Birds in Mythology, Folklore, and Art
1. This work examines myths, legends, folklore, fables, and belles-lettres relating to forty-four kinds of birds, and concludes that the most popular and frequently cited birds within mythology are the chicken (especially the rooster), the nightingale, the swan, the cuckoo, the eagle, and the raven; the last is particularly popular among the Paleoasian peoples of North-East Siberia and Alaska.
2. In mythology, the most significant role is often played by the hen or duck, whose eggs produce gods and Demiurges. In addition, ducks and other water birds are frequently cited for their ability to draw earth from the ocean floor. In Paleoasian myths, contrastingly, the role of the Demiurge is frequently assumed by the Great Raven.
3. This work also examines the «Mythozoa»(mythological creatures morphologically different from ordinary humans and animals), primarily chimaeras whose bodies include avian features.
4. Mythozoa are generally classified by the number of different animal types presented in theirbodies, ranging from single, to chimaeras in which may combine two, three, or more different animals. The «single» Mythozoa is one which, while lacking the components of other animals, is nevertheless fantastic, such as the Phoenix or the Chinese «halved duck».
5. The bird-chimaeras (Omithochimaerae) are among the most numerous and diverse. Of those examined, 32 are double-chimaeras, 22 are triple, 6 are quadruple, 3 are quintuple, and 1 is sextuple. In addition, one of the Chinese dragons whose body is composed of the parts of 6 different mammals also has bird claws.
6. Of the features of birds most frequently found in chimaeras, none appears so often as wings, occurring in 41 of 65 discussed creatures. This is likely because wings are advantageous organs, providing the ability to evade terrestrial predators, attack from the air, and travel long distances over otherwise insurmountable natural obstacles such as mountains, seas, and impassable woods. Furthermore, wings also possess a spiritual significance, as a method to leave the ground and reach the heavens.
7. Bird-chimaeras, and chimaeras in general, are frequently not simply creatures of fancy, but possess some reasonable or symbolic meaning. Both 'good' creatures, such as Gryphon and angels, and 'bad' creatures, such as Typhon and Gorgon, are examined from this perspective.
8. In the selection of illustrations, preference was given to ancient drawings and the works of peoples without a documented written language.
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[1] У папуасов из племени маринд-аним еще нет настоящей религии с богами, к которым можно обращаться с молитвами, да и мифология больше похожа на фольклор, так как она состоит из отдельных историй, никак не связанных друг с другом, в которых, к тому же, очень трудно уловить логическую связь между причинами и следствиями. Но по представлениям этих людей, некоторые люди, животные, растения и даже неодушевленные предметы являются «дема» (их можно называть более привычным нам словом «демонами»), т. е. обладают магическими способностями, могут, подобно оборотням, менять свой облик, вмешиваться в жизнь людей и творить разные чудеса.
[2] По обычаям «охотников за черепами», чтобы дать ребенку имя, требуется череп убитого человека, имя которого переходит к ребенку. А когда хоронят человека, в его могилу кладут череп того человека, имя которого он носил при жизни. (СД 1960).
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