About Interpretation of the one Group of Finds from Excavations of Rural Sanctuaries of the Crimean Azov Region

Abstract

Layers of mollusk shells on the floors are feature of any rural sanctuary in the Crimean Azov region. Single shells, as well as fish bones, were found in some places of sacrifices. In the ritual practice of rural sanctuaries marine attributes were included in the context of ritual actions determined by the archaic ideas about the world model, which sustained among the rural population during the centuries. «Sea» attributes, on the one hand, symbolized abundance, fecundity, and in this meaning belonged to the circle of symbols of fertility gods. On the other hand, they marked the lower cosmic zone, comparable to the chthonic world, were applied in the sacrifice ceremonies, which set up the connection between the levels of the universe in accordance with the archaic model of the world.

Keywords

• asov sea coast area
• sanctuaries
• model of the world
• bospor
• chora
• sea
• mollusk shells
• sacrifice ceremonies