TRANSFORMATION OF THE SETTLEMENT LOCUS INTO THE SACRAL SPACE (ON THE MATERIAL OF CHRONICLE «QARABAGNAME»)

Abstract

Introduction. «Qarabagname» set of chronicles is devoted to the history of the Qarabakh khanate. «Qarabagname» is a valuable source of history of Azerbaijan of 18th – 19th centuries. Chronicles influenced Eastern poetic tradition and interpretation of the epic mindset. In the epic texts the organization of space and in particular the settlement which the action develops in is very interesting for folklore study. This is explained primarily by the fact the space provides a holistic perception of the image and generates a composition of the epic text. Purpose is to study settlement archetype «Shusha» as the sacral space, analyze features of chronicles «Qarabagname» in the process of formation and development. Methods. The analytical, mythological, genetic-contact, cultural and historical methods are applied in the article. Results. There are 10 Garabaghnams which study the political, economic and cultural history of the Karabakh Khanate as one of the oldest in the history of Azerbaijan: 1) Mirzə Adıgozal bey «Qarabağnama»; 2) Mirza Jamal Javanshir «Garabagh history»; 3) Ahmed bey Javanshir «On the Political Situation of the Karabakh Khanate in 1747-1805»; 4) «Historical episode» by Mirza Yusif Garabagh; 5) Mir Mehdi Khazani «Book-history-Garabagh»; 6) Rzaqulu bey Mirza Jamal oglu «The authorities of Panah Khan and Ibrahimkhalil Khan in Karabakh and events of that time»; 7) Mirza Rahim Fenah «Historical-Garabagh»; 8) Mahammadali bey Gizem, «Moral of the Garabagh»; 9) Hasan Ihfa Alizade «History of Shusha city» 10) Hasanali khan Garadaghi «The quality and prestige of the ancient city of Garabagh». Originality. In the mythological aspect Shusha (Panahabad) determines frontier between the cultural hero named Panakh-Ali khan and his enemies. In the binary opposition «his – another’s» it’s certainly that part of heroes’ mythological world where they need to protect the fortress from external enemies. Shusha is not only specific social space but some ideal world where everything is perfect (nature, climate, people, wise and brave ruler). The author draws parallel with the Azerbaijani epic «Kyoroglu». Shusha firstly existed as a toponym and only eventually it becomes an astionym namely a title of the settlement locus. Conclusion. Thus Shusha (Panahabad) as a settlement locus generates a special ideal space in the historical annals. Since it is considered a part of the mythological consciousness of the nation, its main characteristics are security and sacredness