Origins of the Woman-Headed Birds in Russian Folklore and Their Symbolic Functions in the Silver Age of Poetry

Inspired both by Ancient Greek myths and legends of the East, the Slavic mythological system interprets the elements of these narratives within the context of its unique cosmological vision. On the other hand, the roots of Russian folklore, which are fed by the diversity of Slavic mythological imagery, provide a rich and broad spectrum for comparative studies. With an emphasis on this rich heritage, the research explores the winged hybrid creatures that play a significant role in Russian folklore and their reinterpretations in the Silver Age of Russian Poetry. The study focuses on several notable female-headed birds with dual identities: Stratim ((sic)) as the goddess, Alkonost and Sirin ((sic)) as the birds of joy and sorrow, and Gamayun ((sic)) as a holy messenger. The research aims to discover the sources from which hybrid bird images originate and evaluate the mysticism attributed to them. Through the comparative method, it focuses on the eclectic identities of the creatures, which are shaped under the influence of world mythologies. While revealing the distinguishing characteristics of women-headed birds, the facets of social consciousness as well as the dualist knowledge that causes them to function in the tales unpredictably are examined. The analysis reveals that poets such as K. D. Balmont, A. A. Blok, N. A. Klyuev, and A. A. Akhmatova used folkloric motifs to convey their fears regarding the social and political changes that were taking place at the turn of the century. Furthermore, the study concludes that Russian Silver Age poets deconstructed the conventional roles of the bird-maidens and rebuilt them in accordance with an authentic sense of art.