A. S. Ilikaev. Motives of the world creation from an egg in the myths of Baltic-Finnish peoples, Komi and Mordovians in context of the image of the divine bird: a comparative analysis

Introduction. This article attempts to review and systematize the main available cosmogonic myths of the Mordovians and Komi with the participation of birds; the data on the bird cult and the image of a divine bird to clarify some specifics of the Finno-Ugric population of Ural-Volga area regarding the myth of the world creation from an egg in comparison with the similar Baltic-Finnish motive.
Materials and Methods. The article is based on the scientific literature, and the collections of folklore. The comparative method makes it possible to compare certain elements of the mythological representations, to identify their common and special features.
Results and Discussion. The myth of the world creation from an egg is present in the tradition of the Baltic-Finnish peoples, Mordovians and Komi. Based on the analysis conducted, the author, along with the version of Balkan-European borrowing, suggests a version of the independent origin of the myth of the world’s creation from an egg in Finno-Ugric and, more broadly, Proto-Uralic mythology. At the same time, it is possible to assume that the hybrid Komi cosmogonic myth could not be the result of interaction with its Western neighbors but preserve the original complex of representations combining the motives of the myth of the diving bird and the world creation from an egg. Thus, it was found out that the image of a divine bird could directly ascend to the most ancient complex of cosmogonic myths which included the motives of the brothers-creators.
Conclusion. The most archaic state of the original cosmogony has been preserved by the Komi mythology. At the same time, the image of a divine bird was further developed in the Mordovian mythology and was inscribed in the patriarchal pantheon headed by Nishkepaz.

Keywords: creation from an egg, world egg, divine bird, Baltic-Finnish peoples, Komi, Mordovians

For citation: Ilikaev AS. Motives of the world creation from an egg in the myths of Baltic-Finnish peoples, Komi and Mordovians in context of the image of the divine bird: a comparative analysis. Finno-ugorskii mir = Finno-Ugric World. 2023;15;4:472–482. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.15507/2076-2577.015.2023.04.472-482.