Shipovskaya, L. P., Gemonov, A. V. Philosophical Interpretation of Heraldic Symbols in Pre-Mongolian Russia

Abstract: The article represents an attempt to carry out philosophical analysis of heraldic symbols in ancient Russia before the Mongol Yoke. The authors of the article underline that a very efficient method of philosophical analysis in this sphere is the semiotic approach that allows to revealthe symbolic grounds of culture and human behavior in a society. The authors also touch upon the social-phenomenological approach and Jungian psychoanalytical conception as rather heuristic methods for philosophical discourse of heraldic symbols in pre-Mongolian Russia. The subject of philosophical analysis is the symbols of trident andbident that were shown on prints of ancient Russian knyazhes. Standard semiotic analysis which involves determination of the signifier, the signified and the referent (according to Umberto Eco’s methodological scheme) is complemented with philosophical and culturological interpretation of ‘three’ – the number that was represented in different cultural phenomena: Pythagorean numerology, Christian religion, and Hegel’s philosophy. Apart from that the author makes a hypothesis about analogy between the trident and the symbol of scythe or sickle on Medieval paintings. Another aspect of analyzing heraldic symbols of pre-Mongolian Russia is the color symbols shown in these paintings. At the end of the article the authors note that being the phenomenon of ancient Russian culture, heraldic symbols revealed the world view of our ancestors and their mentality that had an archetype nature.

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