Volga Svyatoslavovich is a well-known epic hero, which reflected the features of both historical and primitive communal systems. Characteristic of the character is that, according to legends, he knew how to understand the language of animals and birds, as well as turn into animals. In science, there is a point of view that in the face of this character the features of several really existing Old Russian princes were combined.
Origin Opinions
In historiography, there are several opinions about who Volga Svyatoslavovich is. Some researchers see in his image the features of a primitive communal way of life. They refer to the following plot moments in epics: a description of thunder and lightning at his birth, as well as the mythological fact that, according to fairy tales, his father was a snake.
Some scientists see this as echoes of ancient Slavic cults and pagan beliefs. However, other authors trace real historical roots in this character. For example, there is a version that Volga Svyatoslavovich was the prototype of Polotsk Prince Vseslav. There is a point of view that the hero reflected the features of the famous Prophetic Oleg, who, according to legend, died from a snakebite, which are paralleled with the history of this fabulous character.
Birth
Several stories are associated with the name of the hero, and the first of them is dedicated to his birth. As mentioned above, its origin is shrouded in various kinds of mythological strata. At the time of his birth, according to the legend, there was a thunder, lightning flashed, and all the animals were frightened. As in many other Russian folk tales, Volga Svyatoslavovich grew by leaps and bounds, intensely gaining strength. He quickly learned to read and write, as well as understand the language of animals. In this version of its origin, the influence of pagan totemic representations of the ancient Slavs about the connection of people and animals is pronounced.
Wars
Volga Svyatoslavovich, the epic about which is dedicated to his trips to overseas countries, was one of the most popular folk heroes of the Old Russian epic. His difference from other characters is that he does not achieve victory by physical force, like other heroes, but by cunning, magic and magic. This is shown in a work dedicated to his campaign in India.
According to legend, he recruits a squad and goes to fight in foreign lands. An unknown author writes how he turns into a wolf or a falcon, getting his soldiers to hunt for food. Before the siege, according to myth, he turns vigilantes into ants, and after taking the fortress he returns to their human form again. After the victory, he will marry the wife of the deceased ruler, and his soldiers will marry local women.
Historical motives
Many scholars find in this episode another important difference between the character’s story and the traditional narratives of the heroes. The fact is that usually the ancient epic Russian warrior did not stay in place, but continued to travel across Russian lands, protecting them from enemies. The fact that the hero remained in the conquered city allows many authors to argue that in this legend there are echoes of the distant time of the resettlement and hostility of the tribes among themselves, when the conquerors settled in the conquered territories and entered into marriage with local residents.
Meeting with Mikula Selyaninovich
The reflection of many archaic features in the myths of the hero is evidenced by their summary. Volga Svyatoslavovich not only travels to overseas territories, but also travels to Russian lands. One of the legends tells of how he received three cities for governorship, where he intended to collect tribute. He gathered his squad and hit the road. On the way, he met with a peasant plowman, who plowed tillage by the plow.
The work gives a lengthy description of this new hero, a simple peasant peasant Mikula, who could lift a heavy plow with one hand, which neither vigilantes nor Volga could pull out of the furrow. According to the narrative, the main character gave Mikule to control these cities after he had put in order the collection of tribute. The fact is that before tax collectors abused their powers, collecting more money than was supposed to.
Historical realities
The main idea of the epic “Volga Svyatoslavovich” is that it shows not only the feats of arms of the soldiers, but also simple peasant labor, as well as the occupations of the ancient Slavs. In the legend of the Indian campaign, hunting is shown, for example, as the main occupation of the people. If in other works this type of occupation was portrayed as the fun of princes and their warriors, then it is shown here that forestry provided people with livelihoods. The work reflected those times when the population did not yet know either agriculture or cattle breeding, and led mainly the appropriating economy. So, it’s precisely due to the extraction that the character’s squad is fed on the campaign.
The influence of foreign legends
The second part, admittedly by researchers, is less historical, since it reflected several cultural strata, for example, the motives of the works about Alexander the Great, who also made a trip to India. In addition, there are a number of references to the tales of other eastern peoples. This affected, first of all, in the folklore moments associated with the transformation of the character into animals. However, in the epic there is a reference to an event from ancient Russian history: we are talking about the campaign of the Prophet Oleg to Byzantium. This prince built ships on wheels to lead the army. Volga also resorted to various tricks to achieve the capture of the city.
Novgorod roots
The story of the hero’s meeting with Mikula, according to most experts, is connected with Novgorod realities. This is evidenced by the description of nature, which resembles the northern regions of the country. In these places, the soil was very difficult to plow; there really were stones in it, as was said in the epic. In addition, salt and pennies are mentioned in the work, which, according to a number of authors, is due to the fact that Novgorod, having enough of its own salt, nevertheless, bought it from German merchants, for which a large tribute was paid. Related to this is the mention of unjust tax collectors. Also in the epic city of Orekhovets is mentioned, in which many historians see a reference to the ancient city of Oreshka.
Another curious point that the authors point out regarding this epic is how the character's relationship with a simple peasant is shown. Mikula clearly surpassed his Volga in strength and dexterity. His mare was faster and more enduring than Volga's horses. In this, the authors see references to that distant time when the Varangian squads and the local Slavic population were at enmity with each other.
Features
The epics dedicated to this character are distinguished by the fact that they reflected a lot of archaic features inherent in ancient Russian society. Therefore, Volga Svyatoslavovich combined several cultural traditions in his image. The cartoon, shot in 2010, however, did not at all reflect the Old Russian motifs characteristic of these works. But the legends showed a transitional period in the formation of the Old Russian state with the preservation of the elements of the communal system, but with the emergence of political power of the rulers. This is the difference between legends and traditional epics, which show the already existing social structure. But none of these features was shown by the cartoon "Volga Svyatoslavovich", which was shot in a modern style without taking into account historical realities.