Axiological Dimensions in Crimean Folklore: A Study of N.A. Marx’s Legends of Crimea

Abstract

A folklore text is a verbal artifact rooted in the oral traditions of a culture and transmitted across generations within a specific community. As elements of the axiological paradigm (a system of culturally shaped values and meanings) such texts play a key role in forming collective consciousness and identity. Legends, as a type of folklore text, recount partially factual yet often embellished events tied to real locations or figures. Unlike myths or fairy tales, legends maintain closer ties to historical reality. Their defining features include: (1) depictions of real events; (2) stability and reproducibility; (3) incorporation of beliefs and mythological elements; (4) didactic purpose; and (5) connection to specific places or identities. This study examines these features through the lens of N.A. Marx's collection Legends of Crimea—a work of singular scholarly value, given its compilation by a native paleographer and historian whose profound local knowledge stems from being born and raised in the region. The collection is an exemplary subject for such analysis, as Crimea itself has long been a crossroads of diverse spiritual traditions and ethnicities, synthesizing these influences into a unique and cohesive historical and cultural narrative. Marx's texts reflect intergenerational knowledge transmission, preserving historical memory and shaping regional identity. The legends employ four key methods to convey Crimea's cultural heritage: (1) direct and indirect descriptions (of landscapes, customs, and daily life); (2) proverbs and aphorisms (encoding attitudes toward education, labor, and morality); (3) toponymic references (hydronyms, oronyms, and oikonyms); and (4) symbolic imagery and allegory (representing ethnic motifs). This study, aiming to evaluate the collection's axiological potential, confirms its vital role in sustaining intergenerational value transmission and positions Legends of Crimea as an indispensable resource for understanding the value system of the peoples of Crimea, offering timeless insights into the region's past and beliefs.