The Image of the “Deer Goddess” in Geometric Ornaments of Women’s Podolian Shirts

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyze the semantics of ‘deer goddess’ images in geometric ornaments (the ornaments of the female shirts of Podillya are taken as a sample). Methodology. Based on the proto-myth concept developed by the author, he distinguishes the structures of symbols in geometric ornaments identified as the image of the ‘deer goddess’. Results. The article distinguishes three subtypes of ‘deer goddess’ images based on which variants of ornaments were formed. These variants of ornaments were ‘constructed’ according to the same rules: ornaments with one goddess (fig. 2‒4, 13, 19), ornaments with two goddesses with joint thighs (fig. 6‒8, 13‒15, 20), ornaments with four goddesses (fig. 9, 10, 16, 17, 21), and ornaments formed from individual symbols of the goddess (fig. 11, 12, 18, 22). For comparison, some ornaments on the ‘theme’ of a deer in the embroidery of the Russian North were analyzed (fig. 23‒25). Novelty. For the first time in the practice of ornaments analyzing, the image of the ‘deer goddess’ was highlighted, the transformations of these images in the ornaments were traced, the relationship of these transformations with the structures formed by the goddesses on the Paleolithic and Neolithic artifacts was shown. The practical significance. The research showed that the geometric ornament has retained its semantics accessible to understanding. This allows us to more adequately assess the role of ornament in the spiritual culture of mankind.