Most importantly, Russes and Slavs are far from the same thing. From Rusov or Russia, there was a warlike Scandinavian squad of a prince or other feudal lord. The Slavs, as a people that are not militant and do not know how to manage professionally, did not participate in the battles. Therefore, funerals are performed over the rus, not according to Slavic, but Scandinavian rites. This is the evidence - a rich ethnographic material, which scientists around the world began to actively collect in the XIX century, to learn their roots, their mentality. A lot of time spent in libraries, collecting the necessary information for the picture, Heinrich Semiradsky. "The funeral of the noble Russ" became a new milestone in his work.
How the funeral rite was performed, if you follow the sagas and the poetry of the skalds
For starters, a boat or ship was built, which would take the soul to the afterlife. It was required that his soul by mistake during burial accidentally did not return to the ground and did not take anyone else with him. For the faithful observance of customs observed very strictly. Only with every minute detail of the ritual the deceased will go to the afterlife and not return to the world of the living. These details were known to Heinrich Ippolitovich Semiradsky and reflected in the painting "Funeral of the noble Russ". The description of the picture will be given below.
Offerings
They were committed only in accordance with the position of the deceased in society. Someone was enough and one hen. The nobleman relied on rich sacrifices. They were musical instruments, rich weapons, horses in various quantities, drinks that cause intoxication, fruit, cock, chicken. In addition, there were human sacrifices in the ritual. This, as a rule, was a prepared, intoxicated girl who did not fully understand that she would simply die. She perceived death as an expression of love for her master. These are the initial explanations that must be given before viewing the picture "Funeral of the noble rus". The description of the picture will clarify many details.
History of creation
In 1883 a huge picture was created on the Volga near the city of Bulgar: a multi-figured canvas, in which the profound erudition of the artist and his skill as a painter belonging to the classical school affected. As basic information, he used the description of the burial of the Ruse by an Arab traveler of the 10th century. He wrote that the burial procedure lasted 10 days. The deceased was placed in a cold place (often, if there was such a possibility, it was covered with ice). The place of burning itself was prepared in this way: a fireplace was prepared with a size of 3x4 m or 4x6 m in the form of a ring with a diameter of 7 m. A very precise circle was drawn along which a shallow ditch was digged and a fence made of fence and rods. In the picture this is not visible. This will prevent you from reviewing the actors. Semiradsky ("The funeral of the noble Russ") deliberately excluded this element from the picture. But in everyday life the fence was present. The deceased, together with the victims, burned inside the fence. The picture shows only birch logs that will quickly flare up, and the deceased will go up to the upper world of spirits.
How to share the property and prepare a woman
His property was divided into three parts. One part was left to his women, the other was used for funerals, and the last was for a funeral feast. Trinity meant not a feast, but quite another - the battle lists after the funeral. The noble Russ was sewed expensive clothes. In this case, gold-thread brocade. He sits on a richly decorated bed. Next to him is a slave prepared for sacrifice, which is in the hands of an intoxicating hallucinogenic drink. She was feared for all ten days, and she was allowed a lot during this time: she was given freedom in relations with men, for example.
Culmination
The picture shows the last moment before the beginning of the burial. This is how the burial of the noble family happens. Description of the picture: the victims are already cut: two horses, a bull and a dog. Around the rumor are quivers with arrows, a sword, a helmet, a shield, vessels for wine and other golden utensils. There are flowers. Sam rushen dressed expensive, in addition to brocaded robes with gold buttons, on it a cap, trimmed with sables, red morocco boots. The bed is covered with carpets, a tent above the head. Nearby - a slave, decorated with beads and necklaces, expensive earrings, in her hair are intertwined ornaments, she will now perish from a minute to the minute, for behind her there is a leader who will kill her with a dagger. At the bottom there sits a man with an ax to ritually destroy the girl-victim. Just in case, the maid keeps her feet. The slave herself reaches out to drink some more wine. On the right in the crowd of ordinary people there is an idol to whom they worship. The fire is already lit, and the strict middle-aged husband is ready to bring the burning torch to the logs on which the rook stands, and begin cremation. The theme is so colorful that you can write a story on the picture. Color is interesting because it practically does not use either carmine or kumachovy colors - only gold and umbra (blue). Red inclusions are present, but they do not determine the coloring of the picture. Already near the end of the funeral of the noble Russ. The description of the picture gives a fairly complete arrangement of the main characters acting on it.
The story of a slave-slave
"I'm a simple slave, look what I was. I'm happy now, as I was dressed and adorned with expensive gems, silver, gold, pearls. I have long dreamed that the Master will pay attention to me, and I will become his concubine. And now, when he does not say yes or no, it's my time to say: "Yes, you are my Master in this, and that world. I'll follow you like a faithful dog. " Well, that you are all worth it, pour me some more honey froth. And I'll change my outfit, so that everyone will see how good the wife of the Master is, and weave flowers in my hair. You, boy, I liked you. Come closer. You'll be having fun with me all night until the morning. The sun is already rising. Lift me, bride, above the gate. Ah, I saw my father and mother. Their faces shine with joy. What they say, did not understand, but something good. Pick it up again. I saw now all the saints and their relatives from the world of the funeral. The third time raise me, but pour the cup more fully, everything is dry in the mouth. I see, I see my Lord. He is sitting, young, beautiful, in full strength in a green garden, around a tree in bloom, petals sprinkle on him, his feet are drowned in the grass-ant, surrounded by a fragrance of flowers in the clearing, and scarlet, and blue, and gold. And next to him, the children and his men, all gathered. He is calling me to his place. So lead me to him faster so that he does not wait for me for a long time. "Such a story about the painting" The funeral of the noble family "will correspond to the historical truth.
Brief biography of the artist
Henry Ippolitovich Semiradsky (1843 - 1902) was born in the family of a Polish doctor. He graduated from Kharkov University, continued his studies as an artist. Most of his life he lived in Rome, inspired by ancient mythological and biblical stories. The paintings are made in the style of classicism. They usually had large dimensions, such that special lifts were required to support them. The paintings are multi-figured, strict in color and composition. All is precisely verified. But he did not close in this framework. Much and fruitfully worked on portraits and landscapes. Participated in the painting of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. If in his youth the artist badly needed, then in adulthood he became a wealthy man and left the family a worthy inheritance.
Such was the outstanding artist of Semiradsky, who left his works in public and private collections. A brief description of the painting "Funeral of the noble Russ", an outstanding epic work, is this article.