The Spider in the Folklore Traditions of the Kalmyks

The multi-genre Kalmyk folklore has incorporated a complex system of symbols that reflect the national distinctness and peculiarities of Kalmyk culture. In the present article, the author studies the image of the spider that has several denominations in the Kalmyk vocabulary: araaljin — the cross spider that lives in a house and the web it weaves is called araljna goelm — “spider’s web”. The spider acts as a cultural hero: by virtue of it or imitating its actions people learn the art of weaving which is often viewed as the very first handicraft caused by the need for creation. The spider’s second name that arises in spells is uncle Mandzhi which implies people’s reverence for the spider. The image of the spider occurs in Kalmyk folklore texts (in spells, superstious beliefs, seventy two fables), in the pictorial system of Mongolian fairy tales and epic poems. The image of the spider is also reflected in the artworks of the Kalmyks. For example, the Kalmyk silver jewellery is distinguished by an abstract ornament which is different from others. It is called araljnamoer zeg (spider footprints). Studies of the animal kingdom in Kalmyk folklore shall contribute to investigating the zoological code in the multi-genre Kalmyk folklore

Archaeology · Biology · Folklore · Geography · Spider · Zoology · History · Linguistics and language evolution