Pegaya orda" is "strong people of the Big/Great Elk"

In the article the problems of etymology of the name "Pegaya Orda" know from Russian documents of the XV century are considered. The name belongs to one of large military and political Selkups' unions of the period of Siberian colonization. The union was headed by chieftain Vonya, who refused to owe allegiance to Russia. The XV-XVI centuries for the Selkups of Middle Priobye (the Ob river area) were the time of inner and outer struggle. This foreordained a necessity to strengthen of military might. Archaeological sources eloquently witness that. They allow to reconstructing an ideology, which educated fighting spirit and skills, glorified martial valor. A historiographic analysis of the problem is given. Weak validity and methodical unfoundedness of the approaches are shown. The matter of the issue is in the initial breach of one of the most important etymologic rules: a search of a word meaning shall be started with the native language of culture bearers, but not of foreign ones, i.e. not from the Russian word "pegiy", but with a translation of the documented term from Selkup language. The lexeme "Pegaya" is firmly translated from all the Selkup dialects as "an elk", "he-elk". Over ten dictionaries, lists of names of Narym and Taz dialects and of some local groups of the Selkups were observed. The root base is common: "paqqy", "pekk", "pangy", "pekky", "pekk". An elk was the most important game animal and had a great importance for Selkups vital activity. He personified strength, might, agility, momentary reaction on danger. An elk image in Selkup culture has an ancient and steady mythology. The Elk was patronized by Num, the god of sky. Changes of seasons and of day and night (he carries moon on his horns) were associated with the Elk. His cosmogonic role is reflected to the fullest in a myth about the sky hunt for the Sacred (Big/Great) Elk, who become a winner in it. The outcome of the hunt begot a myth about a formation of Sacred (Big/Great) Elk constellation (the Great Bear). The Sacred Elk image is organically in heroic mythology and is leading one. The Elk is a helper of the epic hero Iche (Ite), providing success in a battle. This theme is connected in agreement with the second part of the phrase: "Orda". In Selkup language there are words, which are consonant to a foreign perception: "ora", "oralyagda", "orfel" (mean 'strength, a fist', 'to catch'), "orfel-kup", "orpseyo-kup" (mean 'a strong man, hero'). According to Selkup historical and cultural, ethno-linguistic specificity a new version of meaning and translation of the name "Pegaya Orda" is offered; it is "Strong People of the Big/Great Elk" or "Strong Men (Heroes) of the Sacred Elk".

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