Decor of Ancient Rus Weapons, Armor and Amulets in the Context of Apotropeich Magic

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to identify the features of the decoration of ancient Russian armour and ornamental motifs of amulets of warriors of the times of Kyivan Rus in the context of apotropaic beliefs. Research methodology. A complex of art historical research methods was applied: the method of formal, stylistic, comparative, compositional, semiotic-hermeneutic and iconographic-iconological analysis. Scientific novelty. The issue of the use of ornamental motifs of weapons, armour and amulets of ancient Ruthenian warriors through the prism of apotropaic rituals of pre-Christian times and after the baptism of Kyivan Rus is considered; the semantics of the symbols of the Tree of Life, birds, palmette, pagan gods (Perun), plant ornament. in the context of apotropaic properties was analysed. Conclusions. The study revealed that the defining features of the ornamentation of weapons and armour of the ancient Ruthenians of the Kievan Rus period were the symbolism and metaphoricity of apotropaic images. Iconographic elements (signs and symbols) imbue armour with apotropaic significance, so that in addition to the direct function of protecting its owner from injury in battle on the physical level, through the use of appropriate ornamental motifs in the decoration of helmets, shields and chain mail (shells), they were endowed in the consciousness of contemporary man with the ability to project magical and apotropaic power through the powerful images they depicted. The ornamentation of weapons and armour of the ancient Ruthenians of the Kievan Rus period was characterised by the symbolism and metaphoricity of apotropaic images. Pagan beliefs, despite their prohibition, were able to adapt and synthesise with the new Christian faith, preserving the ornamentation and protective symbolism in military armour, weapons and amulets during the time of Kievan Rus. The ornamentation of armour and weapons in Kievan Rus was formed on the same components as the ornamentation of jewellery – these are realistic and schematic drawings, magical and cult signs, solar signs. Symbols encoded in the decor on metal products, which have ancient protective power, are copied at the modern stage, preserving a certain semantics, which consists in a certain message to the Higher powers.