ASYMMETRICAL ELEMENT IN ORNAMENTED TOWELS FROM VITEBSK REGION

The asymmetric element in the Belarusian folk ornamented towel from Vitebsk region is explored. Names of a crossshaped rosette given by culture bearers in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine are collected. Based on the comparative analysis of these names, the etymology of the ornamental element which is part of the explored asymmetrical block is found. The link of the etymology to the deer cult and other geometrical ornament elements related to this cult is demonstrated. The areal spread of these symbols including Eastern Europe, the Urals, Zauralye and Caucasus has been studied. The interrelation between the deer cult and the archaic spider cult has been found. Examples are given to illustrate the presence of the spider cult in the past, and spider symbols used in the Belarusian folk needlework are shown. Illustrative evidence material is given including examples of a simple and complex grid and gridded rhombus in folk embroidery and needlework. The relation between the deer cult and Pancake Week, a folk fest is defined. The epithet “kryvosheyka” (crooked neck) given to this fest is considered, and its symbol in the Eastern European and Caucasian folk ornament is shown. Based on linguistic data, the name has been reconstructed for the Slavic and Scythian god whose zoomorphic symbol was a deer. The hypothesis is proposed regarding the etymology of Lada, a Slavic goddess.

auroch-deer, hand, spider, grid, harrow, Pancake Week

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