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Fais-Leutskaja O. Bestiary of Sardinia: Animal/Zoomorphic Characters of Barbagia Carnival

O. Fais-Leutskaja
N. N. Miklukho-Maklai Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Moscow, Russian Federation
ORCID: 0000-0002-2757-2434
E-mail: oxana-fais@yandex.ru

 

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ABSTRACT. The article explores a little-covered issue in today’s scientific discourse of the preservation and vitality of local archaic folk culture, particularly traditional beliefs, and rituals. The author focuses on the central mountainous region of Sardinia, Barbagia, where animal and zoomorphic characters play the primary role in local beliefs and rituals. Barbagia folklore and ritual practices are almost entirely devoid of anthropomorphic protagonists, whereas the animal figures prevail. This is due to many factors: historical, social, and cultural features of the settlements (villages) of this rural region surrounded by wildlife and continuing to live in close contact with local fauna; the economic profile of the region in which shepherding prevails resulting in the intensive human interaction with the animal world. The zoomorphic character of the Barbagia folklore also stems from the preserving properties of the mountain environment, lasting ancient beliefs, the deterministic nature of religiosity, and the confessional climate. In the mountain areas, the local version of the Christian religion, i.e., “popular Christianity,” predominates, in which paganism and the sacralization of animals occupy almost a more important place than Christian components. The article focuses on the so-called Carnival in Barbagia, an aggregation of ancient zoolatry rites, showcasing animal/zoomorphic characters on the stage in the public space by local collectives.

 

KEYWORDS: Sardinia, Barbagia, traditional culture, beliefs, animals, symbolism, carnival, zoomorphic figures, demons

 

DOI 10.31250/2618-8600-2023-2(20)-26-47
УДК 398.54

 

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