FALCON AS A SOLAR SYMBOL IN ANCIENT EGYPT AND AMONG THE PAGAN SLAVS

Abstract

Aim. To compare the solar images of the falcon in Slavic and ancient Egyptian mythology to identify common and distinct features of this symbol. Methodology. The article deals with the mythological ideas of the ancient Egyptians and pagan Slavs about the solar nature of the falcon and its connection with the world of the dead. The comparison reveals the similarities and differences of these views. The role of the sun falcon in the Slavic wedding ceremony is considered. Results. The falcon represented the sun in both Slavic and ancient Egyptian mythology. But, among the Slavs, it symbolized only the sun at its zenith. This is evidenced by the fact that his image is not present in the texts of funeral rites. And in the wedding song, it was a metamorphic image of the groom and often throughout the whole song - his only designation. And in ancient Egypt, the falcon represented the sun in its various guises. Research implications. Identification of common features in the comparison of elements of mythological representations (the image of the falcon-sun) in the pagan beliefs of peoples of different cultures and regions - as the pagan Slavs and the ancient Egyptians.