| Summary: | The quatrefoil motif is a popular ornament in Sakha decorative and folk arts and crafts. It is popular notonly in Yakutia, but all over the world. Until now, however, there have been no generalized works on this ornamentalmotif. Its symbolic signs have not been studied. Our study has revealed that the quatrefoil motif in ornamentationand decorative art dates back to the Neolithic period in the Halaf culture of Mesopotamia around 5765 BC. Anumber of researchers believe that this motif was a symbol of male fertility. We hypothesized that the quatrefoilmotif probably appeared in the seals of Caucasian persimmon merchants and depicted the quatrefoil of its calyx.Thanks to the growing influence of trade, this motif has spread around the world. The oriental persimmon, as animportant product for the well-being of the ancient Chinese population, became an image of the quatrefoil motif,which was adopted by the Xiongnu as a symbol of protection and resurrection. From them, the motif probably spreadwidely among the Turkic peoples. The Sakha apparently borrowed this motif from the Xiongnu, as indicated by theabundance of ornamental forms and the presence of archaeological, anthropological, and genetic data, which showthe existence of sufficiently close links with the Xiongnu culture. The quatrefoil motif similar to the decorative formsof Gothic cathedrals was probably introduced to the Middle Lena by representatives of the Chaatas and Tyukhtyatcultures in Khakassia.
|
|---|