SACRED CROSSROADS OF THE CULTS OF METALLURGY AND AGRICULTURE: EXPLORING THE MYTHIC SAGA OF PIRQUSHI AND ITS INDOEUROPEAN PARALLELS – ZEUS KERAUNOS, HEPHAESTUS, PERCUNAS, APOLLO PAEAN, AND HELLEN OF TROY

Abstract

The distinguished hero of the Khevsurian Mythology – Pirqushi, exhibits a notable resemblance to the Indo-European god of blacksmithery in various aspects, like Hephaestus and Percunas, being blacksmiths and sharing an unattractive appearance. However, distinctions emerge as Pirqushi undergoes transformations through the lenses of Paganism, Christianity, Islamic influence, and finally, Atheism, whereas our comprehension of cults of metallurgy and agriculture is confined to the pre-Christian era.

The similarities gradually diminish under the sway of different religions and cultures. The name Pirqushi was interpreted as a 'Georgian' homonym with compounds: 'piri' (the face, mouth) and 'qushi' (dark, angry). Speculating on identifying Pirqushi with the Baltic god Percunas, as described by Frazer[1], may be premature. Frazer notes, “The chief deity of the Lithuanians was Perkunas or Perkuns, the god of thunder and lightning, whose resemblance to Zeus and Jupiter has often been pointed out.”

I propose that the coincidence is more than mere chance. The Georgian term 'Pirqushi' possesses a distinct lexical etymology – 'piri' and 'qushi' – words that remain in colloquial usage. In contrast, the Latin etymology of the noun 'percussion' is a beating, striking; a beat as a measure of time,' derived from the past participle stem of 'percutere,' meaning 'to strike hard, beat, smite; strike through and through.' In texts where Pirqushi is the central figure, his actions are closely linked to the cult of metallurgy. Pirqushi is characterized by a heavy hammer and the act of striking the anvil. In one of the texts from the mythological cycle of Pirqushi, he is associated with the Middle Eastern cult of Helen (‘Pirqushi’s Origins’, sentence 6), whose echoes from Kvareli resonate with Pirqushi's striking of the anvil in Khevsureti through the sounds of her golden jewelry.

Pirqushi is a tough defender of morality in his congregation. He obliges his followers to wear the wooden arc (presumably of an oak tree) and live pure lives, otherwise, he sends them diseases, which “burn people from inside”. For this reason, Pirqushi’s epithet is “Fireflame”, which reminds of the Georgian name for syphilis – Atashang. In this article, we present speculations of dating the existence of Syphilis before the 7th century. A.D. connecting it to the Zoroastrian god of Fire – Atash.

Finally, the article presents the English translation of myths connected to Pirqushi’s cycle. However, for those researchers, who are interested in deeper linguistic analyses of the texts, in their verbal representations, we have provided Georgian transcribed texts in the footnotes.

The article explores several key topics related to Pirqushi:

1. Etymology of Pirqushi and variants of his origin: The article delves into the linguistic roots of the name Pirqushi and discusses various theories regarding his origin.

1. Pircushi’s Ancestors – pre-Christian Polytheism in South-Eastern Caucasus: It examines the religious beliefs and practices that preceded the emergence of Pirqushi, shedding light on the polytheistic traditions prevalent in the region.
2. Influence of Hellenic polytheism: Dual face of the hero – Feminine (beautiful) and masculine (ugly): The article discusses the influence of Hellenic polytheism on the characterization of Pirqushi, particularly the portrayal of his dual nature as both beautiful and ugly.
3. Pirqushi the healer: Smallpox, Leprosy, and Syphilis: It explores Pirqushi's role as a healer in combating various diseases such as smallpox, leprosy, and syphilis, highlighting his significance in folk medicine.
4. Pirqushi’s Treasury: The article investigates the concept of Pirqushi's treasury, exploring its symbolic and practical significance within the mythological framework.
5. Pirqushi and Percunas: It examines the relationship between Pirqushi and Percunas, exploring potential connections and influences between these two mythological figures.
6. Influences of Christianity and Pagan Cult: Lastly, the article explores the interplay between Christianity and pagan cults in shaping the mythology surrounding Pirqushi, highlighting the syncretic nature of Georgian religious traditions.

Keywords:

Myths of South-Eastern Caucasus: Khevsurian Mythology;

Cults of Metallurgy and Agriculture;

Greek cult of Zeus 'Keraunos';

Lithuanian cult of Perkūnas;

Helen of Troy – the Middle Eastern cult of the Sun and her presence in South-Eastern Caucasus;

Indo-European cult of metallurgy and agriculture in South-Eastern Caucasus;

Smallpox; Leprosis; Syphilis – Atashang in Khevsurian Mythology.