The Place of Shamanism in Hungarian Culture

Territories in Question: Routes in Territories
By Mihály Hoppál
English

Studies on shamanism have a long tradition in Hungarian ethnology. As early as the 19th century shamanism is established as being the former religion of the Hungarians (prior to the 10th century). Since then scientists are searching for its traces and think to have found them in the legends of either Finno-Hungarian or Turco-Mongol (Altaïc) peoples. This study evokes some fundamental themes (shaman fight, hallucinogen practices, etc.) that are likely to be connected with myths of related peoples. In the course of the 11th century shamans were radically eliminated, but they still survive in stories of Hungarian folklore.

Keywords

  • religion
  • shamanism
  • hallucinogens
  • sorcery
  • literature
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