His grave is on a hollow hill. Old Ladoga, the grave of Prophetic Oleg - gooos

Hello dears.
I was re-reading The Tale of Bygone Years here the other day, and noticed one point that had not caught my eye before. It became interesting about the final resting places of the main characters of Russian history from the mid-9th century. For some reason, I didn’t put so much emphasis on this before. But it’s interesting.
Let's start from this source and not any other.
So, the calling of the Varangians took place. Three brothers came and sat down in different cities: Rurik in Ladoga, Truvor- in Izborsk and Sineus to Beloozero. Soon Rurik became the sole ruler of the country. He founded Novgorod and installed his governors in Murom, Polotsk and Rostov. When and how he died is not preserved in history. As well as where his resting place is located. However, on the left bank of the Luga River, between the villages of Podgorye and Zapolye, Batetsky district, Novgorod region, there is the so-called Shum Mountain. This is an older and larger burial place. And many believe that the grave of the legendary prince is right here.

According to oral ancient tradition (which, of course, is doubtful). In late autumn, on the northern bank of the Luga there was a considerable battle, in which the founder of the Russian state himself personally participated. During the battle, Rurik was seriously wounded and died from his wound. Since it was cold and the ground was already frozen, they hid his body and covered his body with stones. In the spring, Rurik’s body was transferred across the river to the town of “Kamenya” with lights, to the southern bank of the Luga River, where it was buried in a large mound, in a golden coffin, and with it 40 barrels of silver coins. They buried him with a horse and a gilded saddle. Together with him, 12 warriors were buried with his heads in a circle. Rurik was buried in the 5th depths of the Luga River, 60 versts from Novgorod and 60 fathoms from the Luga River.
Could Shum Mountain be Rurik's grave? Quite. Moreover, they say the place there is so unusual, special....

Sineus And Truvor It is quite possible that this is “our kind” and “loyal squad”, in any case, I am of the same opinion. But in the source these are individual people, so let's try it.

Moreover, there is such a thing as the Truvorov Cross. On the triangular cape of a high plateau - Zheravya Mountain above Gorodishchenskoye Lake, which is near Izborsk, there is Truvorovo or, in other words, the Old Izborsk settlement. now there is the so-called St. Nicholas Church on the site and cemetery, with crosses dating back to the 15th-16th centuries. One of the crosses, taller than a man, is known as Truvorov's cross, Truvorov's grave. Folk legend says exactly this. And Catherine II believed in this.

WITH Sineus more difficult. Pre-revolutionary history textbooks contain references to the fact that not far from Beloozero there was a mound called “Sineusov”. But where is he and what is he like? That’s the question. At the turn of the century, enthusiasts from Cosmopoisk launched an expedition to try to more accurately determine the location. To be honest, the results are unclear, so I personally was not convinced.

Next we have rules Oleg, aka Helga, aka Oleif, aka the prototype of the hero Volga Svyatoslavovich.
A glorious warrior, the conqueror of Constantinople, either a relative or a close howl of Rurik.
His death from a horse, which we all know about since childhood, is of course doubtful, but the fact that he died is beyond doubt. And here the main question is where and how he was buried.

Not far from Staraya Ladoga there is Oleg’s burial mound, which has been known since ancient times. It is located in the village of Velesha, in the northwestern part of the region on the left bank of the Volkhov River, northeast of Staraya Ladoga.
The place is confirmed by the Novgorod First Chronicle, which reflected the Initial Code of 1093-1095. There, the death of Prince Oleg is described as follows:
« In summer 6430 (922). […] Oleg went to Novugorod, and from there to Ladoga. Friends say that when I go over the sea, I will bite a serpent in the foot, and then I will die; there is his grave in Ladoz"

In principle, it fits.

But there is one point that caught my eye :-) The Tale of Bygone Years says:
“And the people all cried with great tears, and carried and buried on the mountain, which is called Shchekovitsa; there is his grave to this day, the word of Olgov’s grave»

Shchekovitsa, or more precisely Shchekavitsa, is a mountain in Kyiv above Podol. It is interesting that before the revolution it was often called nothing more than Oleg’s Mountain.

Well, where is Oleg the Prophet buried? I bow in favor of Staraya Ladoga. And you?
To be continued....
Have a nice time of day.

Prophetic Oleg is one of the most mysterious figures in Russian history. Who was he related to Rurik, did he go to Constantinople and, finally, what kind of his death “overseas” do the Russian chronicles mention - all these questions have yet to be answered.

Founder of the Old Russian State

Prince Oleg, who, being either a relative of Rurik (more precisely, the brother of his wife Efanda), or his governor, during his reign did much more for the formation of the Old Russian state than its legendary founder. When Igor (Rurik’s son) was a young man, he captured Smolensk and Lyubech, deceived and killed the Kyiv princes Askold and Dir, who usurped power there. Under him, Kyiv became the new residence of the Old Russian state. Oleg's sovereignty was recognized by the Polyans, Northerners, Drevlyans, Ilmen Slovenes, Krivichi, Vyatichi, Radimichi, Ulichs and Tivertsy. Through his governors and local princes, he managed to establish government administration of the young country.

His successes in foreign policy were also significant. Fighting with the Khazars, Oleg made the latter forget that for two centuries the Khazar Khaganate had been collecting tribute from the East Slavic lands. The great Constantinople bowed its head before his army, and Russian merchants received the unique for that time right of duty-free trade with Byzantium, and, in case of need, full provision of food and shipwrights to repair their boats.

Considering all of the above merits, some historians are inclined to see the founder of the Old Russian state in Oleg, and not in his predecessor and founder of the princely dynasty - Rurik. The conditional founding date, in this case, is considered to be 882, or rather the unification of “Slavia” (Novgorod) and “Cuiaba” (Kyiv).

The hike that never happened

Oleg’s famous campaign against Constantinople deserves special mention, after which he received his historical nickname – “Prophetic”. According to the Tale of Bygone Years, the prince equipped an army of 2000 rooks, 40 warriors each. The Byzantine Emperor Leo VI the Philosopher, in fear of a numerous enemy, ordered the gates of the city to be closed, leaving the suburbs of Constantinople to be destroyed.

However, Oleg resorted to a trick: “he ordered his soldiers to make wheels and put ships on wheels. And when a fair wind blew, they raised sails in the field and went to the city.” After this, the supposedly scared to death Greeks offered peace and tribute to the conquerors. According to the peace treaty of 907, Russian merchants received the right to duty-free trade and other privileges.

Despite the fact that mention of this campaign can be found in any textbook on the history of medieval Rus', many historians consider it a legend. There is not a single mention of it among Byzantine authors, who described in detail similar raids in 860 and 941. The agreement itself from 907, which, according to researchers, is a compilation of similar agreements from 911, when Oleg sent an embassy to confirm peace, also raises doubts.

Moreover, the description of the return of the Rus with rich booty: even the sails on their boats were made of golden silk, is compared with the return from Constantinople of the governor Vladimir, and after the Norwegian king Olaf Tryggvason, described in the Norwegian saga of the 12th century: “They say, after one great victory he turned home to Gardy (Rus); They sailed then with such great pomp and splendor that they had sails on their ships made of precious materials, and their tents were the same.”

Was there a snake?

According to the legend described in the Tale of Bygone Years, the prince was predicted to die from his beloved horse. Oleg ordered him to be taken away and remembered the ominous prophecy only a few years later, when he had long since died. Laughing at the Magi, he wanted to look at the bones of the horse, and, standing with one foot on the skull, he said: “Should I be afraid of him?” At the same moment, a snake crawled out of the skull and fatally stung the prince.

Of course, this is just a legend, written down several centuries after Oleg’s death. For the legendary prince-voivode - a legendary death. A similar technique, which was often used in other countries of medieval Europe, gave the historical figure even greater importance in the eyes of posterity. Moreover, often different authors used the same story. Thus, one Icelandic saga tells about the Viking Orvard Odd, who, in his youth, was predicted to die from his horse. To prevent fate from happening, Odd killed the animal, threw it into a pit, and covered the corpse with stones. As a result, death in the form of a poisonous snake overtook him, like Oleg, on the grave of a dead horse: “And when they walked quickly, Odd hit his foot and bent over. “What was it that I hit my foot on?” He touched the tip of the spear, and everyone saw that it was the skull of a horse, and immediately a snake rose from it, rushed at Odd and stung him in the leg above the ankle. The poison took effect immediately, the whole leg and thigh were swollen.”

To date, it has not been established who borrowed the original idea from whom. The exact date of the history of Oleg’s death in the Tale of Bygone Years is quite difficult to establish, since the chronicle was rewritten more than once. What is known is that Orvard Odd, unlike Oleg, is a fictional hero of an adventure saga created on the basis of oral traditions later than the 13th century. Perhaps the sad death in the face of a snake is originally a Scandinavian story that came to Rus' along with the Varangians and received its new embodiment in local legends about Oleg. Although, some researchers believe that the hero of the Scandinavian sagas Orvard Odd and Oleg are one and the same person.

Persian epic

The Tale of Bygone Years is not the only source on his biography. The First Novgorod Chronicle, which, according to some researchers, is even more ancient than Nestor’s work, calls Oleg a governor under the young Prince Igor, who accompanied him on campaigns. At the same time, it was Prince Igor who dealt with Askold in Kyiv, and then launched a campaign against Constantinople. But the most interesting thing is the end of the story. In addition to the generally accepted version of a snake bite, the chronicle mentions another option for Oleg’s death - “overseas”.

More detailed information about Oleg’s unknown, “overseas” campaign, where he may have met his death, should be sought in the writings of the Arab author Al-Masudi, who reported on a Russian fleet of 500 ships that invaded the Kerch Strait approximately after 912. Al-Masudi mentions two great rulers of the Rus at their head - Al-dir and a certain Olvang. The latter is usually associated with Askold, but this name can equally well be similar to Oleg, the winner of Askold and Dir.

The Khazar king, who was promised half the spoils for his loyalty, allegedly allowed the Russians to pass through the Don to the Volga, and from there down to the Caspian Sea. The final goal of the Rus was Persia. The result of the campaign was the ruin of Persian Azerbaijan. Part of the spoils, as required by the agreement, was delivered to Khazaria. But the guard of the Khazar king, which consisted mainly of Muslim mercenaries, rebelled and demanded revenge for the death of their co-religionists. The ruler did not contradict them, nor did he warn the Rus about the danger. They entered into an unequal battle, as a result of which about 30 thousand Slavs died, and the rest retreated up the Volga, where they were killed by the Bulgars.

Their leader died along with the army. Some historians believe that the “death overseas” mentioned in the Novgorod version is a vague but true memory of Oleg’s death precisely in the Caspian campaign, and not on the territory of the Ladoga settlement from “from his horse.”

Kurgan Oleg's grave

"Oleg's Grave"- Hill 5-III in the Sopki tract near the village of Staraya Ladoga, having about 10 m in height. Also called in scientific literature "Hollow Hill", "Khodakovsky Hill".

In 1820, it was partially excavated by Zorian Dolenga-Khodakovsky (A. Charnotsky). During the research (which covered about a third of the entire mound), “several burnt bones” were discovered, a double-thorn spearhead (“arrow”) dating from the 8th - early 9th centuries, “a piece of iron similar to a bolt in a castle, and coals...” . No further archaeological excavations were carried out here.

Folklore studies record in relation to Hill 5-III stories about an earthen grave, poured “by the handful” and about the buried Rurik (the latter, perhaps, has a literary origin). “It’s just beyond Ivansky Island that it begins, we call it “hills” there, these humps begin, that’s where they say they turned these Swedes back. They didn’t get here” (M. P. Efimova, born in 1913, native of the village of Ivanovsky Island, lives in the village of Ivanovsky Island; recorded in 1994) “Rurik, they say, is buried. Who speaks - here, who speaks - in Novgorod. But this is what the soldiers have, all the bumps are made with this, which pocket, they say” (K. A. Nikolaeva, born in 1917, native of the village of Kinderevo, lives in the village of Staraya Ladoga; recorded in 1994)

Communication with Prince Oleg (Prophetic). In the chronicles: In the Novgorod First Chronicle, which reflected the Initial Code of 1093-1095, the death of Prince Oleg is described as follows: “In the summer of 6430 (922). […] Oleg went to Novugorod, and from there to Ladoga. Friends say that when I go over the sea, I will bite a serpent in the foot, and then I will die; there is his grave in Ladoz” - Commission list of the Novgorod first chronicle of the younger edition (Novgorod first chronicle of the older and younger edition. M.-L., 1950. P. 108-109).

On the contrary, the second edition of the Tale of Bygone Years, compiled by Abbot Sylvester in 1116, conveys this story differently: the chronicle article of 6420 (912) contains a well-known legend about the death of the prince from a horse’s skull, which has a mythological overtones, and a message about Oleg’s grave in Kiev: “And the people all cried with great tears, and carried and buried on the mountain, which is called Shchekovitsa; there is his grave to this day, the word of Olgov’s grave” - Quote. according to the Radzivilov Chronicle. See: Radzivilov Chronicle // PSRL. T. 38. L., 1989. P. 23.

Later chronicles vary both versions of the story about the burial place of Prince Oleg; however, in none of them is this legend specified.

Assumptions: For the first time, the “Oleg’s Grave” in connection with the Volkhov hills was mentioned in November 1885 by N. E. Brandenburg, reporting to members of the Department of Russian and Slavic Archeology of the Imperial Russian Archaeological Society on the inspection of the hill near the village. Michael the Archangel (21-I according to V.P. Petrenko), he, in particular, said: “The mound can be very important: for example, in its side collapse one can see part of a kind of masonry made of slabs, probably going around the entire base of the embankment, and at the sight of this huge mound, one involuntarily recalls northern legends pointing to the grave of Oleg the Prophet somewhere near Ladoga... It would be extremely interesting to subject this mound to an accurate examination before treasure hunters despoil it.” In 1886, excavations were carried out on the hill, but no princely burial was found in it, and no local legends associated with this hill could be recorded. Ten years later, in his book “Old Ladoga,” N. E. Brandenburg already spoke about the possibility of Oleg’s burial in the “Khodakovsky Hill” (5-III).

Assumptions about hill 5-III. In 1950, S. N. Orlov wrote about the possible burial of Prince Oleg in Hill 5-III in the article “Volkhov-type hills near Staraya Ladoga”, saying: “this grandiose mound... is associated with a folk legend about the burial of Prince Oleg in it,” “ among the local population it is known as “Oleg’s grave.” But at the same time, S.N. Orlov does not provide any records of such legends. In modern folklore studies, there is also no such information.

V.P. Petrenko expressed his opinion about this as follows: “In my opinion, the name “Oleg’s Grave” was assigned to mound 5-III in the 20s - 40s. XX century and is a classic example of contamination. It should be said that, judging by the inventory, hill 5-III appeared already in the 8th century.”

G. S. Lebedev in his book “The Viking Age in Northern Europe” wrote: “Rurik was replaced by the Prophetic Oleg. In Ladoga, his name is associated with “Oleg’s Tomb,” the central, most monumental of the hills of the Ladoga “sacred zone.” Archaeologists examined a burial there according to the rite of cremation (it dates back to the 9th century and, therefore, cannot be the burial of the Kyiv prince Oleg, who died in 912 (or 922). There is reason to see in this majestic mound not a “grave,” “burial place,” but “Olegov Hill,” a ritual seat on which certain social and religious functions were performed.”

Oleg Dahl's grave at the Vagankovskoye cemetery.

Oleg Dahl's grave at the Vagankovskoye cemetery.

Monuments. Cemetery Vagankovsky.

grave Oleg Dahl
located on site 12

When he died - March 3, 1981 - the Moscow authorities forbade him to be buried at Vagankovo. A drunkard, he died not in Moscow - in Kyiv. The director of the small theater Mikhail Ivanovich Tsarev insisted that Oleg Dal be buried at Vagankovo. Even if it’s in someone else’s fence. He was buried in the grave of a ballerina of the Imperial Theater. Nearby are the mother-in-law and wife. Photos from Oleg Dal's grave were stolen by fans.

Vagankovsky diary

The land of silence is a joyless lot,
Refuge of the last nightmare.
Through the chill of petrified steles -
Silent breathing of light steam.

Vagankovo- presumably goes back to the verb “vaganit” - drink, walk, rage, organize a booth. A necropolis for persons of non-church, non-godly professions - in particular, jesters, buffoons... in general, proto-artists.

It is not surprising that there is still a “booth” here to this day. It's just... people come to get drunk on the birthday or death day of their idol. And if only it was his own. This would be nothing if it weren’t for the crowds of loitering, highly cultured party boys and party girls roaming around the free “open-air museum.” But under each slab there are 40, 50, 60... years of someone's life. It turns out that a famous person, even after his death, does not belong to himself. They didn’t even want to bury Dahl at Vagankovo. Lisa, out of stubbornness, got her husband there by hook or by crook. Of course, the logic of one’s own convenience (a 20-minute trolleybus ride from home) is ironclad.

Does she see this mess on the screen of the universal computer, is she happy?

It would be much more honest to bury artists (people, people!) next to their relatives, without flaunting their imaginary honors, if the funeral is associated with monstrous humiliation. And the target audience would come to worship them. Only our own and those to whom these names are truly dear; for whom the very fact of a trip is a small pilgrimage full of spiritual events.

Both Vladimir Vysotsky and Oleg Dal deserve peace, at least in death.

And if only “highly cultured” people came. And they come and get drunk. They litter and vomit on neighboring graves. And they stick cigarette butts into gravestones. And then the same rednecks come to the “neighbors” and vomit on “our” territory. Great?

April 28, 2002
Palm Sunday

On Novodevichy - cleaner, calmer. Nearby is a monastery, bells ringing. Although there are some individuals like Maxim Nikulin who also do a lot of crap after themselves. After the quiet Novodevichy, where the small and cozy grave of Oleg Borisov shines, getting to Vagankovo is unpleasant. It’s better to pay 20 - 30, well, 40 rubles in the end, and calmly stroll along the measured alleys of the churchyard, breathing in the stern grandeur of the marble pillars. Knowing that an ambulance is on duty at the entrance, that monuments are built in organized rows, like at a state parade, that here is a branch of Europe with twenty-centimeter borders next to them, that behind the fence someone is praying for your soul, for you are a person.

And near the memorial plate of the “hero of the occasion” there are 8 candles and flowers, as if brought by invisible gnomes.

And the grass, radiating warmth and calm.

May 25, 2002

On Vagankovo it’s completely different. Nothing can be found there. Even if you know What looking. And if you don’t know - Where it, and you will get completely lost. It is much more convenient to simply “wander” aimlessly and “gaze” at beautiful monuments.

Ten minutes of senseless jostling between potholes and graves, crooked fence stakes climbing one on top of another - and you’re already emptying your pockets in search of validol. The earth is crying, the ground is aching under your feet, souls are groaning - and you feel it. Here is a battered trash can, from behind which sticks out a peg with the inscription “To Vladimir Dahl” (my God, if only he was pointing to the trash can! OH, Vladimir Ivanoviiiich!.. you-who-are-sitting-in-the-dustbin!)... Here is an open dry closet, covered all the way to the roof. I’m not exaggerating - the g..is practically hanging on the ceiling (who are we?.. for something like that, eh?).

Oh, we won't find it. If we find it, we'll hope. If we don’t find it, flowers will go to Andrei Mironov. Or Yuri Gulyaev, for example.

Found. With difficulty, but we found it. And there is a whole party there.

Wait until it resolves? Closing soon.

And among the loitering people there is a drunken football player Mostovoy. If not, drunk to death. This is before he helped the “LG Cup” to fail. And the championship in Japan - accordingly. We drank with him. He poured it out to just anyone, but he couldn’t get into it himself: “For-healthy-Aaaleg-Iiiiiiiivanych!......” Ugh.

Oh, really Romantseva? No, Most didn’t even respond to the coach’s name. Well, at least it didn't bother me for long.

And the candle on Oleg Dahl’s grave crackled and splashed soot.

September 30, 2003

I was there in September. I barely forced myself to go. Forced - in June, in August. I put it off. And he hoped that maybe the photograph would last at least six months? I wish I could reshoot it, pro forma.

I kicked it in half an hour before closing. Remember how it is with Olga Borisovna:

ABOUT grave loved one
We must completely forget!
Or lie next to this grave
And forget about everything!
And sprinkle sand on this grave,
And plant flowers in this land,
And then go to the cinema or visit
With a sense of accomplishment - terrible!
Unacceptable for me!
O. Eikhenbaum, 1981(spelling preserved)

I didn't take flowers with me. It makes sense to give them at least while the person is alive. I dreamed of bringing huge burgundy dahlias to Elizaveta Alekseevna - to see if she would stick a nail into their spongy buds (stupidity, of course)... I picked wild daisies on the corner of the Armenian cemetery, tripped, tore my shoe and knocked out my trousers. He walked, shaking himself and cursing. “To hell with you, Vagankovsky flower sellers who sell the same flowers three times until they wither!” I don’t know, at that moment it seemed that small and stubborn “city flowers” were just appropriate in memory of EA, like nothing else. Proud and unquestioning, like herself.

I hung out around Nina Vysotskaya’s mound. Leave? I wandered at random - whether it was crooked or holy, it would lead me to something. I'm going to the angel. By two. One is an ugly asbestos-cement monster with the face of the Virgin Mary, unwillingly guarding someone else’s “Hamlet’s dream.” And the other... just 4 months ago he was a living angel in slippers.

And I also saw this small tile with the inscription "LIZA DAL (08/19/1937 - 05/20/2003)". In which Vagankov’s drunken engravers most likely foolishly inserted a mistake. Rough, obscene tiles, painfully similar to a school chair, on which girls tore their stockings and boys tore their shirts. Small, like a white mouse, coquettishly and touchingly clinging to Oleg’s gray lump. I don't know when the "monument" appeared. Maybe for 40 days, or maybe for the first birthday “without the birthday girl”. Too fast. Under the stove there is an armful of withered flowers and a jar of blooming water.

And under the monuments there seems to be complete emptiness. There is no mound, except that there, behind, near the nameless stone fragment, there is a small mound, just the size of a capsule for ashes. Do you know this brick-colored granite box, without an inscription, chipped until all silhouette is lost? It's right on the path. Maybe it marks the true location of Oleg’s grave? And I readily believe this.

If you're on Vaganki, take a look.

Having scattered flowers over the grave, he turned around and hurriedly left, as if running away from a screaming ghost angel.

From the chronicle it follows that Oleg the Prophet was buried in the area that is now known as the village of Staraya Ladoga. On the territory of the settlement there are several burials (mounds) identified, which may be the resting place of the famous prince.

According to local residents, Oleg’s grave is a mound located in the Sopki tract. The height of the object exceeds five meters. The diameter of the base is more than thirty meters. The foot is reinforced with ancient triangular stonework made of boulders.

Officially, Oleg’s grave is a huge mound located on the picturesque bank of the Volkhov in the Leningrad region. Its height reaches ten meters (before archaeological work, the height of the funeral monument was fourteen meters). However, there is no definitive confirmation that Oleg was buried in the grave. Assumptions are based on the fact that the most majestic of the three mounds located in the vicinity of Staraya Ladoga could have been a worthy burial place for the prince.

Prince Oleg the Prophet is known, among other things, thanks to the legends about his death. It is believed that it was in the area of the mounds that he was bitten by a deadly snake. Another notable feature of these places is the presence of an underground passage under the large burial mound, connecting it to the catacomb system.

The Oleg's Grave mound is located near the exit from Staraya Ladoga. This is the highest point in the area, offering amazing views of the local natural beauty. It is possible to climb the memorable hill, but descending from it is difficult and even dangerous due to the proximity of the steep bank, the height of which reaches about thirty meters.