Similarity of Vainakh, Celtic, and Baltic Mythology

[Terek]

There are many historians and analysts who make comparisons of Vainakh (Chechen and Ingush) mythology to Celtic and some extent Baltic, pagan mythology.

The first main similarity is the importance of the sun and solstice days (there were many pagan religions across the world who worshiped the sun, however among these particular similarities are the symbols and traditions associated with it)

^The Vainakh symbol of Dela-Malx

on the stone is the Ingush symbol of sun/earth motion, as is on the flag of Ingushetia:

Anyways Dela-Malx was the main god. In ancient Vainakh traditions they days honoured were the winter and summer solstice, except it is in the opposite perspective... in December, the darkest day of the year, was celebrated the "birth" of the sun (positive sense) and in June, the lightest day of the year, was the "death" of the sun (almost negative sense), as the days would then become shorter.

Also interesting, sometimes Chechens they say that the Russian word for the sun солнце/solnce is actually a Chechen word., our word for the sun we see in the sky as a spirit is Malx/малх, and the astronomc word is Saloc1e/салоц1е, which translates literally, "light giving fire"

Other themes
Significance of trees, pine trees, and relation to the solstice, there were many pagan gods related to such trees
Also significance of fire
of stones, animals (particualr, the wolf/Borz), and battle.

Anyways, there is good information on both Russian and English Wikipedia on this, and was mentioned by Circassian historian Dzhamukha (in English) and in other Chechen-language literature.

Saloće, СалоцӀе — Са - серло, Ло - луш, ЦӀе - цӀе, (оьрс. Солнце, с чеченского нох. СалоцӀе — свет дающий огонь, Са - свет, Ло - даёт, дающий, ЦӀе - огонь), амма нохчийн маттахь "СалоцӀе" олу кхин "Малх" олу

http://ce.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%85

[Hrimskegg]

That European pagan religion for you.

[NSXD60]

Russian solntse is from the Indo-European root *sol > *sel > *swel, the latter of which is seen in the English expression "The summer swelter".

[barbatus]

Reading about the Nart sagas online really made me realize how similar Caucasian Paganism was/is to other forms of European paganism (especially Greek paganism). What with the whole story of Prometheus and all.

[Wild North]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vainakh_mythology

I noticed one interesting thing. There´s a God/Goddess with the name Hela. Interestingly Hel/Hela is actually the Goddess of Hel (or Hell) in North Germanic mythology. And in this case, this divinity is asociated with darkness.

Also interesting, sometimes Chechens they say that the Russian word for the sun солнце/solnce is actually a Chechen word., our word for the sun we see in the sky as a spirit is Malx/малх, and the astronomc word is Saloc1e/салоц1е, which translates literally, "light giving fire"

I believe (I thought) the root word sol- comes from a common Indo European root.

[StonyArabia]

Pretty cool stuff thanks for the info.

[Wild North]

Bump!

In the North Caucasus, every people have a version of the "Nart saga".

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...ga&redirect=no