Mythical creatures of the Tamnava region: a basic mythological code in the serbian folk religion

Based on the fieldwork data and literature on Serbian ethnicity, the author argues that a unique mythical pattern exists among Serbs. This pattern represents the basic global set of mythical entities in Serbian folk religion. After serious structural-semantic analysis of a number of various mythical entities and motives, the author discovers a unique mythological base, established in firm semantic categories and relations. In this sense there are four basic mythical relations found at the base of the corresponding semantic systems: a four-member base of the first and foremost mythological code. The cited mythical sets are found also in other areas occupied by Serbs; therefore, they should represent the base of the whole Serbian folk mythology. Some other specific mythical entities also exist, neither so universal nor a part of this set, and therefore are excluded from the discussion.