Folklore is a valuable source of information about the life of our ancestors, about their way of life, lawmaking, military affairs, family law and other points. This was already well understood by the first scientists. Epics have long been the subject of study. The main question that interested researchers: "What historical facts can be found in epics?" It turned out that they have as much reality as fiction.
Is the epic so far from reality
Not all historians take folklore works seriously, considering them to be fiction. Of course, in legends, thoughts, fairy tales and other creations there is a lot of fantastic, unprecedented abilities and power are attributed to positive heroes, and negative ones are too demonized and served caricatured. But nevertheless, epics and history are not such incompatible concepts. In almost every folklore work, a folk interpretation of a historical event is recorded.
You can not talk about the impartiality of our ancestors. Collective memory recorded only those moments that were pleasant to her or seemed worthy of attention. Often events were interpreted in their own way. For example, such a historical fact as the destruction of the Tatar horde of Kiev is often transformed: a miracle, a glorious hero, the Virgin saved the people of Kiev. Or, despite the destruction, the city quickly recovered and regained its former power. It seems strange that the real destruction of the once powerful city led to the emergence of a number of heroic epics, where Kiev is still the same capital city.
What historical facts can be found in epics
The people made up thoughts about what he was primarily interested in - the power of their state, the wisdom of the ruler, the standard of living, the defense of the state from numerous external enemies, the fight against cruel and unjust local princes and much more. Our ancestors experienced all this personally. And if epics had reached us in their original form, then we could talk about serious historical evidence (without taking into account some kind of hyperbolization). But since the epic was transmitted orally, each storyteller could add something of his own and modify the text.
The facts of history in epics that have been confirmed:
1. Destroyed by the Mongol-Tatars Kiev.
2. The strife of the princes in Kievan Rus, which led to the decline of a powerful state.
3. The ongoing struggle with the nomadic steppes.
4. The baptism of Russia.
5. Collective pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
6. Unsuccessful campaign against Polovtsy Prince Igor and many others.
Encyclopedia of the life of our ancestors
To the questions of skeptics: “What historical facts can be found in epics, if there is only one invention?” - scientists give a definite answer: there are much more truthful events than it might seem at first glance. In addition, folklore is a valuable source for describing family life, laws, administrative devices, the army, and other components of the life of our ancestors.
For example, from the bylina “Youth of Churila” we learn that the artisans filed a complaint in Kiev against their prince for catching all the fish and all the animals in the forests and handed them over to the buyers.
Merchants who wanted to earn money on princely land had to pay duties, and each ruler set the amount at his discretion. In the epic about the Queen of Korsun, merchants complain to their prince that they are forced to pay a tax to the greedy mistress for every step they take.
From the epics about the squad, we learn that the army had a clear charter. In the army organization, you can distinguish the younger and older squads, heroes, servants and others.
Many references in epics and about life. In oral folklore, we see detailed descriptions of feasts that were held in the royal chambers, magnificent dresses of citizens of the upper class, dishes, musical instruments and other things.
Heroes - real or fictional characters
The main characters of the Russian epic are the heroes. The people tormented by external enemies, natural elements, injustice of cruel princes and other misfortunes, demanded defenders. What historical facts can be found in epics so as not to doubt their veracity? Of course, real prototypes of the heroes of the epic.
Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich, Sadko, Alyosha Popovich and other heroes really fought evil in Ancient Russia. Most of the facts have been preserved about Ilya Muromets, it is even known that his grave is in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Dobrynya Nikitich came from the Drevlyans, was captured with his sister and transported to the capital. He has come a long way from a servant to an elite warrior. Very little information has been preserved about Alyosha Popovich. Most likely, he died in the battle on the river. Kalke.
Historical facts in epics found documented evidence, so it makes no sense to doubt their veracity. We must be proud that our ancestors were wise enough to leave such valuable information to future generations.