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DOI: 10.46698/VNC.2021.12.5.009
DZERASSA – THE GODDESS OF THE TEMPLARS
Rakhno, Konstantin Yu.
Kavkaz Forum. 2021. Issue 5.
Abstract:
One of the most persistent and widespread plots of the Narts’ epic is the
legend of the conception and birth of Satana. Her mother Dzerassa, the daughter
of the water god Donbettyr, was wooed by the celestial god Wastyrdzhi during her
lifetime. Dying, Dzerassa bequeathed to his sons to guard her body at the crypt
for three days. The brothers decide to take turns guarding. On the third day, when
it is Hæmyс’s turn, at midnight Uastyrdzhi stages fraud dawn. At the sounds of
a wedding Hæmyс decides to go to the village for a wedding and abandons the
crypt. At this time, Wastyrdzhi appears. He enters the crypt, with the help of his felt
lash temporarily resurrects Dzerassa and takes possession of her, then lets his horse
and dog to her, after which he flies to heaven. Nine months later, the deceased
Dzerassa gives birth to a girl Satana, a foal and a puppy. Hearing from the crypt
children’s crying, neighing and yapping, the trickster Syrdon learns about it and
informs the Narts. Dzerassa’s son Uryzmæg takes the newborns home. Satana
becomes the ruler of the Narts, and the foal and the dog become the progenitors
of all earthly horses and dogs. This legend is known throughout Ossetia. It has
almost no correspondences in the national versions of the Narts’ epic and belongs
to the least researched ones. In particular, its areal parallels are still unknown.
Meanwhile, the legend of the famous French military order of the Templars can
serve as a parallel to the motive of copulating with the deceased and subsequent
conceiving a child. According to it, a certain knight desired a noble lady, but could
not possess her during his lifetime. When she died, he secretly entered her tomb at
night and got what he wanted. Nine months later, the deceased gave birth to a
child, which in the various versions of the legend was associated with the magical
head of the Templars.
Keywords: Ossetian epos, mythology, legends, Western Europe, chivalry, Templars
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