Let's start with the most legendary artifacts - stone women. These, as scientists say, are anthropomorphic menhirs, stone sculptures from one to four meters high. These idols-amulets (idols, idiots, mothers) are only called "women", mainly monoliths depict warriors - Polovtsian or Scythian.
One of the hypotheses of such a discrepancy between the name and appearance of the sculptures is that in the Turkic languages baba (balbal) means “forefather”. The worship of stone women is considered to be associated with the cult of ancestors. The statues were erected on the highest sections of the steppe, watersheds, burial mounds in specially constructed sanctuaries for them, which were sometimes fenced off with stones. And, for example, the Soviet art critic Alexei Fyodorov-Davydov considered such sculptures to be a kind of symbol of the domination of nomads over the steppe.
Stone women, of course, become museum pieces, but relatively rarely. Anthropologists devote special research to them. One of these artifacts, which attracted the attention of scientists, were the idols made of White Clay. It was there that KN correspondents visited. These exhibits are interesting because in our time a kind of worship has developed around them. Local residents and visitors ask the idols to fulfill their cherished desires.
It did not take long to search for the Beloglinsky Museum of History and Local Lore. The first person he met showed the way to him. We get acquainted with the director of the institution, Natalia Zharikova, and immediately a question, as they say, head-on: "Where are you stone women who fulfill desires?"
- Yes, here they are. One exhibit is outside the door, the other is opposite.
We are watching with a photojournalist. Such inconspicuous stone statues, with deliberately unrefined details. And straight away it is impossible to say whether it is a man or a woman … As it turned out, these are still two noble Polovtsian warriors. According to experts from the Krasnodar State Historical and Archaeological Museum-Reserve named after E. Felitsyna, the time of manufacture is about the 12th century.
- They say that if you rub the tummy of a sculpture, your wish will come true …
- Who told you that? - Natalya Zharikova interrupts. - No tummy should be rubbed, but a shoulder.
Promotional video:
Well, a shoulder, so a shoulder … We rubbed it with the photographer, as the experts advised, and went home. And, what is remarkable, everything that was asked came true.
Five most famous sculptures and monuments in the Kuban, fulfilling wishes
Monument to the artist Ilya Repin, Krasnodar
Located in a small public garden on Krasnaya street, next to the art museum. Repin was captured with a palette in his hands at the time of writing one of his paintings. Despite the fact that the sculpture is relatively "young", it was installed in 1993, but, according to the residents of the city, if you hold the hand of a stone artist and make a wish at that moment, it will certainly come true.
"Ear of Desires", Sochi
The name of this strange monument, located not far from the Sochi railway station, speaks for itself. Whisper a wish in your ear to fate, and it will definitely come true. By the way, for special convenience, there is a metal palm rest inside the sculpture, so that, carried away by the enumeration of the requirements for fate, you do not fall out of your magic ear.
Byzantine temple, pos. Loo
The monument of church architecture of the 9th century is covered with secrets and legends. According to historians, at that time, from the sea, the temple looked like a white-stone church with reddish tiles. Since then, they have been asking for the fulfillment of a secret dream at this place for almost a thousand years. In order for it to be fulfilled, you need to lean your back against the wall of the temple and ask for help from higher powers.
"Cat scientist", Gelendzhik
A unique route to the dolmens called "The Way to Happiness" exists not far from Tuapse. Tall trees, huge boulders overgrown with moss, flowering meadows, winding paths, dolmens - this is what, in local terms, is the “road to happiness”. But not only that. Along the way, you can meet a man-made miracle - the so-called "Chalice of Life". According to the rules indicated on the plate, you must describe all your troubles and misfortunes on a piece of paper and burn them in this very bowl. Tourists do just that.
Igor Vasiliev, writer, candidate of historical sciences:
- Unfortunately, in our time, ancient customs and traditions associated with the traditional way of life are thoroughly forgotten by many.
At the same time, the secular rationalistic worldview has seriously weakened. In such conditions, neo-rituals are spread, designed to ensure success and good luck. Sometimes they consist of touching famous urban sculptures, easily accessible museum pieces, etc.
Sometimes married women do it. The reproductive, family component is very important for such practices. Sometimes non-rituals are perceived as capable of helping to marry.
Also, such traditions are popular among children, adolescents, youth, for whom it is very important to ensure good luck in various endeavors. So, in different parts of the world, a relatively new custom has spread to attach a castle somewhere in honor of a wedding. Those who are very dependent on a successful combination of circumstances may also show interest in such practices. For example, people who are addicted to gambling. Also, such new traditions can be perceived by those who practice them, in an ironic, playful way - as an element of rest and leisure. And such, perhaps, the majority …
