MYTHOLOGICAL BELIEFS AS THE BASIS OF ETHNIC CULTURAL CODES

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to reconstruct the deep basis of Ukrainian pre-Christian cultural codes by identifying archaic Indo-European mythological structures, relics of which have been preserved in the Ukrainian ethnomythological heritage, as well as to determine their specific features and semantic essence. The methodology of the study combines the methods of comparative Indo-European mythology, namely, Georges Dumasil's theory of the trichotomous socio- functional structure of Indo-European ideology, structural semiotics, and structural anthropology, which allowed us to outline the specific features of common Indo-European mythological structures. Scientific novelty. On the basis of a comprehensive analysis of the works of comparative mythologists, the author outlines the pan-Indo-European mythological structures that reflect ancient religious beliefs and identifies the socio-functional archetypes of the «priest», «sorcerer-chief», «sacred warrior-defender» and «warrior-beast». The author also proves the connection with these archetypes of the common Indo-European mytho-epic themes of «opposition of the ethics of heroism to the ethics of profit», «three sins of the warrior», «interfunctional conflict», and traces them as the basis of the folklore tradition, which is a form of transmission from generation to generation within an ethnic community of religious, social and cultural experience, an evolving and self-organizing system that develops authentic and assimilates externally acquired (infiltrated) elements, while retaining its invariant features that define its identity. It is concluded that, based on a comprehensive analysis of the works of leading experts in the field of Indo-European cultural comparative studies, it is established that mythology is the oldest ideological formation of a syncretic nature, in which elements of religion, philosophy, science, and art in their infancy are intertwined. One of the richest and most colorful sources for studying the culture and worldview of an ethnic group is mythology, legends and legends of the past. Thanks to mythology, we learn about the deep origins of the spirituality and beliefs of our ancestors.