Ideas of time in the traditional worldview of the selkups

Abstract

Through a comprehensive semantic analysis grounded in scientifically validated concepts of time within the traditional Selkup worldview, this study elucidates the temporal category of antiquity. It highlights the significance of sacred “mythical” time, which encompasses the creation of the modern world by deities, the genetic lineage of spirits, and the use of the epithet “ancient” in their verbal portrayals. The anthropomorphic and zoomorphic manifestations of deities, which precede human forms, are also examined.

Furthermore, the representations of celestial bodies such as the Sun and the Moon, alongside figures like Kandalduk, the Great Moose Kyz-Anga, the mythical Elk, and Mother Earth, reflect Selkup perspectives on the synodic month, daily cycles, and seasonal changes. The nomenclature of the year in shamanic language is intricately linked to the sacred tree, symbolizing renewal each spring. Additionally, the Selkup belief in the capacity to influence the passage of time is embodied in the abilities attributed to their spirits, including clairvoyance, time travel, and the predetermination of human fate.