Етнографски аспекти на митологемата „Златното руно“
Ethnographic Aspects of the Myth of the Golden Fleece

Summary/Abstract: Singnificant traces of the myth of the Golden Fleece have survived in the traditional culture of the Balkan peoples. This has been due to the historical continuity conducive to which has been the relief and the climatic features of the region; to sheepbreeding, as one of the main livelihoods of the Balkan peoples. These cultural traces have been sought along several lines in the presented text: 1) the special attitude of the shepherds to the ram, the leader of the herd, and the use of its hair in magic practices; 2) the presenting of a live ram at bethrodal, the association of its skin with the birth of children, the wedding ram in the culinary practices of the Bulgarians; 3) the use of sheepskin (fleece, wool) or sheepskin clothes (sheepskin coats, hats) in the rituals of the life cycle; 4) the cultural meaning of “shearing” the hair in the rituals of transition in human society.

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