Skylore of the Indigenous peoples of northern Eurasia

Abstract

This chapter examines the skylore of the indigenous peoples of northern Eurasia, paying particular attention to the commonalities found among them as well as the differences. Special attention is placed on the motif of the Cosmic Hunt and its diverse manifestations across the study area as well as on the oral nature of the celestial beliefs of these groups. The stars of a variety of “Western” constellation figures are implicated in the narratives and in some cases are clearly utilized in social practice for celestial navigation. The role played by the underlying huntergatherer mode of subsistence in shaping their cultural conceptualizations, their skyscapes, and the overarching cosmology of these peoples is also addressed.