Uacilla

Hory-Uacilla (Ossetian: Хоры Уацилла, Digorian: Елиа, "Elijah")[1] or Uacilla for short, is the name of Saint Elijah in Ossetian folklore.[2]

It is also the name of an agricultural holiday celebrated on the Monday of the third week after Pentecost.[2][3]

In Ossetian mythology Uacilla is the thunderer and lord of storms, the patron of agriculture and harvest. Several sanctuaries were dedicated to him, among which the most famous Tbau-Uacilla is located on mount Tbau in the Dargavs Gorge.

Among the Ossetians, it is believed that Uacilla protected the fields from hail and showers, disposed of rain clouds and contributed to the growth of cereals and herbs. He was approached during a drought or prolonged bad weather. For this, rams and bulls were slaughtered in his honor and a public prayer was held. In folk songs, Uacilla was portrayed as a plowman, performing the functions of a plow in one case and a sower in another.[4][5]

As Georges Dumézil wrote, Ossetians having become Christians began to call St. Elijah "Uacilla". Like the Russians, they think that Uacilla is walking through the sky and fighting evil spirits. When a person is struck by lightning, they believe that Uacilla fired his "fat" (arrow or cannonball) at him.[2][6]

  1. ^ Abaev V. I. (1989). Историко-этимологический словарь осетинского языка — Historical and etymological dictionary of the Ossetian language. T. IV. S. 31 (in Russian). St, Petersburg: Science. Leningrad branch.
  2. ^ a b c Gilmidinovna, Ktsoeva Sultana (2019). "Judeo-Christian parallels in the Image and Cult of Uacilla (According to Narrative Sources of the Late 19th - Early 20th Century)". Известия СОИГСИ. 32 (71): 27–39. ISSN 2223-165X.
  3. ^ Ouarziati, Vilen. "Летне-осенний цикл - Ирыстон — Summer-autumn cycle - Iryston". www.iriston.com. North Ossetian Institute for Humanitarian Studies. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  4. ^ Meletinsky, Yeleazar (1990). Mythological Dictionary. Soviet Encyclopedia. p. 672.
  5. ^ Tokarev S. A. (1992). Myths of the peoples of the world. Vol. 2. Soviet Encyclopedia. p. 719.
  6. ^ Dumézil, Georges (2001). Ossetian saga and mythology (in Russian). Vladikavkaz: Science. p. 66.