Home » The Origin and the Anthropological Value of the Ukrainian Name " 'kapyshche"

In the history of the Pre-Christian Rus, the name of the "kapyshche" which is still known in many regions where those pre-Christian sites are preserved was, possibly, very widely used as the denomination for a pagan religion's temple. It is common knowledge that the temple was usually built of stone. Goes without saying there had to be Pra-Slavic totems or figures of the of the Pre-Christian Rus. One might agree that there had to be Pra-Slavic totems or figures of the gods like Pern/Perun/Pierun, Svitovyd, etc. But also, there were some other possible on-stake creatures as those of the skeletons of the animals sacrtified, the most common of which was the goat. What makes us think so? The anthropological and phonological analysis of the word "kapyshche".

Phonetically, the word "kapyshche" is very close to several Latin words: KAP - : capesso (pursue with zeal), coepio (begin), capio (understand) and caper (a he-goat). It could have been quite possible that the " kapyshche" was the place of mutual worshipping (pursuing with zeal), the location of the initiation (beginning), learning to understand the ancient believes (understand) and the place for making sacrifice (goats) as well as communal feasts very close to those of the Ancient Greeks' ones.

One should not forget also the possible variants originated from the Old Eastern Slavic : " 'kazhbishchie", from " 'ka'zati", " 'skazati", as in Ukrainian "ka'zannia". The stem can also be observed in the Baltic Languages "kalba", thus " 'kalbyshche" or " ''kaprishche" from the Latin " 'caper". Also, interesting one-stem words will be " 'galba" (Baltic), " ' galva" (head), " 'kapli/yshche" (Old Slavic - the place of worshipping).

The other same-sense morphemes found in the vocabulary stock worth of mentioning are: " 'kapa", " 'kapytsya", "kopa" (dozen), "ko'pytsya" (a stag of hay/straw) , "ko'pyty sya" ( gather together) which is very close to the English word "couple". It could habe been quite possible that the "kapyshche" was also the place for pagan weddings, for meetings like the Roman Forum ("viche" , Cf.: " 'svidchyty" / to testify/to witness) and it might have had some symbolic structure built of 12 stony pillars/gates, like that of the British "Stone Hedge".

 

It is just astonishing how much valuable linguistic material is being offered by the Baltic Languages for the Slavic studies, esp. Lettish. From all the words that might have close phonetic representation of the phonetic form of the Ukrainian word 'kapyshche", it is important to recall "ka:pa" /dune, sand/, "ka:pt" /to climb, to ascend/ , "ka:piens" /step, tread/ and "ka:pe" /step/. It does serve well for the present study as it prompts the old "kapyshche's" locations - a hill/mountain which might have been reached by climing or using the steps. A close understanding of an important historical ritual site can be clarified by the Sinhala name "nagaraya" / a city/town/.

The additional phonemes/morphemes that can be taken into the consideration are: " 'skopyshche" (a large gathering of people). And we cannot, perhaps, leave aside also the German "Kopf" (head)which prompts us also another function of the "kapyshche" - trial/court and the function of sacrificing. The Head of the community might have had such a function alongside with the already mentioned 'viche". The convicted might have been executed there, too.

Morphologically, this word is close to " 'kupyshche", " 'kopyshche", " 'lapyshche", " ' ratyshche" with the outstanding derogative and "accrescering" element "YSHCHE". Thus, now, the word has a derogitory meaning due to the fact of the Christianized people's rejection of the pagan traditions and rites. But some of them are still alive in some folklore customs , like " vodyty kozu" ( / to lead the goat/ on the Christmas Eve Carroling Season) or like in the Russian expression " kozyol otpushchenia" ( a scape goat).

Thus, it is very important to know the word's ethymology and the phonological variations of the morpheme to better imagine the complex connotation of the word " 'kapyshche".

Ivan Petryshyn USA