi v drevnosti [Siberia and its neighbors in antiquity]. 3. Novosibirsk, 167–173.
Lubo-Lesnichenko, E.I. 1975: Privoznye zerkala Minusinskoy kotloviny. K voprosu o vneshnikh svyazyakh drevnego naseleniya Yuzhnoj Sibiri [Imported mirrors of the Minusinsk Basin. To the question of the external relations of the ancient population of South Siberia]. Moscow.
Marr, N.Ya. 1936: Izbrannye raboty [Selected Works]: in 5 vols. Vol. 2. Osnovnye voprosy yazykoznaniya [Basic questions of linguistics]. Moscow – Leningrad.
Marsadolov, L.S. 2010: Bol’shoy Salbykskiy kurgan v Khakasii [The Big Salbyk Kurgan in Khakassia]. Abakan.
Miklashevich, E.A., Ozheredov, Yu.I. 2008: Fotografi i sibirskikh pisanits v nasledii A.V. Adrianova [Photos of Siberian writings in the heritage of A.V. Adrianov].In: D.G. Savinov, O.S. Sovetova (eds.), Tropoyu tysyacheletiy (trudy SAIPI) [In the path of millennia (works of SAIPI]. IV. Kemerovo, 156–188.
Murgabaev, S.S. 2013: Problemy khronologii i kul’turnykh svyazey rannikh petroglifov Karatau [Problems of chronology and cultural connections of early Karatau petroglyphs]. Nauchnoe obozrenie Sayano-Altaya [Sayan-Altai Scientifi c Review] 1, 52–65.
Pogozheva, A.P., Kadikov, B.H. 1979: Mogil’nik epokhi bronzy u poselka Ozernogo na Altae [Bronze Age cemetery near the village of Ozerny in the Altai]. In: A.P. Pogozheva (ed.), Novoe v akrheologii Sibiri i Dal’nego Vostoka [New in archeology of Siberia and the Far East]. Novosibirsk, 80–85.
Pshenitsyna, M.N., Pyatkin B.N. 2006: Mogil’nik Tas Khazaa [Burial ground Tas Hazаa]. In: D.G. Savinov, M.L. Podolskiy (eds.), Okunevskiy sbornik 2. Kul’tura i ee okruzhenie [Okunev collection 2. Culture and its environment]. Saint Petersburg, 82–95.
Pyatkin, B.N., Martynov, A.I. 1985: Shalabolinskie petroglify [Shalabolin petroglyphs]. Krasnoyarsk.
Pyatkin, B.N., Sovetova, O.S., Miklashevich, E.A. 1995: Petroglify Oglakhty V (publikatsiya kollektsii) [Petroglify Oglakhty V (publication collection)]. In: V.V. Bobrov (ed.), Drevnee iskusstvo Azii. Petroglify [Ancient art of Asia. Petroglyphs]. Kemerovo, 86–95.
Ron, M. 2001: Mifologiya zerkala [Mirror Mythology]. In: L.A. Moreva (ed.), Intellekt, voobrazhenie, intuitsiya: mifologicheskiy i khudozhestvennyy opyt [Intellect, imagination, intuition: mythological and artistic experience] 11. Saint Petersburg, 72–86.
Rygdylon, Eh.R. 1959: Pisanitsy bliz ozera Shira [Petroglyphs near Lake Shira]. Sovetskaya arkheologiya [Soviet Archaeology] ХХIХ–ХХХ, 186-202.
Rusakova, I.D. 2016: K voprosu o datirovke petroglifov rannego zheleznogo veka (na primere petroglifov Boyarskogo khrebta v Khakasii) [To the dating of the iron age petroglyphs (on the example of the Boyary ridge petroglyphs]. In: V.V. Bobrov (ed.), Arkheologicheskoe nasledie Sibiri i Tsentral’noy Azii (problemy interpretatsii i sokhraneniya) [Archaeological heritage of Siberia and central Asia (problems of interpretation and preservation)]. Kemerovo, 173–181.
Savenkov, I.T. 1910: O drevnikh pamyatnikakh izobrazitel’nogo iskusstva na Enisee. Trudy XIV arkheologicheskogo s’ezda v Chernigove v 1908 g. [On the ancient monuments of art on the Yenisei. Proceedings of the XIVth Archeological Congress in Chernigov in 1908]. Vol. 1. Moscow.
Savinov, D. G. 2013: «Obryady perekhoda» na kurgannykh plitakh Srednego Eniseya [“Rites of Transition” on the kurgan slabs of the Middle Yenisei]. Nauchnoe obozrenie Sayano-Altaya [Sayan-Altai Scientifi c Review] 1, 112–120.
Savinov, D.G. 2009: Minusinskaya provintsiya Khunnu (po materialam arkheologicheskikh issledovaniy 1984–1989) [Minusinsk province of Hunnu (based on archaeological research 1984-1989)]. Saint Petersburg.
Sem, T.Yu. 2006: Sovremennyy vzglyad na problemy shamanstva: k psikhologii puti znaniya [A modern view on the problems of shamanism: towards the psychology of the path of knowledge].In: T.Yu. Sem (ed.), Shamanizm narodov Sibiri [Shamanism of the peoples of Siberia]. 523–535.
Semenov, V.A. 2008: Pervobytnoe iskusstvo. Kamennyy vek. Bronzovyy vek [Primitive art. Stone Age. Bronze Age]. Saint Petersburg.
Semenov, V.A. Kilunovskaya, M.E., Krasnienko, S.V., Subbotin, A.V. 2003: Izobrazheniya na plitakh tagarskikh kurganov [Images on the plates of the Tagar mounds]. Saint Petersburg.
Sher, J. A. 1999: Répertoire des Pétroglyphes d’Asie Centrale No. 4. Ensemble de Cheremushny Log. Paris.
Sher, J. A., Blednova, N., Legchilo, N., Smirnov, D. 1994: Repertoire des petroglyphes D’Asie No1: Centrale Oglakhty I-III (Russie, Khakassie). Paris.
Sher, J. A. 1980: Petroglify Sredney i Tsentral’noy Azii [Petroglyphs of Middle and Central Asia]. Novosibirsk.
Smirnov, A.M. 2001: Izobrazheniya khramovyh struktur i syuzhetov v evropeyskom megaliticheskom iskusstve v IV–III tys. do n.eh.: opyt identifi katsii [Images of temple structures and plots in European megalithic art in 4–3 millennium BC: identifi cation experience].In: M.A. Devlet (ed.), Mirovozzrenie drevnego naseleniya Evrazii [World view of the ancient population of Eurasia]. Moscow, 60–89.
Sovetova, O.S. 2005: Petroglify tagarskoy epohi na Enisee (syuzhety i obrazy) [Petroglyphs of the Tagar epoch on the Yenisei (plots and images)]. Novosibirsk.
Sovetova, O.S. 2005: Yazyk zhestov v naskal’nom iskusstve [Sign language in rock art]. In: E.G. Devlet (red.), Mir naskal’nogo iskusstva [World of rock art], Moscow, 237–242.
Sovetova, O.S. 2010: Tema «svyashchennogo» braka v naskal’nom iskusstve [The theme of “sacred” marriage in rock art]. In: V.A. Alyokshin, L.B. Kircho, L.A. Sokolova, V.Ya. Stegantseva (eds.), Drevnie kul’tury Evrazii [Ancient cultures of Eurasia]. Saint Petersburg, 246–251.
Tresidder, D. 1999: Slovar’ simvolov [Character Dictionary]. Moscow.
Tretyakov, P.I. 1869: Turunkhajskiy kray, ego priroda i zhiteli [Turunhay region, its nature and residents]. Saint Petersburg.
Vaynshteyn, S.I. 1961: Tuvintsy-todzhintsy. Istoriko-etnografi cheskie ocherki [Tuva-Todzhins. Historical and ethnographic essays]. Moscow.
Zavitukhina, M.P. 1979: Saragashenskiy etap [Saragashensky stage]. In: Complex arkheologicheskikh pamyatnikov u gory Tepsey na Enisee [The complex of archaeological sites at Tepsey mountain on the Yenisei]. Novosibirsk, 54–70.