Arma mulieremque cano: Antikenrezeptionen in der Geschichte von Olga von Kiew in der altrussischen Nestorchronik

Abstract

Arma mulieremque cano: The Reception of Antique Motives within the Story of Olga of Kiev in the Old Russian Tale of Bygone Years

This paper analyses the campaign of vengeance of Olga of Kiev in the year 945 AD against the people of the Drevlians as portrayed in the Old Russian Tale of Bygone Years in the early 12^th century. While certain elements of this story seem too exaggerated to be true others reminisce of antique sources of Herodotus, Polyainos, Tacitus and others. Starting with Herodotus’ depiction of queen Tomyris, who was the ruler of the Massagetae, this work focusses on the evaluation of primary sources and examines tropes of vengeance and motherhood, demonstrating that certain values are persistent over centuries.