Zwyczaje syberyjskich Koriaków. Użycie muchomora czerwonego (Amanita muscaria) w kamczackiej medycynie ludowej
Roczniki Kulturoznawcze September 30, 2022 Ewa Kulpa
The red fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria) was used early in Siberia by the Koryak people of Kamchatka, as shown by linguistic and archaeological evidence. The mushroom appears in myths and is directly linked to the supreme Koryak deity, indicating it once played a major role in local shamanism. It is still present in folk medicine today. Despite persistent beliefs, its consumption can no longer be considered ritual in the strict sense. The decline in mushroom use appears to be one sign of a larger loss of ancient shamanistic Koryak traditions. By reconstructing the past significance of Amanita muscaria among the Koryak and examining its current reception, the article compares the mushroom's former and present roles.