A sátor leszakítása a halálra ítélés jelképes kifejezése? : egy avar szokás nyomai Theophylaktos Simokattés művében

In this paper an Avar custom is analyzed through the historical work of Theophylact Simocatta. According to the Byzantine author the breaking of the tent symbolized capital punishment in the Avar Khaganate. The tent was important and significant in the life and faith of nomadic peoples. The tent or a part of the tent symbolized the power of the khagan, the stability, the sun. Data of tent's breaking or tent's destroying can be found in the Mongolian sources, too. The power of the other world, or the khagan, or the enemy of the tent's owner caused the tent's destroying. Besides the tent's destroying symbolized the death of the tent's owner. The tent's destroying meant the loss of political power or social position, but generally symbolized ominous signs or death in every case. This Avar custom is unknown among the customs of other nomadic peoples, but fits well the symbolic system of nomadic peoples