HEROIC EPOS OF NORTH CAUCASUS NATIONS AS BASIS FOR ETHNICAL CULTURE OF ADYGEA PEOPLE

The current socially-political situation induced the representatives of various knowledge spheres to pay a special attention to customs, manners and traditions of North Caucasus people, to peculiarities of their spirituality and culture. The significant interest to mythology, religion, epos and intercultural interaction of various ethnical communities is connected not only with a demand in the culture dialogue, in contact points establishment in modern society multicultural space, but also with necessity of foundations search for spiritual and moral upbringing of the rising generation. Oral poetical creation is a unique and rich source of cultural self-determination. Study of epical heritage is a significant constituent of upbringing in the spirit of regardful and tolerant attitude, opposition to nationalism and xenophobia in multinational government. Narts heroic epos, to analysis of which a lot of scientific works of various knowledge spheres specialists are dedicated to (ethnographers, philologists, culturologists, philosophers and sociologists) is considered to be the fundamental monument of oral folk art in the North Caucasus. Heroic epos “Narts”, referred to culturally-historical heritage of Adygea inhabitants, as the brightest phenomenon of their spiritual culture, gives possibility to come to consideration of ethno-specific values and ideals, allowing to speak about hero phenomenon, whose supertemporal and supracultural character is incontestable. An epic hero, being the bearer of a row of qualities, separating him from the number of majority of qualities and characteristics, virtually, represents some “archetype” – extra-significant suggestive image of cultural space. The actions performed by him are considered as heroic, and pass to the category of achievements, but locality and subjects, connected with them acquire a ritual, sacred character. The epos “Narts”, ancient monument of Adygea culture, defined heroic-epical traditions of Adygea people, the hero has those features, which are the most valuable, ethno-specific and allow him to survive in the mountain severe conditions. At the same time a lot of them are considered to be universal, generally-cultural and socially-significant, especially in the modern society. The question is about such moral qualities, as humanity and honesty. Nart epos also reflects specific peculiarities of a genuine “Nart person”, as a warrior, possessing several languages, honest, smart and sagacious, knowing enough  information about traditions and way of life of neighboring people, hospitable, capable to estimate and admit advantages of any person even an enemy.  Mainly these moral traditions comprise that valuable basis, which allows speaking about traditional culture of Adygeya people, reproduction of archaic values in  modernity, about upbringing bases in this culture and that spiritually-moral potential, which it bears in itself.

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