Iriy
Iriy,Vyrai(Belarusian:Вырай,Polish:Wyraj),Vyriy(Russian:Вырий, Ирий, Ирей,Ukrainian:Вирій, Ірій, Ирій), orIrij(Croatian,Czech,Slovak:Ráj, Raj, Irij,Serbian:Ириј) is a mythical place inSlavic mythologywhere "birds fly for the winter andsoulsgo after death "that is sometimes identified withparadise.[1]Springis believed to have arrived on Earth from Vyrai.[2]
According toAndrzej Szyjewski,initially theEarly Slavsbelieved in only one Vyrai, connected to the deity known asRod—it was apparently located far away beyond the sea, at the end of theMilky Way.[3]According to folkloristic fables, the gates of Vyrai were guarded byVeles,who sometimes took the animal form of araróg,grasping in its claws the keys to theotherworlds.[3]It was often imagined as a garden beyond an iron gate that barred the living from entering, located in the crown of thecosmic tree.Whereas the branches were said to be nested by the birds, who were usually identified as human souls.[2]
The etymological reconstruction of the word, supported by preserved beliefs, allows us to connect the Iriy with the oldest Slavic ideas about the other world, which is located underground or beyond the sea, where the path lies through water, in particular, through a whirlpool.[4]The paganSlavic peoplesthought the birds flying away to Vyrai for the winter and returning to Earth for the spring to be human souls.[3]According to some folk tales, the human soul departs the Earth for Vyrai during thecremationof its deceased flesh on apyre;however, it does not stay in paradise forever, returning some time later to the womb of a pregnant woman (traces ofreincarnationcan be seen in this belief)—carried by astorkornightjar.[3]
Boris Uspenskij,having analyzed the extensive ethnographic material about Iriy, concluded that "Iriy" is a general designation of theotherworld(i.e., not a real geographical place).[4]
Etymology
[edit]This term is sometimes said to be derived fromrai,theSlavicword for paradise, but this is probably afolk etymology.[5]It could be derived from theProto-Slavic*rajъin connection with thePersianrayí(wealth, happiness).[3]Similarities to other languages have also been found, for example: theGreekéar(spring),Sanskritáranyas(alien, distant), or theProto-Indo-European*ūr-(water), but none of these three theories have found common recognition or approval.[2]
Heaven and hell
[edit]Eventually the idea of Vyrai was split into two separate realms, most likely under the influence ofChristianity.One Vyrai, for birds, was located in the heavens (simply another version of the original myth) and another underground for snakes/dragons, which is perceived as analogous to Christian hell.[6][3]During theChristianization of Kievan Rus'and theBaptism of Poland,people were able to imagineheavenandhellbased on the idea of Vyrai.[7][3]
Vyrai and storks
[edit]Storkscarried unbornsoulsfrom Vyrai to Earth.[3][8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Людмила Викторовна Евдокимова (1998).Мифопоэтическая традиция в творчестве(in Russian).ISBN9785882003561.Retrieved23 August2014.
- ^abcKempiński, Andrzej (2001).Encyklopedia mitologii ludów indoeuropejskich[Encyclopedia of mythology of Indo-European peoples] (in Polish). Warszawa: Iskry.ISBN83-207-1629-2.
- ^abcdefghSzyjewski, Andrzej (2004).Religia Słowian[Religion of the Slavs] (in Polish). Kraków: Wydawnictwo WAM.ISBN83-7318-205-5.
- ^abBoris Uspenskij. Philological research in the field of Slavic antiquities. - M.: Publishing House of the Moscow University, 1982
- ^Max Vasmer, Этимологический словарь русского языка (М., 1964—1973), s.v.ирей.
- ^Елена Левкиевская (2010).Мифы и легенды восточных славян(in Russian).ISBN9785457607705.Retrieved23 August2014.
- ^Левкиевская, Елена (6 April 2019).Мифы и легенды восточных славян.ISBN9785457607705.
- ^Gieysztor, Aleksander(1982).Mitologia Słowian(in Polish). Warsaw, Poland: Wydawnictwa Artystyczne i Filmowe.ISBN83-221-0152-X.
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