VSESLAV OF POLOTSK IN «THE LAY OF IGOR’S CAMPAIGN»: AUTHORIAL INTENTION AND MYTHOLOGICAL CONTEXT

The article presents an analysis of the image of Vseslav of Polotsk as a character of “The Lay” in relation to the mythological context and in close connection with the religious problem, which is the most controversial part of the research of “The Lay”. The image of the Prince of Polotsk as a hero of “The Lay” is compared in a religious aspect with its ambivalent character in chronicles, concluded in favor of the pagan concept of the image of Vseslav in “The Lay”. Considerable attention is paid to the issue of communication of Vseslav of Polotsk with the hero of ancient epos Volhov Vseslavyevich. The context of mythological pagan traditions of Norse and scientific studies of ancient pagan Slavs entered the evidence base of the article. There is a new view on the phenomenon of witchcraft and werewolf- transformation of Vseslav of Polotsk in the article