Olonkho
One of the most important pieces of Sakha folklore is the epic literature represented by Olonkho. Olonkho consists of a great number of lengthy legends, which reflect the Sakha cosmology and their religion. According to Sakha cosmology, the world consists of three layers: The Upper World (the Heavens), where the Yurung Aar Toyon (the Great White Lord) and other gods live, the Lower World, the world of evil, and the Middle World, where people live. In the centre of the Middle World, there is the sacred evergreen tree, Aal Luuk Mas, a home for goddess who is the Mistress of the Earth – Aan Alakhchyyn. The Lower World is hidden behind the mountains, far up in the north, where the Arctic Sea lies and where the sky is dark and gloomy. The inhabitants of the Lower World are cunning, treacherous and elusive. The inhabitants of the Middle World are noble warriors who are incredibly strong, handsome and wise. The view of women found in Olonkho is usually idealistic. They are beautiful and kind, and fight evil. There are picturesque descriptions of landscapes, homes and battles. Special attention is paid to horses. According to the Sakha tradition, the horse is a sacred animal. It can speak and it understands human language.
The language of Olonkho is very rich in symbols, numerous epithets, comparisons and repetitions. Olonkho is not merely narrated by olonkhohuts but is performed like a piece of music. It is the melody that creates the artistic image.
In 2005, UNESCO proclaimed Olonkho a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity. This prestigious status is usually awarded to important items from a nation’s cultural heritage, such as oral traditions, music and dance, rituals and mythology, traditional knowledge and customs.
