Abstract
THE “COSMIC EGG MOTIF” RANGING FROM THE CREATION MYTH TO TODAY’S FOLK BELIEF WITH REFERENCE TO KALEVALA EPIC
The egg, which is associated with the creation of the universe, is a cult. Egg appear to have similar symbolic features in different cultures. It may be said that the appearance of the egg, which is regarded as a single object, is the symbol of the multitude. With regard to the egg motif, the fact that the creation of the cosmos with the cosmic egg and the first human arrival is described in the world in the origin episode of Kalevala epic. The arrival of the father without the father takse place at the end of the saga. In particular, it was determined that this motif is a different side from Turkish epics but similarities with Turkish epics. When we look at the events that take place in the three world systems (lower-middle-upper world), it seems possible to associate geographic location and features with mythical time. The purpose of creation of the universe and concretization of hero's development to the world is to see the symbol and reality in the same frame. In other words, it is the manifestation of thought that the mental movement is in harmony with the nature movement. The cosmic egg motif in the Kalevala epic is emerging as the outcome of the mentality of the representation of the creation of the universe in the symbolic form. Eggs have many symbolic meanings such as fertility, life, health, resurrection, continuity. It is believed that the egg, which has an important place in the beliefs of the people, has provided particularly positive events such as a long and good life, fertility and luck. Religions continue to preserve the existence of these kinds of believes in different cultures, from the myth of creation to the present day local practices, through some transformations in functions that have existed since archaic periods. In this study, it will be tried to determine the belief in the myth of the cosmic egg motifs and the belief in the myth of creation from the beliefs in the Kalevala epic.
Keywords
Cosmic egg, folk belief, Kalevala, epic, creation myth.
