| Titre | Le pari de Yannis et du soleil | |
|---|---|---|
| Auteur | Guy Saunier | |
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Revue | Etudes rurales |
| Numéro | no 97-98, 1985 L'ethnographie / Grèce | |
| Rubrique / Thématique | Les grecs et l'imaginaire |
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| Page | 133-151 | |
| Résumé anglais |
The Wager of Yannis and the Sun.
The theme of the wager of Yannis and the sun, which has often been confused with scenes of oppression during the Turkish period, does exist in a pure form. In this case, the wager is not only a mortan man's overweening act. In neo-Hellenic mythology, as in others, the sun is a « psychopomp murderer » (Eliade), very much like Charos. The song about the wager is an original form of the theme about the fight between Digenis and Charos. The valences have been reversed: the psychopomp is solar whereas Yannis (Digenis) is chthonian. However the characteristics of Digenis and Charos often reverse and overlap. The solar nature of Digenis comes from his predecessor in popular Greek accounts, namely Alexander the Great, the solar hero par excellence. The song of Yannis proves the vitality of the sun cult, as do modern poets such as O. Elytis and A. Embiricos. This song and those from the Digenis cycle are purely mythical and have nothing to do with the Acrites. Nevertheless, the meaning of the wager has been forgotten. The scenes of oppression mainly have an etiological value. Since the 13th century, popular poets have used history to explain any incomprehensible ill. Source : Éditeur (via Persée) |
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| Article en ligne | http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/rural_0014-2182_1985_num_97_1_3067 |
