Ancient weapon. Primitive and "primitive" art

REFERENCE "FOMA": Andrey Borisovich ZUBOV - was born in 1952 in Moscow. Graduated from Moscow state institute international relations(MGIMO) USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Doctor historical sciences, Leading Researcher, Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences. Professor of MGIMO, Russian Orthodox University ap. John the Evangelist. Head of the MGIMO Educational and Research Center "Church and International Relations".
Author of five monographs and more than 180 scientific and journalistic articles.

In Soviet textbooks, they wrote that religion arose because of the fear of primitive people before formidable natural phenomena. That, hoping to protect themselves from a forest fire or a flood, our distant ancestors invented spirits and gods. That out of ignorance they left food for the dead in the graves - what if they get hungry? Gradually, people moved from worshiping the spirits of nature (shamanism) to singing the host of gods (Egypt, Ancient Greece), then came up with monotheism (belief in the One God). And, finally, religion has gone out of fashion: life has become civilized, man has become scientifically and technically progressive.

Such views are still very popular today. But how fair are they? How do modern scientists see our prehistoric ancestors?

What is spirituality written on?

Many still believe that religion has evolved since ancient times as man himself has evolved. There was, in other words, a linear process of development: from primitive forms- to complex cults. In science too for a long time This approach dominated, but since the middle of the last century, scientists have abandoned these schemes, firstly, because of their internal inconsistency, and secondly, because of their inconsistency with the new array of facts. However, these schemes, long abandoned by science (but still living in Russia), continue to exist in popular culture. In literature, journalism, cinema, there are many stories about ancient savages who have not yet invented gods, or have just done so. Despite the fact that the discoveries of the last century left less and less space for such ideas and even gave a number of scientists a reason to assume that the most ancient person had knowledge about the One Creator God, there was both faith and a religious cult.

the main problem here lies in the fact that historians, culturologists and religious scholars often have almost nothing to rely on. After all, it is more convenient to study religion from texts than from archeological data. This is the spiritual sphere of life, and it is not so easy to restore it from the material remains of bones and tools. There is a relatively small segment ancient history in which writing existed *. (FOOTNOTE: The first written monument is dated to the very end of the 4th millennium BC. Writing appears almost simultaneously with statehood and approximately six thousand years after the domestication of plants and animals.) And there is a huge time layer - the most ancient, prehistoric times, the dawn of mankind, when not only writing, but also rock art was not there yet.

It is most convenient to say: the faith of the most ancient man was primitive, or maybe it did not exist at all, since there is no direct evidence. But to say so is to ignore the very unequivocal evidence of material monuments, it means to close one's eyes to the facts.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, scientists have been trying to reconstruct the worldview ideas of the most ancient people on the basis of archaeological finds. Moreover, this is done simultaneously with the study of living tribes in Central Africa and Australia, leading an archaic way of life. All this makes it possible to reasonably talk about the religion and faith of our ancestors.

Why bury the dead?

In the Olduvai Gorge in East Africa, at the site of the site of primitive people, many pieces of the skull were found - the upper parts and lower jaws. Why are they an ancient man? Scientists have observed modern tribes and saw that these people wear bones on their chests - the lower jaw or other parts of the skull of their ancestors, as Christians wear a cross. Just a coincidence? No, it looks much more like an ancestor cult than cannibalism. Apparently, the identity of the deceased, stored in a particle of his body, was very important to the most ancient person. Perhaps these bones were revered as sacred relics.

Secondly, it turns out that the most ancient people buried their dead relatives! They didn't leave the body somewhere in secluded place(unlike animal remains), but in a special way buried in the ground. It can be assumed that the grave itself - the mound was conceived as pregnant belly earth, who must give birth to the deceased outside the earth. The posture of the deceased, the remains of some items found in the graves by archaeologists, indicate that this was precisely the burial. But this is a whole revolution in the idea of ​​​​an era.

It is natural for us now: a person has died - it is necessary to bury him. We reproduce a custom that has existed for thousands of years. But how and when did it appear? When a custom is created, quite specific motivations and ideas are invested in each of its elements. So what made ancient people bury their ancestors? What were their graves like?

In the Neanderthal burial, much indicates that, in the then view, the earth is a temporary refuge for man. Very often, ancient graves, especially in the Near East, resembled a uterus in shape. The deceased was placed in them in the fetal position - as the baby lies in the mother's womb. Another well-known position is on the side, in the sleeping position, it is more typical for Western Europe. What sense did the burying people see in this, what logic? The sleeper must wake up, the baby must be born. What else can be seen in both traditions, if not a transparent hope for a future rebirth, the resurrection of the deceased?

Until now, sometimes there is a naive opinion that burial in the ground is nothing more than a measure of primitive sanitation. However, the burials were shallow, about 40-60 centimeters - such a thin layer of earth will not hide the smell of decay. And the invariable giving of a special posture to the deceased and a special ritual clearly indicate that his fellow tribesmen perceived him not just as a piece of decaying and foul-smelling meat.

For a single purpose...

Let's look at what during the Neolithic period people spend their spiritual and physical strength. We see huge megalithic structures of the VI-III millennium BC. - tombs, sanctuaries, ancient observatories, the construction of which requires enormous expenditures of human energy. It is interesting that the researchers could not find the settlements where the builders of these hulks lived for a long time. When they found it, they were very surprised: they were miserable huts with the simplest, even primitive way of life - practically only what is necessary for the preservation and reproduction of life. According to scientists, 80-90% of the labor force was spent on religious buildings. All this did not give a person any additional comforts or wealth, was built over many generations and required not only rough physical strength but also a certain skill, experience, knowledge. This means that there was a certain way of transferring this knowledge, i.e. intellectual, or rather, spiritual tradition (the most ancient man did not share these concepts).

STONEHENGE: stone puzzle

In England, in the county of Wiltshire, there is a mysterious monument of ancient "architecture" - the Stonehenge megalith ("hanging stone"), consisting of concentric stone circles.

Most scholars agreed that this place is associated with religious worship. In the 19th century, the point of view became generally accepted, according to which the stone circle is nothing but a temple of the Druids, where they worshiped the sun and sacrificed people. Majority modern archaeologists It is believed that Stonehenge was a ceremonial cemetery, because it is in this area that the highest concentration of burial mounds in Britain is.

Scientists have established that this monument, which connected the end of the stone and the beginning Bronze Age, was built in three or even four stages over a period of approximately 1500 years. However, the main work was carried out between 1800 and 1400 BC. But what remains of Stonehenge today is just a pale shadow of its former splendor. More than half of the stones either fell, or went underground, or disappeared in some other way.

Construction began about 2800 BC. (some experts believe that over 3800), when a wide ring ditch was dug and 56 cuts were made in the resulting earthen embankment. These holes were then filled with mortar. The only tool the builders had at their disposal was a hoe made from deer antlers.

Some researchers believe that Stonehenge is an observatory for determining the days of the spring and autumn equinoxes, as well as the winter and summer solstices. According to scientists, the location of the stones is directly related to the movement of the Sun, Moon and planets.

A more recent example is Ancient Egypt. What has come down to us from this great civilization? Pyramids, temples, tombs - that is connected with the religious sphere, and not with the productive one. At the same time, the Egyptians lived in simple dwellings, not as primitive as in the Neolithic era, but not in palaces either. Compared with the Neolithic, the ratio has changed, but the attraction to the spiritual realm is obvious.

Historians who study ancient kingdoms China, they are amazed that the entire material surplus product of society went not into the expansion of production, but into the sphere of the funeral cult. All the surplus went to the construction in one way or another, to feed the people who built it, to the treasures that were put in the tombs.

This does not speak of human stupidity, but that people saw the main core of their existence in the religious sphere. Remember the words of Christ: "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?" (Mk. 8:36) or "Do not try for corruptible food, but for food that remains for eternal life" (John 6:27).

What did you believe ancient man?

Excavations show that both food and tools were placed in the grave next to the deceased. For what? Ancient man, of course, knew as well as we do that dead body decays and does not need food. In addition, archaeologists have reason to believe that feasts were performed for the dead. This custom has endured for thousands of years. Even now, after the death of a person, many people, together with relatives and friends, come to the cemetery to leave a symbolic treat on the grave and eat something themselves * (FOOTNOTE: In general Orthodox Church does not approve of such a tradition, seeing in it remnants of paganism. It is necessary to remember the deceased prayerfully - both in the temple and at home. - Ed.). The meaning of the funeral feast is that, bodily leaving the living, leaving for the earth, a person spiritually remains with his loved ones. And when they come to his grave, they seem to sit down at the table with him again... And it turns out that the most ancient man did the same thing.

Joint eating of food is, first of all, connection, consent, reconciliation. The idea of ​​the unity of our world and the afterlife can be traced from the earliest times. The ultimate goal is a union with God (which became possible in full measure only after the coming of Christ).

In the era of the Neanderthal, sacrifices are already known that have, in principle, the same goal. The most ancient man did not master the external world enough to be as good as, for example, in Ancient Egypt display your religious feelings. He couldn't write, he couldn't draw. But it does not follow from this that the world of his ideas was primitive.

Let's look at the first monuments of two cultures that have come down to us in written or verbal form (i.e., in the form of an epic): the ancient Egyptian (about 3-2.5 thousand years BC) and the Vedic (Vedas) of the ancient Aryans (approximately the same time). Both sources constantly emphasize the uniqueness and oneness of God the Creator. He is the Father (in the Rigveda He is repeatedly called Dyauspitar, that is, the Heavenly Father, hence, by the way, the name Jupiter). "What is this One, in the form of the Unborn, who set apart these six spaces?" - asks one of the hymns of the Rigveda, and others answer him - "This One breathes by Himself, not breathing; there was nothing else besides This"; "He Who is One is God above the gods". The ancient Egyptians spoke no less definitely, perhaps even more theologically clearly: “There are three gods: Amon, Ra and Ptah, and there is no second among them. With His Body He is Ptah."

It must be remembered that these ancient monuments did not create a certain new tradition, but only fixed much more ancient ideas.

Rigveda about One God

"Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni are called ... One. The sages call him differently - Agni, Yama, Matarishvan they call Him."

Egyptian monuments about the One God:

In the ancient Egyptian teaching of the end III millennium the king addresses his son: “Generations after generations pass, but God is hidden, who knows the sacred writings. cast in bronze... God remembers the one who works for Him" ​​[Merikara, 123-125; 129-130]

The Eternal Drama of Adam

I think if we consider the history of mankind not as a process of change economic formations, not as a struggle for a place in the sun or the best piece of the pie, but if we look into the very depths, we will see all the drama of its development. The most important thing for a person is the search for the truth of God. And on this path, both ups and downs are possible - when, turning away from faith in the One God, people began to worship spirits.

This gives us the key to understanding the whole dynamics historical process. Before a person begins to explore the world, create cultural monuments, develop technically, he is already fighting to preserve his divine image. After all, man is the image of God, and the ancients knew this very well. But the struggle for the human heart is the hardest.

The ideas about our most ancient ancestors, which we continue to reproduce by inertia, are extremely primitive and false. They testify first of all to our own spiritual level. And I call on cultured and educated people, before broadcasting the "generally accepted opinion" further, to stop and think: am I speaking correctly?

Recorded by Alla MITROFANOVA

Burials in the Near East, dating from the Middle Neolithic, were rather simple and poor, and with great difficulty we distinguish the graves of rich people from poor, noble from ignoble - except for fragments of clothing. But in any burial, no matter how poor it may be, there is always one item - this is a small ceramic cup, which can be in different places: at the head, at chest level, near the shoulder of the deceased ... This cup is exactly the same as the vessel for the oils that were used for ointments. In the Psalms we can read: "Wine that gladdens a man's heart, and oil that makes his face shine, and bread that strengthens a man's heart." (Ps. 103:15). Oil was a common means of human hygiene. In the Near East, agricultural work was carried out under the scorching summer sun for almost naked people and the sun would burn them to the ground if the man didn't rub himself vegetable oil, which softened the fury of the rays, protected from burns.

That is, for Neolithic man, the fury of the sun and the fury of God are connected. Accordingly, oil has become an image of divine mercy, which covers human sin, forgives. That is, a cup of oil in the grave is a kind of prayer for God's mercy, for forgiveness for sins. This means that people deeply felt their sin, felt that they were unworthy to stand before God. Hence the division of the cemetery, temples and dwellings, hence the funeral rite associated with oil.

ZUBOV Andrey Borisovich-- was born in 1952 in Moscow. Graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Doctor of Historical Sciences, Leading Researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Professor of MGIMO, Russian Orthodox University ap. John the Evangelist. Head of the MGIMO Educational and Research Center "Church and International Relations".

What is spirituality written on?

Many still believe that religion has evolved since ancient times as man himself has evolved. There was, in other words, a linear process of development: from primitive forms to complex cults. This approach also dominated science for a long time, but since the middle of the last century, scientists have abandoned these schemes, firstly, because of their internal inconsistency, and secondly, because of their inconsistency with the new array of facts. However, these schemes, long abandoned by science (but still living in Russia), continue to exist in popular culture. In literature, journalism, cinema, there are many stories about ancient savages who have not yet invented gods, or have just done so. Despite the fact that the discoveries of the last century left less and less space for such ideas and even gave a number of scientists a reason to assume that the most ancient person had knowledge about the One Creator God, there was both faith and a religious cult.

The main problem here is that historians, culturologists and religious scholars often have almost nothing to rely on. After all, it is more convenient to study religion from texts than from archeological data. This is the spiritual sphere of life, and it is not so easy to restore it from the material remains of bones and tools. There is a relatively small segment of ancient history in which writing existed *. ( FOOTNOTE: The first written monument is dated to the very end of the 4th millennium BC. Writing appears almost simultaneously with statehood and about six thousand years after the domestication of plants and animals.) And there is a huge time layer - ancient, prehistoric times, the dawn of mankind, when not only writing, but also rock art did not yet exist.

It's best to say: the faith of the most ancient man was primitive, or perhaps it did not exist at all, since there is no direct evidence. But to say so is to ignore the very unequivocal evidence of material monuments, it means to close one's eyes to the facts.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, scientists have been trying to reconstruct the worldview of the most ancient people on the basis of archaeological finds. Moreover, this is done simultaneously with the study of living tribes in Central Africa and Australia, leading an archaic way of life. All this makes it possible to reasonably talk about the religion and faith of our ancestors.

Why bury the dead?

In the Olduvai Gorge in East Africa, at the site of the site of primitive people, many pieces of the skull were found - the upper parts and lower jaws. Why are they an ancient man? Scientists have observed modern tribes and have seen that these people wear bones on their chests - the lower jaw or other parts of the skull of their ancestors, as Christians wear a cross. Just a coincidence? No, it looks much more like an ancestor cult than cannibalism. Apparently, the identity of the deceased, stored in a particle of his body, was very important to the most ancient person. Perhaps these bones were revered as sacred relics.

Secondly, it turns out that the most ancient people buried their dead relatives! They did not leave the body somewhere in a secluded place (unlike the remains of animals), but they buried it in the ground in a special way. It can be assumed that the grave itself - the mound was conceived as a pregnant belly of the earth, which should give birth to the deceased outside the earth. The posture of the deceased, the remains of some items found in the graves by archaeologists, indicate that this was precisely the burial. But this is a whole revolution in the idea of ​​​​an era.

It is natural for us now: a person has died - we must bury him. We reproduce a custom that has existed for thousands of years. But how and when did it appear? When a custom is created, quite specific motivations and ideas are invested in each of its elements. So what made ancient people bury their ancestors? What were their graves like?

In the Neanderthal burial, much indicates that, in the then view, the earth is a temporary refuge for man. Very often, ancient graves, especially in the Near East, resembled a uterus in shape. The deceased was placed in them in the fetal position - as the baby lies in the mother's womb. Another well-known position is on the side, in the sleeping position, it is more typical for Western Europe. What sense did the burying people see in this, what logic? The sleeper must wake up, the baby must be born. What else can be seen in both traditions, if not a transparent hope for a future rebirth, the resurrection of the deceased?

Until now, sometimes there is a naive opinion that burial in the ground is nothing more than a measure of primitive sanitation. However, the burials were shallow, about 40-60 centimeters - such a thin layer of earth will not hide the smell of decay. And the invariable giving of a special posture to the deceased and a special ritual clearly indicate that his fellow tribesmen perceived him not just as a piece of decaying and foul-smelling meat.

For a single purpose...

Let's look at what during the Neolithic period people spend their spiritual and physical strength. We see huge megalithic structures of the VI-III millennium BC. - tombs, sanctuaries, ancient observatories, the construction of which requires a colossal expenditure of human energy. It is interesting that the researchers could not find the settlements where the builders of these hulks lived for a long time. When they found it, they were very surprised: they were miserable huts with the simplest, even primitive way of life - practically only what is necessary for the preservation and reproduction of life. According to scientists, 80-90% of the labor force was spent on religious buildings. All this did not give a person any additional conveniences or wealth, was built over many generations and required not only brute physical strength, but also a certain skill, experience, knowledge. This means that there was a certain way of transferring this knowledge, i.e. intellectual, or rather, spiritual tradition (the most ancient man did not share these concepts).

In England, in the county of Wiltshire, there is a mysterious monument of ancient "architecture" - the megalith Stonehenge ("hanging stone"), consisting of concentric stone circles.

Most scholars agreed that this place is associated with religious worship. In the 19th century, the point of view became generally accepted, according to which the stone circle is nothing but a temple of the Druids, where they worshiped the sun and sacrificed people. Most modern archaeologists believe that Stonehenge was a ceremonial cemetery, because this area has the highest concentration of burial mounds in Britain.

Scientists have established that this monument, which linked the end of the Stone Age and the beginning of the Bronze Age, was erected in three or even four stages over a period of approximately 1500 years. However, the main work was carried out between 1800 and 1400 BC. But what remains of Stonehenge today is just a pale shadow of its former splendor. More than half of the stones either fell, or went underground, or disappeared in some other way.

Construction began about 2800 BC. (some experts believe that over 3800), when a wide ring ditch was dug and 56 cuts were made in the resulting earthen embankment. These holes were then filled with mortar. The only tool the builders had at their disposal was a hoe made from deer antlers.

Some researchers believe that Stonehenge is an observatory for determining the days of the spring and autumn equinoxes, as well as the winter and summer solstices. According to scientists, the location of the stones is directly related to the movement of the Sun, Moon and planets.

A more recent example is Ancient Egypt. What has come down to us from this great civilization? Pyramids, temples, tombs - something that is connected with the religious sphere, and not with the productive one. At the same time, the Egyptians lived in simple dwellings, not as primitive as in the Neolithic era, but not in palaces either. Compared with the Neolithic, the ratio has changed, but the attraction to the spiritual realm is obvious.

Historians who study the ancient kingdoms of China are amazed that the entire material surplus product of society went not into the expansion of production, but into the sphere of the funeral cult. All the surplus went to the construction in one way or another, to feed the people who built it, to the treasures that were put in the tombs.

This does not speak of human stupidity, but that people saw the main core of their existence in the religious sphere. Remember the words of Christ: "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?" (Mk. 8:36) or "Do not try for corruptible food, but for food that remains for eternal life" (John 6:27).

What did early man believe?

Excavations show that both food and tools were placed in the grave next to the deceased. For what? Ancient man, of course, knew as well as we do that a dead body will decay and it does not need food. In addition, archaeologists have reason to believe that feasts were performed for the dead. This custom has endured for thousands of years. Even now, after the death of a person, many people, together with relatives and friends, come to the cemetery to leave a symbolic treat on the grave and eat something themselves * ( FOOTNOTE: In general, the Orthodox Church does not approve of such a tradition, seeing in it the remnants of paganism. It is necessary to commemorate the deceased prayerfully - both in the church and at home. -- Ed.). The meaning of the funeral feast is that, bodily leaving the living, leaving for the earth, a person spiritually remains with his loved ones. And when they come to his grave, they seem to sit down at the table with him again... And it turns out that the most ancient man did the same thing.

The joint eating of food is, first of all, connection, consent, reconciliation. The idea of ​​the unity of our world and the afterlife can be traced from the earliest times. The ultimate goal is union with God (which became fully possible only after the coming of Christ).

In the era of the Neanderthal, sacrifices are already known that have, in principle, the same goal. The most ancient man did not master the external world enough to display his religious feelings as well as, for example, in Ancient Egypt. He couldn't write, he couldn't draw. But it does not follow from this that the world of his ideas was primitive.

Let's look at the first monuments of two cultures that have come down to us in written or verbal form (i.e., in the form of an epic): the ancient Egyptian (about 3-2.5 thousand years BC) and the Vedic (Vedas) of the ancient Aryans (approximately the same time). Both sources constantly emphasize the uniqueness and oneness of God the Creator. He is the Father (in the Rigveda He is repeatedly called Dyauspitar, that is, the Heavenly Father, hence, by the way, the name Jupiter). "What is this One, in the form of the Unborn, who set apart these six spaces?" - asks one of the hymns of the Rig Veda, and others answer him - "This One breathes by Himself, not breathing; there was nothing else besides This"; "He Who is One is God above the gods". The ancient Egyptians spoke no less definitely, perhaps even more theologically clearly: "All the gods are three: Amon, Ra and Ptah, and there is no second among them." "Hidden" - His name is Amon in His name, He is Ra with His face, and with His Body He is Ptah."

It must be remembered that these ancient monuments did not create some new tradition, but only recorded much more ancient ideas.

Rigveda about One God

"Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni are called ... One. The sages call him differently - Agni, Yama, Matarishvan they call Him."

Egyptian monuments about the One God:

In the most ancient Egyptian teaching of the end of the third millennium, the king addresses his son: “Generations after generations pass, but God is hidden, knowing the sacred writings. (images) of Him from precious stones, cast from bronze... God remembers the one who works for Him" ​​[Merikara, 123-125; 129-130]

The Eternal Drama of Adam

I think if we consider the history of mankind not as a process of changing economic formations, not as a struggle for a place in the sun or the best piece of the pie, but look into the very depths, we will see all the drama of its development. The most important thing for a person is the search for the truth of God. And on this path, both ups and downs are possible - when, turning away from faith in the One God, people began to worship spirits.

This gives us the key to understanding the whole dynamics of the historical process. Before a person begins to explore the world, create cultural monuments, develop technically, he is already struggling to preserve his divine image. After all, man is the image of God, and the ancients knew this very well. But the struggle for the human heart is the hardest.

The ideas about our most ancient ancestors, which we continue to reproduce by inertia, are extremely primitive and false. They testify first of all to our own spiritual level. And I call on cultured and educated people, before broadcasting the "generally accepted opinion" further, to stop and think: am I speaking correctly?

Recorded by Alla MITROFANOVA

Burials in the Near East, dating from the Middle Neolithic, were rather simple and poor, and with great difficulty we distinguish the graves of rich people from poor, noble from humble - except for fragments of clothing. But in any burial, no matter how poor it may be, one object is always present - this is a small ceramic cup, which can be located in different places: at the head of the head, at chest level, near the shoulder of the deceased ... This cup is exactly the same as a vessel for oils that were used for ointments. In the Psalms we can read: "Wine that gladdens a man's heart, and oil that makes his face shine, and bread that strengthens a man's heart." (Ps. 103:15). Oil was a common means of human hygiene. In the Near East, agricultural work was carried out under the scorching summer sun by almost naked people, and the sun would have burned them to the ground if the person had not rubbed himself with vegetable oil, which softened the fury of the rays and protected from burns.

That is, for Neolithic man, the fury of the sun and the fury of God are connected. Accordingly, oil has become an image of divine mercy, which covers human sin, forgives. That is, a cup of oil in the grave is a kind of prayer for God's mercy, for forgiveness for sins. This means that people deeply felt their sin, felt that they were unworthy to stand before God. Hence the separation of the cemetery, temples and dwellings, hence the funeral rite associated with oil.

Lectures by Professor Zubov on the torrent:

Here and about the Aryans and about Egypt and many, many interesting things. Real science is much more interesting than the faded fantasy (often according to Freud) of quasi-science swindlers. I'm silent about the in fact clinical fantasies of all kinds of neo-pagans.

1. ancient magic primitive peoples

According to official version, the first people appeared in Europe 40,000 (forty thousand) years ago. It is believed that they were from African tribes. Around the same time, the first ritual images carved on rocks appeared in Australia. Similar images have been found in Namibia. But unlike the Australians, the ancient Namibians did not carve, but painted their images. In Europe, such painting appeared later, about 20,000 (twenty thousand) years ago on the territory of today's France. As a rule, uncomplicated pictures contained hunting scenes and were evidence of rather simple mystical actions of a caveman. Later, about 17,000 (seventeen thousand) years ago, the first burials appeared, made according to all the rules of ritual art. The most ancient burials contained many amulets, utensils, weapons and other useful things that could be useful in the next world. Even then there was a belief in life after death.

Excavations show that the first intelligent actions that distinguished a person from an animal appeared about 40 thousand years ago. In the beginning, these were the simplest concepts of the wanderings of the soul, and very primitive magic ...

Around the same time, man "suddenly" learned to speak. The exact date of this event is not known, but given that in modern world there are about 30 different groups of languages, it can be assumed that speech arose simultaneously on almost the entire Earth! Some force introduced the mind into the consciousness of the caveman, and he learned to speak. Of course, one could assume that everything was the other way around: that is, speech first appeared, using which a person accumulated and transmitted his knowledge. But then it is not clear why speech appeared not somewhere in one place, but simultaneously on all continents. In this case, it does not matter at all what appeared first: speech or reason. Another thing is more important: the simultaneous appearance of reason (or speech) at once in all of humanity could not have happened by chance. This was the result of some external action, very similar to cosmic radiation. The inexplicable origin of the earthly mind at all times gave rise to all sorts of primitive conjectures, which later turned into religious myths about the creation of the world, which have nothing to do with reality.

Confused in his own fabrications about his origin, the ancient man began to more closely observe the phenomena of the surrounding world. This is how the first science of nature appeared, which was called "magic". It is known that it was magic that became the first form of prehistoric scientific thought and the main manifestation of the human mind: no animal is capable of practicing something like this.

It was magic that appeared before all other sciences. But for many generations, it was transmitted only orally, since writing was invented much later. For this reason, no descriptions of the mystical rituals of that time have survived. There are only bizarre ruins of mysterious structures in different parts light and small fragments of rock art. Going hunting Caveman mentally tuned in to the successful completion of the future event. Drawing hunting scenes, he asked the patron spirits for special help, much like modern artists do. North American Indians in their religious ceremonies.

Ways ancient spells were extremely varied. Despite the absence of writing, prehistoric magic has survived to the present day among many peoples of Siberia, Africa, America and Australia. Almost all peoples had a wide variety of rituals, which were carried out depending on the ultimate goal of this event. In some cases, the caster turned to some real object (fetish), which was possessed by the spirit. This spirit heard all appeals, and to the best of his ability tried to help get ready to fulfill what was planned. In other cases, the appeal to the divine forces went "nowhere", suggesting the existence of spirits in the entire surrounding space. Sometimes a combination of both methods was practiced.

As a rule, the ancient peoples believed in the existence of a Great Spirit or a higher being, with whom they preferred to consult rather than pray. Begging in the form of prayer appeared much later to attract those wishing to receive a gift from God. In ancient times, people were more honest: they turned to the gods as a sign of respect, for advice, and not for help.

Each nation revered its own patron spirits. The Indians worshiped Manitou, the South African Bantu tribes communicated with Modimo. As a rule, almost every member of the wild tribe could pronounce the simplest spells. However, when it came to the most important issues, then the work of an experienced professional sorcerer was always used. It was believed that it was he who was a special intermediary who had very great advantages, taking advantage of the special favor of the spirits. Such specialists Siberian peoples called "shamans", the Indians of the Dakota tribe - "muskihivinini", the Indians of the Vinebaga tribe - "madevinini", the African Zulus - "izinyanga", the Africans of the Bechuan tribe - "ngakami".

Ancient magicians were able to do a lot. They caused rain, cured all kinds of diseases, predicted the future. They were called upon for any reason, to ensure happy omens or a successful outcome of a war, to avenge enemies or protect them from danger. With their ritual art, magicians united society, instilling confidence and strength in the souls of their fellow tribesmen.

There are countless ancient ritual ceremonies. A special place among them is occupied by festive ceremonies or initiation rites. For example, in Indian tribe Vinebag, this action was called the “healer's holiday” (Medic infest) and was dedicated to the admission of new members to the community of professional healers. The holiday could be arranged at any time of the year, when there were several candidates with the ability to traditional medicine.

On the eve of celebratory event invitations were sent to the oldest members of the community. The rest came uninvited and built a huge hut so that all the participants could fit in it. Future healers had to fast for three days before initiation. Moreover, during the fast, they underwent a “rite of sweating” - they were wrapped in warm blankets and fumigated with special smoke from all sides.

On the appointed day, guests gathered - the most eminent healers from neighboring tribes. The chief healer-manager took the initiates to a secret place and initiated them into all the sacraments professional art. It was something like the "Hippocratic oath", which modern doctors solemnly pronounce before starting practical activities.

The main ceremony began in a large hut, where people gathered and sat in rows along the walls. Initiates were led out into the middle and began solemn speeches. Periodically, speeches were interrupted by temperamental Indian dances, which were suddenly interrupted at the signal of the elder healer, and all those present began to grunt and cough intensely. Future healers especially tried. They groaned strongly and after a while spit out a small pebble hidden in their mouths, which they called the “healing stone”. The Indians believed that the healing stone is constantly in the stomach of a professional healer and can only be born on especially solemn occasions. At the end of the performance, each initiate received a healer's bag sewn from skins, and a new healing stone was placed in his mouth. After that, the initiation rite ended, and the candidate was considered accepted into the professional fraternity.

The medicine bag contained many outlandish things: there were roots, various parts of animals and natural minerals. There were metal nuggets and even wood chips. The bag contained the most necessary things that could be useful for the treatment of patients.

The ancient methods of treatment were very simple, but original. For example, the “large medical animal” enjoyed the greatest authority among Indian healers. This good creature, which helped the treatment of any ailments. Nobody has ever seen him. It was believed that a medical animal appears only in the dream of the doctor himself, helping him in professional practice. The appearance of a medical animal was considered a good omen. If it was a dream, then the treatment will be successful.

The treatment itself was carried out in the form of a ritual performance: first, the Indian healer went around the patient's bed several times, gradually speeding up his movements. Then he began to dance, making noise with a rattle and striking a small drum. With the help of mysterious movements, the healer talked with the spirits, asking for their blessing. Approaching the patient, he would “take out” the disease from the patient with his hands and drive away evil spirits from various parts of his body. Continuing his dance, the medicine man brought himself to ecstasy. The patient and the audience went into a trance. It seemed to everyone that the Earth and the sky were listening to the mighty voice of the doctor, and the whole Universe rumbled and opened up. In the midst of the fun, the healing dance ended. The shock of those present was so great that the disease really receded.

In the same way, the savages took revenge on their personal enemies. Having persuaded a powerful sorcerer, they asked to make a ritual image of the enemy, in order to then burn, pierce or destroy it. At the same time, faith in magical art was so great that when the enemy himself found out about this event, he very often really died of superstitious fear.

The sorcerers of the Dakota tribe used the herbaceous plant "Petskhikavusk", which gave additional strength to the warriors in battles. The infusion of this plant was sprinkled with weapons and clothes of warriors. The warriors were sure that in case of danger, the magic elixir would not only give new strength, but even make them invisible to enemies.

If necessary, to ensure a successful hunt, the ancient sorcerer painted the image of a bear or elk. Then he drew a line from the heart of the beast to his muzzle, denoting the path along which life would come out of him. At the same time, he sang a very terrible spell, which translates something like this: “Cunning beast! Know me how powerful I am! I'm cunning like a snake! I'm like an eagle flying! I know all your habits! You can't hide from me! Your spirit will leave the body that my wigwam has prepared to receive! My desire is not appeased!

Having completed the ritual preparation, the hunter immediately set off on his journey. On the way, he periodically stopped and uttered the following short incantation: "Spirits, be kind to me and show me the place where I can find a bear." Then he continued on his way, carefully peering at the tracks of wild animals.

Most outstanding art has always been considered a prediction of future events. When some Indian hero set off on exploits, he first shot an arrow into the air. The direction of the fallen arrow indicated the path where good luck awaited him.

Siberian shamans looked into the future directly, putting their consciousness into a special trance. Usually this event was carried out indoors. A bright fire was lit in the middle of the yurt, around which black sheepskins were laid. A shaman walked along them with a measured step, muttering mysterious spells. His clothes were made of animal skins and hung from top to bottom with belts, amulets, chains and shells. IN right hand he held a tambourine, and in his left a longbow. He looked terribly wild and ferocious.

The shaman drove himself into a frenzy. Gradually the fire in the middle of the yurt burned out. Only glowing embers remained, spreading a mysterious half-light. The shaman fell on the scattered skins and lay motionless for several minutes, as if he had died. Then he began to moan and made some strange sounds. It was like stifled screams made by different voices.

Then the fire was lit again, and the shaman jumped up abruptly. He put his bow on the ground and, holding it with his hand, rested his forehead against its upper end. Then he began to run around him, quietly at first, and then faster and faster. From the observation of such a spinning, those present began to feel dizzy. Noticing this, the shaman stopped abruptly, showing no signs of dizziness. Then he began to make hands in the air different figures. He grabbed a tambourine and, rhythmically hitting it, began to run around the fire, jumping up and twitching with his whole body.

From time to time the shaman stopped, drank some mysterious potion, breathed deeply and continued his spinning. Finally, he fell into a trance, his head was spinning, and he fell to the ground. For some time the shaman lay, showing no signs of life. Then he was raised. He was terrible: his hair was tangled, his face turned purple, his eyes were wide open and sparkled angrily.

For some time the shaman was in some kind of stupor. Then he took his tambourine again, drummed loudly and abruptly threw it to the ground. This meant that the right spirit had finally moved into the shaman, and now you can ask any questions. Those present came up one by one and asked questions. Answers to questions were given without much thought, almost immediately. Being in a state of trance, the shaman knew the answers to such questions, which in normal condition had no idea...

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