THE DANUBE AS A CULTURAL AND MYSTICAL CROSS-BORDER
Journal Title: STUDIUM - Revista studenţilor, masteranzilor şi doctoranzilor în istorie - Year 2015, Vol 8, Issue 1
Abstract
The Danube river can be perceived as a cultural and mythical cross-border in ancient and medieval Balkan history. It has served as a contact point between diverse cultures particularly in the early Middle Ages (IX-XII centuries). The large river splitting the civilized Christian imperial Byzantine world from the “barbarian” and pagan northern cultural area (Scandinavians, Pechenegs, Scythians) is a component of the “water labyrinth” mythologem. The Danube is a mystical space which the real historical hero had to cross in order to achieve his goal. For instance, the Bulgars led by khan Asparuh had to cross it in order to create the state of the Bulgars. In that sense, the Danube river has been considered a border zone between the known space (North for Scandinavians) and the unknown foreign space (the mystical but attractive Byzantine South). This river, the same as the Dnepr for Scandinavians, can be considered a place of trial which the crossing historical hero (Viking chieftain) should overcome to establish in the attractive South (the Byzantine Empire). Hence, this river is a dividing line between the elements of ours and theirs, between us and them. The regions northwards of the Danube were populated by Germanic tribes (and Dacians), whereas the South represented the unknown but the cultural area desired by the Scandinavians who intended to establish in the warmer and richer Byzantine lands. Therefore, the Danube has been deemed by medieval Byzantine chroniclers and modern Bulgarian scholars as a divisive rather than a uniting point. It is simply a border; it does not connect, it divides. So, from a real historical viewpoint the Danube has been considered a dangerous place staying on the path of the migration throughout the axis North-South particularly in the period between IX and XII centuries. And the lower Danube is precisely the part of the river where the abovementioned features most accurately apply.
Authors and Affiliations
Konstantin KOLEV
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP106545
- DOI -
- Views 76
- Downloads 0
Вклад И.К. Айвазовского в развитие и благоустройство Феодосии второй половины хіх в / The contribution of I.K. Aivazovsky to the development and improvement of Theodosia in the second half of the XIXth century
The article is based on the analysis of archival materials that highlight Aivazovsky`s contribution to the development and improvement of Theodosia in the second half of the XIXth century. The main reasons which promoted...
Radio „Europa Liberă” şi exilul românesc în Europa / Radio Free Europe and Romanian exile in Europe
Radio Free Europe was born during the Cold War that marked the tension between the two superpowers. Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty carried the torches of freedom and democracy, as their mission was to further streng...
ACTIVITATEA ISTORICULUI ŞI PROFESORULUI ALEXANDRU BOLDUR LA IAŞI
Unites States national security concepts and theories during the Cold War
This study outlines the specific context of the Cold War which led the United States to formulate a strategy whose main objectives were keeping the West together and stopping the communist threat. Although the Cold...
DIN ISTORIA INSTITUIRII ASIGURĂRILOR SOCIALE ȘI IMPACTUL ASUPRA MUNCITORILOR DIN PORTUL GALAȚI / Aspects of the history of insuranceiInstitutionalisation and its impact on the workers in the Port of Galați
The Old Romanian Kingdom recorded a significant industrial increase at the end of the nineteenth century and the number of workers grew. Over time, socio-economic demands increased, amongst which social insurance held a...