The river in the culture of the Trom-Agan Khanty and in the museum exhibition display

In the article the essentials of the scientific concept are stated which was worked out for a new permanent exhibition of the Museum of Man and Nature named after A.P. Yadroshnikov in Russkinskaya Village of Surgut Region. The central idea of the exhibition display is the expression of polysemy of the symbol of the river in the traditional Khanty culture. The polysemantic image of the river is reconstructed through its outlook functions by the data collected on the Trom-Agan Khanty and shown to the viewer by means of the museum. The first function is determined by the river as a hydrological structure of the universe correlated with the Ob River. The upper world is associated with the source of the river and the warm south, and the lower world - with the mouth and the cold north. In the exhibition the idea of the world river is expressed in the form of a shimmering light flow linking separate thematic units into a single panoramic exposure. Secondly, the river is conceived as the initial act of world creation. Water is the first element and interference of the god-demiurge Torum results in the creation of rivers. The museum interpretation of the mythologem is a media map of the first five rivers located at the beginning of the exposition route. Thirdly, the river symbolizes life itself constituting the basis of the traditional economy of the people - fishing. The primary demonstration of the traditional occupations associated with the river emphasizes its importance in the culture of the Trom-Agan Khanty. Fourthly, the river is treated as a vector of human time and being: people come into this world from the headwaters of the river and depart in its lower reaches. Time and being acquire a sociocultural dimension in the exposition and appear as a change of eras outlining the transformation of the Khanty's culture: traditional culture - interaction with the Russian culture - the Red chum as the beginning of familiarizing people with public education, health care - oil exploration of the region which transformed the Khanty from the river people to town dwellers - the museum as a modern form of preservation and translation of the Khanty culture. Fifth, the river is a sacred center, the main place of communication with the supreme god through his son, mediator Sorni / Num-kon-iki. The climax of the exhibition is the world river - a path made from glass, forming the upper platform of the tour. It returns people to the spiritual roots of culture, their shrines, commandments of spirits and gods.

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