Contacts
|
THE POETICS AND SYMBOLISM OF NUMBERS AS A REFLECTION OF CULTURAL CODE ELEMENTS IN OSSETIAN POETRY OF K.L. KHETAGUROV
Mamieva, Izeta V.
Kavkaz Forum. 2025. Issue 24.
Abstract:
The article is the first to examine the numerical symbolism in the works of the founder of Ossetian literature Kosta Levanovich Khetagurov, which he created in his native language. The novelty of the problem statement is also determined by the completeness of the frequency statistics: along with precedent texts (the collection “Ossetian Lyre”), materials from a collection of handwritten and printed editions and variants (including the unfinished poem “Khetag”) are introduced into scientific circulation. The poetry of the master of words is examined in the article in a broad folklore and mythological context (epic kadags about the Narts, proverbs and sayings, and other sources with a numerical component, in which the archaic layer of ethnoculture is deposited). The relevance of the topic is determined by the importance of understanding the ethnocultural aspect in the poet’s numerical designations from the standpoint of their consistency with the basic values of the nation. The purpose of this article is to identify and analyze the sacred nature and symbolic connotations of numbers and their functions in the author’s artistic discourse. The study utilizes an associative-semantic interpretation method, applying an ethnophilological approach that involves a comprehensive study of numerical data and their accentual markings in the writer’s work. The annotated work focuses, in particular, on the «corrections» introduced into literary adaptations of folklore plots with the aim of sharpening the sacred essence of the numbers appearing in them («In the Shepherds» and others); an assessment is given of cases of the implicit, but significant presence of numerical semantics in the description of spatio-temporal landmarks. It is concluded that the legacy of K. L. Khetagurov, in addition to its high artistic value, represents a unique information channel aimed at activating the perception of the cultural code and strengthening national identity.
Keywords: Kosta Khetagurov, Ossetian poetry, numerical symbols, ethnopoetics, cultural code.
Language: Russian
Download the full text
 For citation: Mamieva, I.V. The Poetics and Symbolism of Numbers as a Reflection of Cultural Code Elements in Ossetian Poetry of K. L. Khetagurov. KAVKAZ-FORUM. 2025, iss. 24 (31), pp. 69-85 (In Russian). ← Contents of issue |
| © 2025 Kavkaz forum | |||